Forcepoint Faces: Kwame D.
Kwame D. - Sr. Director, Sales Engineering - Americas, Austin, TX
Tell us what you do in 40 words or less.
I am Senior Director of the sales engineer (SE) organization for the Americas. I’m responsible for ensuring the sales engineers are trained and enabled to partner with sales reps and explain the technical benefits of Forcepoint products.
Why did you choose Network Security?
Network Security chose me! I had been a more traditionally focused SE (route/switch, wireless local area network) when I stumbled into security in 2004.
How long have you been in your chosen field?
I’ve been an SE going on 23 years.
How has your field changed since you began in your career?
SEs are now recognized as an integral component of the sales process; sales engagements are also more competitive and complex.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I most enjoy doing sales calls with the account teams and articulating the Forcepoint message as well as getting channel customers and prospects to partner with us. I also enjoy the opportunity to participate in speaking engagements on cyber security issues, and risk management.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about a career in your specialty?
I would say that you need to be someone who is committed to continual learning. You need to love, not like, a dynamic environment and enjoy working with other people.
What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
I think I’d be a broker or trader on Wall Street, or perhaps a cardiac surgeon; something that, like my current career, thrives on constant achievement and setting new goals.
What makes Forcepoint a great place to work?
FP has been a great place for me to advance my career. The leadership has given me the support and freedom to do what is best for the organization, and I work with some great technical minds who also happen to be great people that I like a lot.
What does innovation mean to you?
Innovation is the process of building or developing something new that changes an industry, solves a problem, and makes lives better.
In your opinion, what innovation(s) have had the most impact in your lifetime so far?
The cellular phone. Doing business today is infinity easier with a cell phone. I remember early in my career having to stop at pay phones to check office messages. Today, customers can reach me anytime and anywhere.