Monica White ─ next generation product marketing leader who turns nerdy technical stuff into mass appeal!!
January 19, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Updated October 2022
Monica White
Director of Product Marketing
Cisco
(Previously—Director of Product Marketing
Kenna Security)
Are you looking for a product marketing leader who can take nerdy technical stuff and make it sexy for the masses? We know the one — Monica White!
Monica is the Director of Product Marketing for Kenna Security, based in Ottawa, Canada. She leads a team of creative product marketers who thrive on turning geek (complex) technology and products into ones that everyone wants to use. She has over two decades of experience in cyber security and has seen and done it all. She likes to tell it like it is with a dash of humor, of course. She is the mom of two smart and hilarious daughters and wife to a very patient husband.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Monica White!
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?
Not sure if this is a fun fact but I am dyslexic. Growing up, learning did not come easy. As a kid, you start struggling with confidence and self-esteem. Fortunately, during my first year of university, my linguistics professor diagnosed me with dyslexia—both for language and numbers. It was life changing.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Pre-pandemic, I would either have 50K or 75K status with Air Canada.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
I was very fortunate that I grew up in a family where my mom was a fantastic cook. She actually wrote a cookbook with a neighbor when I was eight years old. Then, in my late 20s, I had the opportunity to attend Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. It was then that I was introduced to a lot of foods that weren’t in my normal culinary rotation, like sweet breads and frog legs and escargot. To this day they still are not. 😉
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
I was a part of a company called Watchfire, which was acquired by IBM back in 2007. That was my first taste of what a positive acquisition looked like and it was an amazing experience for me. The Watchfire team was made of some incredible individuals that I still chat with today.
I pride myself in caring for my team. That was not something that I had personally in past companies. My team is my family. I try to have fun on a daily basis, I love cracking jokes, and I always give credit where credit is due. If your team trusts you, the sky is the limit.
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?
I don’t want to sound cheesy but I’ve worked for a lot of pretty amazing people in my life. I did have one person in particular who was always in my corner and always my biggest fan, and that was my Dad. He always told me if I wanted something I could have it; the only thing stopping me from it was myself. I am sure he is looking down on me and smiling.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
If one door closes, another one will open. Opportunities come and go and if you are not successful at one take it as a learning experience and kill it at the next one. That failing is a part of life. Even though it might seem like a ‘fail’ at the time is the worst thing ever, it is actually the best learning experience.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
For many years, I volunteered my time in an early readers program at my daughters’ elementary school. Being dyslexic, I knew how difficult it was for kids learning to read and how frustrating and upsetting it was for those that didn’t come easily to it. I would volunteer my time weekly and read with these kids. I made a difference in their lives and they made a difference in mine.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
I’d say one of the most interesting projects I’ve worked on in the last few years was the last product launch I did with Kenna. We launched new features for Kenna.VM and we brought a new product to market called Kenna.VI. And if that wasn’t busy enough, in the middle of a pandemic, I decided to refresh all of our pricing and rename all of our products. I have now learned that one doesn’t need to do it all at once!
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
Listening is a big one. Sometimes I listen without listening—if that makes sense. I make a very conscious effort to stop, listen, think and process, which is easier said than done.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
In cyber security, everyone says they do everything and all this does is cause doubt among buyers. I am very honest with my marketing. I like to be fun and fresh and stand out for different reasons. Be different. It’s not a bad thing!
