Month: November 2025

November 20, 2025 /3BL/ – Catherine Burns, PhD, has been named Managing Director of The Nature Conservancy’s impact investing and sustainable finance team, NatureVest. Cat joined TNC in 2010 and has held increasingly strategic roles with NatureVest and TNC’s California and North Carolina chapters. In recent years, Cat led the development of NatureVest’s Impact Management Team, building capacity and expertise to ensure measurable outcomes aligned with TNC’s 2030 conservation and climate goals. Cat has also served as Interim Managing Director for the past eight months, guiding the team through a period of strategic growth and collaboration. 

As Managing Director, Cat will oversee NatureVest’s teams that work to structure, close and implement impact investments across a range of structures, including private equity, sovereign debt, and other mechanisms.  Cat applies her deep conservation science background and market-facing experience to drive market solutions for climate action and nature protection. 

“Now more than ever, the private sector must play an active role in supporting the transition to a more sustainable future,” said Burns. “I’m honored to lead this team of talented, dedicated, and strategic individuals working at the forefront of impact investing and other market-based solutions to deliver solutions that generate environmental, social, and financial returns.”

Since 2014, NatureVest’s portfolio has grown to represent USD $4 billion in committed impact capital, with projects spanning four continents and covering a variety of asset types and financial structures. These projects focus on delivering impact alongside financial returns in the realms of forestry and carbon, water and agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, infrastructure and renewable energy, and conservation tourism, and on creating sovereign debt solutions that enable countries to stabilize their debt while creating impact on a national scale.

“This appointment reflects our commitment to building a leadership team that can connect financial innovation with real-world conservation outcomes,” said Matt Arnold, Global Head of Impact Finance and Markets at The Nature Conservancy. “Cat’s deep experience and collaborative approach have already made a lasting impact, and we’re thrilled to see her lead this next chapter of NatureVest advancing nature-positive investment strategies.”

For media enquiries or further information about NatureVest’s projects and impact, please contact media@tnc.org

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.

About NatureVest

NatureVest is the impact investing and conservation finance team of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), one of the world’s leading environmental organizations. The team designs and executes innovative financial products and provides advisory services that align private capital with measurable conservation outcomes. Since its founding in 2014, NatureVest has helped mobilize over $4 billion in committed capital for projects that address climate change, biodiversity loss, and community resilience. Across more than 25 countries, these projects have collectively avoided or sequestered 5.1 million metric tons of CO₂e, improved management on over 7 million acres of land, and protected 172,000 square miles of ocean. For more information, visit www.naturevest.org

Key takeaways:

1. 6G is the next-generation wireless communication technology set for rollout in 2030.
2. 6G is expected to have breathtakingly high data rates, ultra-low latency, and high reliability.
3. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are expected to be in a symbiotic relationship with 6G in the future. They would likely be essential to the working of 6G networks but also rely on 6G to realize exciting new applications.

Are your engineers and customers ready for a future where smartphones transmit at terabits per second, enable worldwide connectivity in even the most remote locations, and make science-fiction-like holographic telepresence an everyday reality?

In this blog post, find out how 6G networks are promising this exciting future, how they’ll probably work, and how AI is expected to enable their extreme performance.

What is a 6G network, and how might it work?

Sixth generation (6G) is the term for the next major leap in mobile wireless networks after 5G networks and 5G-Advanced networks. The envisioned features for this next-generation technology include:

• extreme mobile broadband performance, possibly with terabits-per-second (Tbps) high speeds, microsecond latency, and ultra-high reliability
• new ultra-wide frequency bands in the mid band of 7 Gigahertz (GHz) to 20 GHz, millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands (30 GHz to 100 GHz), and the sub-Terahertz (THz) and THz bands (100 GHz to 10 THz)
• AI-enabled network technologies, with artificial intelligence and machine learning expected to be embedded in many operations
• ubiquitous connectivity and coverage
• interoperability with all previous generations

Briefly, a 6G network will probably consist of the following subsystems:

• Radio access network: This would be the wireless technology part with all the network elements communicating over radio frequencies.
• Core network: The RAN would demodulate the voice or data from radio signals and forward it to the core network, which would consist of customer lookup databases, switches to route calls, and routers to connect to external networks like the internet.
• Transport network: This would connect the RAN and core network, as well as components within them. It would comprise fiber optic cables, microwave links, IP routers, and switches.
• Operations and maintenance: This would be the ecosystem of software and systems used to configure and monitor the RAN, core, and transport networks. It would perform network management functions like configuration, fault, performance, security, and accounting.

When will 6G networks be available?

Commercial 6G network rollout is expected in 2030 in most countries.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) published its vision for 6G in 2023.

Based on this vision, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) will work on 6G studies as part of Release 20 and Release 21 (2025-2027).

The core 6G standards are expected to come out in 2028-2029 as part of Release 21. They will enable research and development of standards-compliant 6G hardware and devices by 2030.

How fast will 6G networks be?

The envisioned parameters for 6G are outlined below:

• Peak data rates might reach 200 gigabits per second (Gbps) to several Tbps in the THz bands. Consumers could enjoy 300-500 megabits per second (Mbps) on average.
• Latency is expected to be very low — 0.1 milliseconds (ms) for the air interface, 1 ms end-to-end in industrial environments, and a few ms for cellular vehicle-to-everything (V2X).
• Device densities of 1 million to 100 million devices per square kilometer (km) could be possible.
• Mobility speeds of 500-1,000 km per hour are envisioned, enabling 6G for aircraft, drones, and high-speed trains.

