Jo Peterson ─ helps customers strategically use technology to drive growth...
February 2, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Jo Peterson
Vice President of Cloud and Security Services
Clarify360
Are you looking for a leader who knows how to help customers strategically use technology to drive growth? We know the person—Jo Peterson!
Jo is the Vice President of Cloud and Security Services for Clarify360. She leads an engineering team focused on cloud enablement, security as a service offerings, and distributed computing. Jo began her career in the US Air Force where she served as a Russian translator. She parlayed her military skills into a technology career where she has received a number of IT industry awards, including being recognized as one of the Top 100 Cloud Influencers. She is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Jo Peterson!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
I served in the US Air Force as a Russian Translator and lived in Japan for a couple of years.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Depending on the year, 75,000-110,000.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
Umeboshi plums in Misawa, Japan.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
At 18, I joined the Air Force. As part of that experience, I earned a Top Security Clearance, lived in Japan and enjoyed the opportunity to travel throughout Asia. It was an amazing way to learn about other cultures and to broaden my world view. At the same time, the military provided me with discipline, reliability, leadership skills and taught me the importance of being part of a cohesive team.
In 2009, an emerging technology was cloud. As an engineer with multiple technical certifications and an MBA, I was asked to join a group of industry leaders in a monthly group where we would discuss and learn about this new technology. The low point came, when as the only female in the group, I was asked to be the secretary and take the monthly meeting notes. I decided to take a lemon and make lemon aide. Cloud Girls was born. A place for women in the cloud who wanted to learn, grow and give back to other women in the cloud space was born.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
Early in my technology career, I was lucky enough to have a male mentor who was my advocate. He taught me the value of coming to the table with facts, that a balance existed between being liked and being efficient—it took both to be successful in a corporate environment. For me, there is a huge value in learning to look at a business challenge or opportunity from a male perspective. It’s a different lens.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
If you keep waiting to have someone ask you to take a seat at the table, you’ll be waiting a long time. Squeeze your chair in next to the fellas.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
Each year, I look for a young woman in tech with intelligence and spark to mentor. We set a focus and a time line. One of these relationships has turned into a 20+ year friendship. The truth is that I get as much out of mentoring as I give.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
Some of the most interesting projects involved helping organizations move the needle forward while remaining secure.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
Over the past several years, we’ve grown our cybersecurity practice to help customers evolve security as they transform their organizations digitally. Personally, I’m studying for the CISSP and CCSP certifications so I can bring more value to client conversations. Currently studying for my CISSP—wish me luck!
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
Helping clients use technology as an enabler of business growth.
