Interview No. 9: Myriam Dunn Cavelty is Deputy Research and Teaching at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich and author of various publications about cyber security. On 22.11.22 we had the pleasure to invite her as a speaker at the National Cyber Security Event, which SRA organized with SIX and SFI.

❓𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 – 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞?
Risk management is like having a safety net. It helps us spot and handle potential problems before they become big disasters. In business, it safeguards against financial losses and protects reputation. In our daily lives, it keeps us safe, helps us make better choices, and gives us peace of mind. It’s all about being prepared and staying ahead of the game.

❓𝐈𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 – 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝?
I’ve learned that risk management is not just about avoiding risks, but also about embracing opportunities. It’s crucial to identify and assess risks early on, create contingency plans, and regularly monitor and adapt to changing circumstances. Communication and collaboration are key—everyone should be aware of potential risks and contribute to managing them.

❓ 𝐈𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 – 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧?
Choosing someone to get married “for life” several decades ago. I’m saying this “tongue in cheek”, but marriage is like embarking on a high-stakes project with unknown variables, relying on risk mitigation strategies to navigate potential pitfalls and maximize the reward potential in the form of love, companionship, and shared memories.

❓𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤?
Embrace calculated risks. Plan and prepare. Seek knowledge and mentorship. Learn from failures. Network and collaborate. Trust your instincts. Achieve professional growth through effective risk management. And last but not least: get back up if you fall and keep trying.

❓𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞?
I’m part of this network to gain access to industry insights, best practices, and a community of risk management professionals. It helps to stay updated with the latest trends, enhance your skills, and establish valuable connections within the field. The rewards are professional growth, learning opportunities, and expanding one’s professional network.