What are the applications of 6G technology?

Let’s look at some of the exciting future applications that 6G networks could unlock.

• Autonomous mobility: The ubiquitous presence and lower latency of 6G could enable safe autonomous mobility and reliable real-time vehicle-to-everything (V2X) collaboration.
• Autonomous drones: The high data rates and worldwide availability of 6G networks could expand the use of drones for critical operations like rescue missions, logistics, environmental monitoring, and defense.
• Industrial internet of things (IoT): Private 6G networks could enable smart factories where operations are automated using thousands of IoT sensors and robotic vehicles.
• Holographic telepresence: The high data rates of 6G could allow realistic high-resolution virtual avatars of people to be shown on 3D holographic displays for face-to-face communication and presentation.
• Immersive experiences: Extended reality technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) could become ubiquitous through 6G-enabled devices like AR glasses for e-sports, gaming, and entertainment.
• Advanced health care: For advanced health care like robotic surgeries, 6G networks promise to be highly reliable and always available with built-in redundancies.

What is an AI-enabled 6G network, and how could it be different from 5G?

6G is called AI-enabled or AI-native because AI is expected to be foundational to even its most basic operations, unlike 5G, where AI is bolted on to optimize some network functions. The contrasts between 6G and 5G design philosophies are illustrated in the table above.

In 6G networks, much of the architecture, protocols, and functions could be powered by AI-driven intelligence and optimizations. Some possible technical differences between 6G and 5G are shown above.

We explore these expected uses of AI in 6G networks in the next section.

How could AI shape the development and optimization of 6G networks?

In this section, we go into the technical details of how AI could automate 6G communications and network operations, autonomously manage resources, and enable self-healing and predictive maintenance.

All previous generations of mobile networks divided coverage areas into hexagonal cells. The cell edges have always been zones of interference, poor reception, handover glitches or delays, and other problems.

But 6G envisions fully cell-free architectures, a true paradigm shift in mobile telecom design. A cell-free network could consist of many small, low-power, distributed access points (APs), which are essentially antennas with some basic AI-driven radio frequency (RF) processing. All the APs would be connected to a central unit.

When sending data to user equipment (UE), the central unit could use AI to select nearby APs that transmit together coherently to combine into a precisely aimed beam. When a UE sends data, several nearby APs could receive partial signals and forward them to the central unit to reconstruct the data using AI. The AI-based coordination of APs would enable seamless 6G availability without typical handover glitches.

Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), introduced in the 5G standards for worldwide availability, could be more advanced in 6G. AI/ML could enable more efficient resource allocation and parameter optimization in constantly changing satellite-to-ground conditions.

AI-enabled radio access network (RAN)

AI/ML models could optimize and dynamically adapt the entire RAN in real time as traffic, network, and environmental conditions change.

AI-enabled air interfaces

Air interfaces specify the analog RF aspects and the digital aspects (like protocols) of wireless communications between:

• UE like smartphones and VR glasses
• 6G tower components, like base stations
• non-terrestrial network elements like unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites

These interfaces traditionally have manually designed signal processing blocks with limited configurability and many simplifying assumptions.

In 6G networks, the air interfaces are expected to be AI-enabled. At both ends, neural transceivers could run powerful ML models that would be highly configurable, modifiable, adaptive to dynamic conditions, and capable of factoring in all influencing variables. They could reduce pilot signals, eliminate cyclic prefixes, and ease synchronization.

AI-powered beamforming

AI could be crucial for predicting optimal beamforming directions and dynamically creating lean modulation schemes based on real-time, complex channel conditions to optimize spectrum sharing and energy efficiency. Specifically, AI could explore vast solution spaces to find optimal beamforming weights for multiple users in ultra-massive multiple-input multiple-output (UM-MIMO) deployments.

AI-driven waveforms and modulation

AI could design novel 6G waveforms and modulation schemes instead of using traditional analytical models. The models would dynamically learn and select modulation schemes based on real-time channel conditions.

AI-optimized channel estimation and state

In 6G networks, deep neural networks could learn the more realistic nonlinear relationships between received signals and channel responses, outperforming traditional linear estimation techniques.

Highly compressed channel state information (CSI) feedback would be crucial for UM-MIMO in sub-terahertz bands. However, the training data needed for designing it would not be available until the customer trial phases. Even then, the training data is likely to be sparse. This can be overcome early by using two-sided unsupervised learning with coordination between UEs and base stations.

ML-based positioning with centimeter-level accuracy

6G envisions positioning with centimeter-level accuracy, which would be crucial for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and smart factories. This could be achieved by AI/ML models using fingerprinting based on channel observations, identifying non-line-of-sight conditions, and refining timing or angle measurements.

Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) optimization

ISAC means 6G radio resources would be used not just to communicate but also to actively sense the network’s surroundings. AI could facilitate:

• complex signal processing needed for ISAC
• real-time data analysis for critical use cases like collision avoidance
• spectrum sharing without interference between communication and sensing tasks
• predictive failure analysis in ISAC systems

Holistic energy efficiency

In 6G networks, AI could optimize network power consumption at city-wide and even larger scales for holistic sustainability. AI models could dynamically switch off entire base stations and reconfigure resources based on real-time demand while optimizing energy use.

How could 6G networks be co-designed with AI to enable intelligent, self-optimizing infrastructure?

