Daniel Zaman
Director, Cyber Security, Operations and Infrastructure
Holt Renfrew
Daniel Zaman is the acting CISO and Director Cybersecurity, Infrastructure and Operations for Holt Renfrew, Canada’s leading fashion and lifestyle retailer and a strong trusted voice in the global fashion world representing Canada.
Daniel also sits on the board for two charitable organizations, leading a development program for Canadian Youth as well as supporting free education for underprivileged children in third world countries.
Learn more about the Toronto CISO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
It all began as a playful prank on a competitive friend during our school days. Without even bothering to read the job description, I impulsively applied for an IT coop job simply because I knew my friend had also applied. Little did I know that the office was situated in a remote area with no bus service, making commuting a challenge. However, I managed to arrange a ride to the interview and was pleasantly surprised by how much I instantly fell in love with the opportunity.
Fast forward over two decades, and I have successfully advanced in my career, cherishing every chance to learn and improve my attitude. Throughout my journey, I have strived to make every organization I've worked for a more secure and service-oriented place. I firmly believe that embracing a passion for IT, fostering connections, and practicing patience can open doors to success and personal growth for anyone.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Servant Leadership: I prioritize serving my team and putting their needs first. By adopting a servant leadership approach, I aim to support and empower my team members to reach their full potential.
With disruption being a key theme of recent years, where do you see the CISO role going in the next 1-2 years?
With disruption being a prominent theme in recent years, C-level roles are likely to continue evolving and adapting to the changing landscape. In the next 1-2 years, C-level executives may focus on leveraging emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation, to drive innovation and stay competitive.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a CISO?
Develop a strong understanding of the organization, build relationships and collaborate, prioritize risk management, and identify and assess potential risks to the organization's information assets. Develop a comprehensive risk management strategy that includes preventive, detective, and corrective measures to mitigate those risks.
Tell us a few fun facts about yourself.
- I love the outdoors.
- I have an uncanny bias for German shepherds.
- I love Phishing!
What is the value of joining an Evanta community?
Collaboration and building connections with industry peers.
Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
by CISOs, for CISOs
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