Governing Body Spotlight

Tushar Patel is the Director of Cybersecurity Governance and IT Risk Management for BFL Canada. It is a global leader in strong insurance brokerage solutions and is one of the largest risk management and benefits consulting firms in Canada. In this role, Tushar leads all aspects of the cybersecurity strategy, information security and IT Risk governance program. 

Prior to this role, Tushar worked for RBC for more than 10 years in various leadership roles and across several other organizations in different senior capacities for multiple industries.

A fun fact about Tushar, he was born in India but grew up in Canada, and he says that both parts of the world have taught him to be resilient. He has been fortunate to experience different cultures, places and cuisines which has given him a whole new perspective on the art of the possible. He also loves watching movies, especially horror movies.

Learn more about the Toronto CISO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

Since my college days, I always knew that I wanted to be a part of the information technology industry, so I geared my education towards computer science. I started off my career in the data and analytics space. The curiosity of providing data solutions to large clients provided me with a lens for risk management when it comes to data. This passion for risk management led me into multiple cybersecurity roles, where I had the opportunity to be a part of all three lines of defense.

I have been fortunate enough to be in the cybersecurity space where I can embark my experience and wisdom onto aspiring cyber enthusiasts. The level and breadth of different areas of expertise – from auditing to governance focused on cybersecurity and risk management – which I have built up over the years has led me into my current role today. 

I am finally in a place now within my career where I can give back to the community in terms of all the knowledge and experience within the cybersecurity and risk management space that I have been able to gather.
 

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Be your authentic self. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.
 

What is the greatest challenge CISOs face today, and how are you addressing it?

Balancing cyber goals and aspirations with business objectives is the greatest challenge. Sometimes, looking at the broader or bigger picture may not be practical when it comes to meeting current challenges. You must sometimes take a step back and focus on the things that are in your control and build on those key things to meet the broader business objectives. Yes, a 2- or 3- or 5-year cyber roadmap is nice to have, but with the way the current cyber threat landscape is evolving, sometimes just focusing on a 1-year roadmap is more practical to meet current challenges.
 

What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CISO?

Taking the time to really understand the objective of the role and building relationships with the key players that will help you be successful in your role is crucial. Really listening to your executive team and the current challenges and opportunities they face will give you a starting point on what you need to focus on when it comes to meeting the challenges of your organization. For example, building a culture of cyber awareness won’t happen overnight but the tone from the top will help guide you on building out a strategy on how to get there.
 

How do you measure success as a leader?

Leaders have a knack of great skills like directing and motivating people to be their best and authentic selves. Building leaders from your experience and wisdom is a measure of success as a leader. They say that leaders make leaders.
 

What is the value of being a member of the Evanta community?

The Evanta community is great in gathering like-minded professionals and building a sense of belonging. The Evanta community membership is an invaluable tool for networking and gaining knowledge and sharing of the challenges or opportunities different industries face when it comes to cybersecurity. Sharing best practices and getting sound and great advice from folks in the community is invaluable.
 

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.