All trends point toward 6G and AI co-evolving in close symbiosis over the coming decade. 6G will probably not be a dumb data pipe but actively use AI to adapt, learn, and optimize itself. Simultaneously, 6G could unlock exciting AI-driven use cases as outlined below.

Intelligent networks

A 6G network could be a massive, distributed AI model that is constantly sensing, adapting, and improving itself over time. It could self-organize, self-optimize, and self-heal with the help of AI/ML models.

Self-organization means a network is expected to dynamically reconfigure its components to meet changing environmental conditions and service requirements.

Self-optimization would involve AI/ML continuously analyzing network traffic and automatically reallocating resources (like bandwidth and power) where they are most needed. Not only could AI optimize a 6G network (AI for network slicing), but the network too could efficiently support emerging AI services (slicing for AI). The network could provide the necessary connectivity, computing, and data resources for AI applications to function seamlessly.

Self-healing means AI/ML models would autonomously detect, diagnose, and recover from network impairments. For example, they could predict demand spikes to prevent congestion and optimize data routing for ultra-low latency.

Real-time digital twins

To be effective, digital twins for 6G networks, other systems, and processes could rely on both AI and 6G. The high data rates of 6G might become essential for transmitting the massive data needed for real-time mirroring. AI might become essential for reconstructing virtual models from that massive data. Conducting experiments on the digital twin of a 6G network or other systems might also require AI/ML.

Pervasive edge computing

6G’s high data rates and network architecture could facilitate new ways of running AI models that were inconvenient before. These could include distributed learning, federated learning, and online learning. These advanced deployments could, in turn, dictate how AI concerns — like training data, inference, weights, and gradient updates — could be handled in 6G PHY, protocols, and edge devices.

ISAC operations

ISAC could be used to create detailed, real-time, dynamic maps of a network’s environment. Processing the high volumes of sensing data could require AI. In turn, these maps would allow AI to realize use cases that were previously impractical, such as autonomous vehicle convoys and smart cities.

Semantic communication

With AI’s help, 6G networks could understand the meaning or intent behind the data they’re pumping. For example, for a video call, instead of sending every pixel, it can send a “person A is now saying: …” message.

At the other end, generative AI could realistically reconstruct video frames corresponding to the speaker’s lip movement. This complete re-imagining of communication, driven by a co-design of 6G and AI, could save massive amounts of bandwidth for service providers and consumers.

How could AI accelerate the design validation process for 6G networks?

AI/ML models could expedite the design, validation, and qualification of 6G networks and components. They could enable faster prototyping of complex 6G components and protocols, reduce simulation time, optimize test coverage, and streamline many other development and test workflows. Let’s understand how.

AI-driven digital twins for 6G networks

AI could create realistic virtual models of an entire 6G network. Engineers could use them to test new protocols and hardware designs in realistic simulations at a fraction of the cost and time needed for physical prototypes.

AI-accelerated simulations

Closed-form physics-based models can be very accurate and thorough, but:

• support only limited network complexity
• involve many simplifying assumptions
• require custom software development
• take several hours or days to complete

In contrast, AI/ML could model complex phenomena even for dense networks. Examples include:

• radio wave propagation in dense urban areas
• channel estimation and channel state information
• performance of ultra-massive MIMO

AI could also offer a variety of architectures and hyperparameter optimizations to balance between fast performance, good explainability, and high accuracy.

Comprehensive training and test data generation

Generative models, large reasoning models, and regression models could generate comprehensive data for training AI models and testing different scenarios.

For example, generative adversarial networks could synthesize massive amounts of realistic wireless channel data to test AI model behaviors in different real-world scenarios.

Intelligent test coverage

Instead of running millions of random tests, AI could identify the most critical or likely-to-fail scenarios, ensuring better validation with fewer tests. By combining AI models for test execution with digital twins, automated test suites could be developed for different dynamic conditions.

Dynamic AI algorithms

AI could help design and validate algorithms for complex operational aspects, like beamforming and interference management, before they are coded into hardware. Keeping the model weights in rewritable storage or non-volatile memory would enable models to be dynamically updated as new data and tests improve their metrics.

What are Keysight’s solutions for 6G?

Keysight is pioneering 6G research and provides comprehensive technology solutions for communication service providers, mobile network vendors, and device manufacturers.

Our 6G testing solutions include hardware and instruments for 6G vector analysis, sub-THz testbed, NTN satellite emulation, and end-to-end network design using system modeling software.

Our AI technology solutions address the design and validation of AI models and chips.

Our AI data center solutions enable 6G pervasive edge computing through:

• testing solutions for AI compute
• design of data center power management
• validation of data center networking and interconnects

Streamline your 6G network with Keysight

In this blog post, you got an overview of 6G networks and explored how AI could be used in their operations.

Contact us for deep insights and expertise into all things 6G.

A C-Suite Perspective from Benevity Chief People Officer, Janeen Speer, on the critical connection between employee giving and engagement

When people come together to do good in the workplace, something powerful happens.

They feel part of something bigger. They feel proud of where they work. They feel connected — to purpose, to their colleagues and to the impact they’re creating.

That connection has never mattered more. Around the world, the need is rising. And while the desire to participate in giving is there, too often it remains a moment, not a movement. There is a real opportunity to transform Giving Tuesday and the surge of giving during the holidays into sustained employee engagement that thrives long after the season ends.

Doing good isn’t just a charitable act. It’s a strategy for culture. And companies can benefit when they shift from one-day donation drives to year-round employee activation, where volunteering, donation matching and everyday acts of kindness are a part of how people work together.

That’s the promise of giving season. It’s about more than the dollars given. It’s a springboard, a moment for leaders to unite people through shared purpose so we can carry that energy forward into a culture of belonging that is woven into the very fiber of an organization.

From Giving Tuesday to year-round engagement

The link between giving and engagement isn’t theoretical; it’s deeply personal.

When employees contribute to causes they care about, especially alongside their peers through corporate giving programs, they experience belonging and fulfillment. They see their company’s values in action. They build relationships that make work more collaborative and rewarding.

That’s why giving programs so often lead to stronger workplace cultures. People aren’t motivated by transactions. They’re moved by shared purpose.

At Benevity, we’ve seen this across hundreds of client programs as well as within our own company. The organizations that integrate purpose into everyday work — rather than reserving it for an annual campaign — see employees who are more motivated, more loyal and more connected to one another. Each is a critical element for building a sustainable workplace culture.

Culture in action: At Benevity “We are we, not just me”

At Benevity, our culture is guided by one core principle: We are we, not just me.

It’s a community-focused mindset that reminds people that Benevity succeeds when everyone thinks beyond themselves, beyond their own teams and beyond today. Employees are encouraged to consider the ripple effects of their decisions — how they impact others, the company and the communities Benevity serves.

We hire people we trust to use good judgment to “Do the Right Thing” and we develop leaders who can empower people to make decisions rooted in shared values rather than rigid policies. When people are given that trust and freedom, they bring their best selves to work, and we believe this drives commitment to our shared goals, rather than compliance.

This collective spirit drives real impact from movements like Giving Tuesday — a belief that when all of us, from leadership to new hire, unite behind a common cause, we create change greater than any individual effort.

MyGoodness: Where purpose becomes practice

Our internal giving program “MyGoodness,” also embodies this idea. It’s fueled in part by our belief in the “double bottom line” – that we do well as a company by doing good. This concept is so important to Benevity that we became one of Canada’s first certified B corporations in 2011. It means our strategic mission as a company and our social mission are baked together. So doing good is at the core of what we do.

Internally, we’ve seen that employees who participate in giving or volunteering within their first 30 to 60 days are twice as likely to stay engaged long term. Because our “MyGoodness” program is so fundamental to who we are, we introduce our employees to this during their first week, where they participate in a volunteering activity and are seeded giving dollars to gain comfort early in using our platform.

Why employee giving matters more than ever

Work looks different today. Hybrid and remote teams, rapid change, and digital overload can make it harder for people to feel truly connected.

That’s why acts of shared purpose through corporate giving programs are so vital. They remind employees that they’re part of something meaningful and that their company stands for more than profit.

People want to do good, and global studies confirm the same trend. The CAF World Giving Index 2024 found that 73% of people worldwide gave time, money or help to a stranger in 2023. Within Benevity, we’ve seen that 92% of our employees take part in giving or volunteering.

Moments like Giving Tuesday cut through the noise. They bring people together around values, not job titles, and help re-energize teams. But it’s the organizations that build on that momentum throughout the year through volunteering, donation matching programs or peer recognition that can turn generosity into an ongoing source of engagement. And that pays off for those organizations in big ways.

Benevity Impact Labs research quantifies what many leaders intuitively know: doing good drives measurable business benefits.

• Companies with high employee participation in giving and volunteering see 57% lower turnover.
• 94% of companies say volunteering strengthens resilience.

As an added bonus, Gallup’s World Happiness Report showed that people who engage in giving behaviors also report higher happiness and stronger community ties.

The business case for corporate purpose

The business results of generosity are also becoming increasingly visible.

The Benevity 2025 State of Corporate Purpose Report, showcased survey results from people around the globe to reveal the top trends shaping social impact work and CSR leaders. The result is powerful:

• 92% said they are investing in CSR programs because it is good for business
• 88% say their impact strategy is future-proofing their business when it comes to talent, customers and regulatory requirements
• 91% say they are making sure their programs support their corporate strategy & values.

Benevity’s clients demonstrate daily that when they weave purpose into their people strategies, they outperform other companies in engagement, innovation and trust. They know that connection isn’t built through compliance. It’s built through shared values in action.

“Doing good is good for business because it’s good for your people. When employees feel connected to a cause and to each other, they show up as their best selves — and that’s good for everyone.”

Turning Giving Tuesday into a year-round movement

For many companies, Giving Tuesday is the biggest moment of the year for social impact. But its greatest value lies in what comes after.

To make generosity an ongoing part of company culture, leaders can focus on five actions:

1. Start early

Introduce giving and volunteering during onboarding. Early participation greatly increases the likelihood of long-term engagement in the giving platform and with your company.

2. Empower employee voice

Invite teams and employee resource groups to generate personal campaigns. Engage with your employee resource groups and partner with them to drive awareness and giving opportunities for causes they feel matter. When employees help design programs, participation feels personal.

3. Celebrate and share

Be a voice. Better yet, be a consistent voice. Help tell the stories behind the numbers throughout the year. Recognizing impact throughout the year reinforces that doing good is part of how the company succeeds.

4. Measure what matters

Track participation and sentiment — not just donations. Benevity Impact Reports help companies connect purpose-driven activity with engagement results.

When generosity becomes an embedded rhythm rather than an annual event, employees don’t just give more — they care more.

5. Show up and be an active participant

As leaders, we often have an obligation to take the first step and to lead by example. Your people will be inspired when they see you generating support for a cause that matters to you, and they will appreciate seeing you support their campaigns as well.

Employee engagement can start with workplace giving

It is beneficial in an organization to have an engaged, inspired workforce. Giving provides a way to get there — not through mandates, but through meaning.

When people are invited to give and volunteer together, they rediscover what makes their work matter. They see the positive impact they can create as part of a team.

That’s the real power of Giving Tuesday and the giving season. It’s not just a fleeting moment or the size of the donation. It’s the opportunity to create a culture of shared purpose and engagement that lasts all year. When companies make giving part of everyday work, they create critical connections, build stronger teams and stronger communities.

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Can you briefly describe your career journey and what led you to your current role as VP of Product and Application Security?

I started in the tech world back when web hosting was taking off before “The Cloud” or “Security Engineering” existed, when folks used to run web hosting companies from their own garage. I even had a FreeBSD 4.11 server with very basic specs and a 300+ days uptime that I leveraged to sell web hosting services. My first tech roles were working in Data Centers in Houston, Texas while I was still in college. Over time, I moved through different positions in support, quality assurance, network, development, and eventually into what is now called security engineering; providing me with experience that spans across the entire OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, from silicon to cloud, from layer 1 to layer 7.

I’ve been fortunate to work at some amazing companies in multiple tech hubs that exposed me to Silicon Valley, Research Triangle Park and the Pacific Northwest: EV1Servers, cPanel, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, F5 Networks, Amazon, and now GoDaddy. I gained deep experience in multiple security realms including but not limited to incident response, network security, secure development lifecycle, and even cyberlaw (was a legal extern at F5)!

One of the turning points in my career was working in Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing (TwC) group — it really sparked my long-term focus on building secure products. From there, I helped stand up product security organizations from infancy for both Amazon FinTech and Physical Stores including securing Computer Vision and Machine Learning technologies like Just Walk Out and Amazon One before joining GoDaddy. Participating in the security industry also helped me network and grow additional skills. I always enjoy attending and speaking at security conferences when feasible such as BSides (Scotland), DefCon (Vegas), SysCan (Singapore), EkoParty (Argentina), ISDFS (Romania) among others because they have also helped shaped my career in product security while networking with fellow passionate security professionals.

What’s the most challenging yet rewarding thing that you’ve worked on at GoDaddy?

Building the BISO (Business Information Security Officer) Program from the ground up. This initiative was entirely new, and our CISO placed their trust in me by providing the opportunity, support, and guidance to shape the program from start to finish, including overseeing hiring, designing the organizational structure, and setting the strategic direction. I believe in coaching-first leadership, so my focus was on hiring and developing strong, autonomous BISO leaders who could partner closely with business and engineering leaders and their teams. Watching the BISOs thrive and drive real impact has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my role.

I have enjoyed seeing the growth and development of each BISO, with different tenures and maturity levels as they grow their programs. I continue to help grow the BISO organization focusing on parity and continuity when it comes to the security posture of each business and engineering organization. I recently hosted a BISO Summit at my home in Austin, Texas. Bringing together several directors and distinguished engineers created an environment for engaging conversations and strategic planning. These discussions were instrumental in shaping our goals and defining our OKRs.

How do you balance security with product usability and speed to market?

Security can’t exist in a silo. I see it as a business enabler, not just a gate. My background spans across business, cybersecurity, and law (I hold a BBA Computer Information Systems, MBA in Finance, MS in Digital Forensics/Cybersecurity, and a JD with a focus in Intellectual Property and Cyberlaw). Therefore, I approach things with a wide lens, balancing the myriads of business and engineering perspectives when making decisions that require balance between the business and security leaders as it comes to product launches. I might explore a DBA in international business at the International University of Monaco as my next educational adventure.

When security is embedded early in the development cycle and aligned with business goals, it enhances innovation instead of slowing it down. Shifting Left into the development lifecycle has been a game changer for our organization along with innovation via Artificial Intelligence.

How do you approach motivating your team members to reach their full potential?

I take a servant leadership approach — I work for my team not the other way around. I make it a priority to build relationships with each team member, regardless of role or title. I ask for feedback annually from the whole organization and keep my door open for anything — whether it’s a technical escalation or something affecting team morale. My goal is to help them remove obstacles and create a welcoming and accommodating space for their best work.

I’m here to help my team grow and enable them to take on challenges with the right support.

The biggest compliment for me is when a former direct employee follows me and wants to join me at my new company or team, which has happen quite a few times over the years.

I also leverage the GoDaddy morale mechanisms available to me such as GoDaddy Everyday Champions Points, Fun Fund and the Gather Event framework. I was fortunate to host both the 2023 Houston and Dallas gather events with a 90s theme that my wife helped me set up and decorate in a couple of hotel presidential suites, which allowed me to connect with fellow co-workers and even GoDaddy employees from other divisions in a face-to-face casual environment.

What trends or technologies are you most excited about in the future?

Professionally, I’m excited about where cybersecurity intersects with artificial intelligence and crypto currencies and/or blockchain. These areas are evolving fast and offer huge potential for both risk and innovation. I’m currently exploring blockchain research and investments in Tallin, Estonia.

On a personal level, I’ve always been fascinated by mechanical systems and automotive tech — I love tinkering, reverse engineering, and figuring out how things work from the inside out for any type of vehicle whether land, air or water. That curiosity spills over into my work in security. “Vehicle Hacking” was a trend that got my attention that intersected both of my technology passions. I like to research the security mechanisms and controls around Exotic Cars, Yachts and Private Jets.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

My hobbies usually fall around five primary topics: Cultural Traveling, Empirical Cooking, Life Hacking, DIY-ing and Exotic Car Rallying.

Cultural Traveling is a big part of my life — not just for fun, but to connect with different cultures through language, food, and local traditions, living versus visiting. I see myself as a global citizen: I was born in Monterrey, Mexico, hold dual citizenship with Mexico and the U.S., and have residency in Portugal as well as Monaco, plus e-residency in Estonia. I plan to continue adding additional residencies and passports, South Korea is also a potential candidate, I guess I watched way too many James Bond 007 movies.

I speak Spanish and English, along with conversational Portuguese, Italian, French and German, learned Cyrillic and Hangul alphabets as a hobby – and dabble in a few other languages as well. It really helps when I’m on the road, whether for business or personal adventures. It really comes in handy when you are road tripping through rural areas across Europe or when you just want to have a special connection with folks worldwide in their own native tongue.

Empirical Cooking: as part of cultural exploration, I enjoy cooking different cuisines with my family as I learn about the culture of different countries – and even try to learn a little bit of history and some common phrases as part of the experience. I have culinarily traveled all continents.

Life Hacking: finding a good deal is a unique passion – enjoying everything life has to offer at an affordable rate. I have my fair share of extremely affordable presidential suite, private jet, exotic car and yacht experiences with very minimal cost. 

DIY-ing: I enjoy playing around with power tools and have designed and built the majority of the furniture in my Texas home, as well as other home improvements such as flooring, board and batten accent walls, and faux fireplaces.

Exotic Car Rallying / Van Life: I’m also a car enthusiast. My most recent trip? A 30,000 KM road trip from Porto, Portugal to Oslo, Norway with several stops along the way including the German Autobahn. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that combined my love for driving with exploring new cultures. I also traveled with my family for a little over a year throughout the United States visiting every state of the continental US – empirically trying out a hybrid glam version of “VanLife”.

Micro-Influencer: And yes – I keep up with social media trends too. You might even catch me testing out new Meta platforms, posting a funny reel in Instagram, or the occasional embarrassing TikTok dance. It keeps me connected to emerging tech… and it’s a fun way to unwind. I’m also an empirical micro-influencer with helps me understand the space as a content creator and small business owner. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to share bits and pieces of my hobbies with friends, family and followers. Feel free to follow me on Instagram: frugxyz

Family: I’m so fortunate that my wife and son share the same hobbies. We get to explore the world together, sharing very similar passions in life. Additionally, they have also pursued careers in cybersecurity.

Final Thoughts

I’ve always believed that curiosity, empathy, and continuous learning are core to strong leadership — especially in security engineering. The more we understand people, technology, and business, the better we can build systems that are secure, usable, and impactful.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

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Eastman

Eastman believes the next generation is critical to making sustainable, positive change. That was made evident when several high school students from Kingsport, Tennessee, spent a day at Eastman to learn about next-generation recycling.

Students at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport got a behind-the-scenes tour of Eastman’s molecular recycling facilities. The group — a combination of Advanced Placement Environmental Sciences students and members of the school’s Environmental Club — also spent a couple of hours discussing plastic recycling and brainstorming recycling solutions for their school. The ideas flowed quickly. That’s not surprising, since these students volunteer to sort out recyclables from trash at their school stadium the morning after football games.

Delaney Morris was enthused to see a recycling innovation — the world’s largest of its kind — in her hometown. “It was breathtaking to see that Eastman can use such a creative process to take plastic back to the molecular level,” Morris said. “Seeing it implemented and talking to people who were passionate about recycling and making the Earth a better place was really cool. And it’s cool to think this is a process that can make a difference not only in Kingsport, Tennessee, but also the entire world.”

Stephanie Blythe, a specialist in circular economy communications at Eastman, was inspired by the youthful energy.

“They had ideas to increase recycling at their school, and they started taking immediate action,” Blythe said. “They got to see Eastman recycling innovations that are making a difference now, and they also heard in our discussions how important collaboration is for sustainable change. It’s inspiring to see such leadership and innovative thinking in the next generation.”

Preparing recycling samples for global education

At the end of their tour, the students assembled sample bags of various plastic feedstocks that are sent by Eastman to companies around the world so that organizations can better understand their hard-to-recycle plastic waste can be recycled instead of ending up in landfill or an incinerator.

For student Abby Davis, standing in front of a mountain of plastic granules that would be recycled by Eastman formed a vivid memory. She knows a thing or two about recycling herself, since Davis started a project to recycle crayons and collected 175 pounds of crayons that would be remade into new ones.

“Honestly, it was shocking to see all that plastic,” Davis said. “Obviously, I know we all need to recycle more, but when you visually see how much plastic there is in a pile that large, it helps you connect the dots.”

Caleb Elkins had a similar feeling.

“I didn’t know much about the differences between recycling processes before I visited Eastman, and I definitely didn’t know that molecular recycling was something that could be infinitely repeated. That’s cool,” Elkins said. “We’ve developed this culture where we just see waste disappear, and we don’t know where it goes, so learning more about recycling is important.”

Dobyns-Bennett teacher Natalie Pickett is the sponsor of the school’s Environmental Club. The group extended their collaboration to other classes at the school: digital media and supply chain management. Pickett said an electric truck owned by the school’s Career Technical Education Department is used to transport plastic waste to Eastman for molecular recycling.

“Our students are very interested in recycling and the environment, so we were excited for the opportunity to learn about molecular recycling,” Pickett said.

Environmental Club extends recycling efforts at football games

When the 2025 Dobyns-Bennett football season rolled around, the D-B Environmental Club got into the recycling spirit again. To reduce the environmental footprint of football events, volunteers from the Environmental Club were stationed at strategic points at the season-opening game, ready to catch any plastic waste. Fans are encouraged to dispose of their plastic bottles and containers responsibly.

Plastic collection will last through the football season. The waste, collected in bins donated by Eastman, will be sorted and used as feedstock at Eastman’s methanolysis facility.

“We’re happy to be partnering with Dobyns-Bennett’s Environmental Club on this important initiative,” said Chris Layton, Eastman’s director of circular policy and strategy. “Just like in football, teamwork is essential. By working together, we can make a significant impact on reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability locally.”

The high school students are equally enthusiastic about the project.

“We’re very excited to be able to partner with Eastman so that we can make a difference, not only at our school but in our community,” said Caidence Pope, vice president of the Environmental Club.

 

 

Eastman

Eastman believes the next generation is critical to making sustainable, positive change. That was made evident when several high school students from Kingsport, Tennessee, spent a day at Eastman to learn about next-generation recycling.

Students at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport got a behind-the-scenes tour of Eastman’s molecular recycling facilities. The group — a combination of Advanced Placement Environmental Sciences students and members of the school’s Environmental Club — also spent a couple of hours discussing plastic recycling and brainstorming recycling solutions for their school. The ideas flowed quickly. That’s not surprising, since these students volunteer to sort out recyclables from trash at their school stadium the morning after football games.

Delaney Morris was enthused to see a recycling innovation — the world’s largest of its kind — in her hometown. “It was breathtaking to see that Eastman can use such a creative process to take plastic back to the molecular level,” Morris said. “Seeing it implemented and talking to people who were passionate about recycling and making the Earth a better place was really cool. And it’s cool to think this is a process that can make a difference not only in Kingsport, Tennessee, but also the entire world.”

Stephanie Blythe, a specialist in circular economy communications at Eastman, was inspired by the youthful energy.

“They had ideas to increase recycling at their school, and they started taking immediate action,” Blythe said. “They got to see Eastman recycling innovations that are making a difference now, and they also heard in our discussions how important collaboration is for sustainable change. It’s inspiring to see such leadership and innovative thinking in the next generation.”

Preparing recycling samples for global education

At the end of their tour, the students assembled sample bags of various plastic feedstocks that are sent by Eastman to companies around the world so that organizations can better understand their hard-to-recycle plastic waste can be recycled instead of ending up in landfill or an incinerator.

For student Abby Davis, standing in front of a mountain of plastic granules that would be recycled by Eastman formed a vivid memory. She knows a thing or two about recycling herself, since Davis started a project to recycle crayons and collected 175 pounds of crayons that would be remade into new ones.

“Honestly, it was shocking to see all that plastic,” Davis said. “Obviously, I know we all need to recycle more, but when you visually see how much plastic there is in a pile that large, it helps you connect the dots.”

Caleb Elkins had a similar feeling.

“I didn’t know much about the differences between recycling processes before I visited Eastman, and I definitely didn’t know that molecular recycling was something that could be infinitely repeated. That’s cool,” Elkins said. “We’ve developed this culture where we just see waste disappear, and we don’t know where it goes, so learning more about recycling is important.”

Dobyns-Bennett teacher Natalie Pickett is the sponsor of the school’s Environmental Club. The group extended their collaboration to other classes at the school: digital media and supply chain management. Pickett said an electric truck owned by the school’s Career Technical Education Department is used to transport plastic waste to Eastman for molecular recycling.

“Our students are very interested in recycling and the environment, so we were excited for the opportunity to learn about molecular recycling,” Pickett said.

Environmental Club extends recycling efforts at football games

When the 2025 Dobyns-Bennett football season rolled around, the D-B Environmental Club got into the recycling spirit again. To reduce the environmental footprint of football events, volunteers from the Environmental Club were stationed at strategic points at the season-opening game, ready to catch any plastic waste. Fans are encouraged to dispose of their plastic bottles and containers responsibly.

Plastic collection will last through the football season. The waste, collected in bins donated by Eastman, will be sorted and used as feedstock at Eastman’s methanolysis facility.

“We’re happy to be partnering with Dobyns-Bennett’s Environmental Club on this important initiative,” said Chris Layton, Eastman’s director of circular policy and strategy. “Just like in football, teamwork is essential. By working together, we can make a significant impact on reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability locally.”

The high school students are equally enthusiastic about the project.

“We’re very excited to be able to partner with Eastman so that we can make a difference, not only at our school but in our community,” said Caidence Pope, vice president of the Environmental Club.

 

 

Eastman

Eastman believes the next generation is critical to making sustainable, positive change. That was made evident when several high school students from Kingsport, Tennessee, spent a day at Eastman to learn about next-generation recycling.

Students at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport got a behind-the-scenes tour of Eastman’s molecular recycling facilities. The group — a combination of Advanced Placement Environmental Sciences students and members of the school’s Environmental Club — also spent a couple of hours discussing plastic recycling and brainstorming recycling solutions for their school. The ideas flowed quickly. That’s not surprising, since these students volunteer to sort out recyclables from trash at their school stadium the morning after football games.

Delaney Morris was enthused to see a recycling innovation — the world’s largest of its kind — in her hometown. “It was breathtaking to see that Eastman can use such a creative process to take plastic back to the molecular level,” Morris said. “Seeing it implemented and talking to people who were passionate about recycling and making the Earth a better place was really cool. And it’s cool to think this is a process that can make a difference not only in Kingsport, Tennessee, but also the entire world.”

Stephanie Blythe, a specialist in circular economy communications at Eastman, was inspired by the youthful energy.

“They had ideas to increase recycling at their school, and they started taking immediate action,” Blythe said. “They got to see Eastman recycling innovations that are making a difference now, and they also heard in our discussions how important collaboration is for sustainable change. It’s inspiring to see such leadership and innovative thinking in the next generation.”

Preparing recycling samples for global education

At the end of their tour, the students assembled sample bags of various plastic feedstocks that are sent by Eastman to companies around the world so that organizations can better understand their hard-to-recycle plastic waste can be recycled instead of ending up in landfill or an incinerator.

For student Abby Davis, standing in front of a mountain of plastic granules that would be recycled by Eastman formed a vivid memory. She knows a thing or two about recycling herself, since Davis started a project to recycle crayons and collected 175 pounds of crayons that would be remade into new ones.

“Honestly, it was shocking to see all that plastic,” Davis said. “Obviously, I know we all need to recycle more, but when you visually see how much plastic there is in a pile that large, it helps you connect the dots.”

Caleb Elkins had a similar feeling.

“I didn’t know much about the differences between recycling processes before I visited Eastman, and I definitely didn’t know that molecular recycling was something that could be infinitely repeated. That’s cool,” Elkins said. “We’ve developed this culture where we just see waste disappear, and we don’t know where it goes, so learning more about recycling is important.”

Dobyns-Bennett teacher Natalie Pickett is the sponsor of the school’s Environmental Club. The group extended their collaboration to other classes at the school: digital media and supply chain management. Pickett said an electric truck owned by the school’s Career Technical Education Department is used to transport plastic waste to Eastman for molecular recycling.

“Our students are very interested in recycling and the environment, so we were excited for the opportunity to learn about molecular recycling,” Pickett said.

Environmental Club extends recycling efforts at football games

When the 2025 Dobyns-Bennett football season rolled around, the D-B Environmental Club got into the recycling spirit again. To reduce the environmental footprint of football events, volunteers from the Environmental Club were stationed at strategic points at the season-opening game, ready to catch any plastic waste. Fans are encouraged to dispose of their plastic bottles and containers responsibly.

Plastic collection will last through the football season. The waste, collected in bins donated by Eastman, will be sorted and used as feedstock at Eastman’s methanolysis facility.

“We’re happy to be partnering with Dobyns-Bennett’s Environmental Club on this important initiative,” said Chris Layton, Eastman’s director of circular policy and strategy. “Just like in football, teamwork is essential. By working together, we can make a significant impact on reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability locally.”

The high school students are equally enthusiastic about the project.

“We’re very excited to be able to partner with Eastman so that we can make a difference, not only at our school but in our community,” said Caidence Pope, vice president of the Environmental Club.

 

 

Eastman

Eastman believes the next generation is critical to making sustainable, positive change. That was made evident when several high school students from Kingsport, Tennessee, spent a day at Eastman to learn about next-generation recycling.

Students at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport got a behind-the-scenes tour of Eastman’s molecular recycling facilities. The group — a combination of Advanced Placement Environmental Sciences students and members of the school’s Environmental Club — also spent a couple of hours discussing plastic recycling and brainstorming recycling solutions for their school. The ideas flowed quickly. That’s not surprising, since these students volunteer to sort out recyclables from trash at their school stadium the morning after football games.

Delaney Morris was enthused to see a recycling innovation — the world’s largest of its kind — in her hometown. “It was breathtaking to see that Eastman can use such a creative process to take plastic back to the molecular level,” Morris said. “Seeing it implemented and talking to people who were passionate about recycling and making the Earth a better place was really cool. And it’s cool to think this is a process that can make a difference not only in Kingsport, Tennessee, but also the entire world.”

Stephanie Blythe, a specialist in circular economy communications at Eastman, was inspired by the youthful energy.

“They had ideas to increase recycling at their school, and they started taking immediate action,” Blythe said. “They got to see Eastman recycling innovations that are making a difference now, and they also heard in our discussions how important collaboration is for sustainable change. It’s inspiring to see such leadership and innovative thinking in the next generation.”

Preparing recycling samples for global education

At the end of their tour, the students assembled sample bags of various plastic feedstocks that are sent by Eastman to companies around the world so that organizations can better understand their hard-to-recycle plastic waste can be recycled instead of ending up in landfill or an incinerator.

For student Abby Davis, standing in front of a mountain of plastic granules that would be recycled by Eastman formed a vivid memory. She knows a thing or two about recycling herself, since Davis started a project to recycle crayons and collected 175 pounds of crayons that would be remade into new ones.

“Honestly, it was shocking to see all that plastic,” Davis said. “Obviously, I know we all need to recycle more, but when you visually see how much plastic there is in a pile that large, it helps you connect the dots.”

Caleb Elkins had a similar feeling.

“I didn’t know much about the differences between recycling processes before I visited Eastman, and I definitely didn’t know that molecular recycling was something that could be infinitely repeated. That’s cool,” Elkins said. “We’ve developed this culture where we just see waste disappear, and we don’t know where it goes, so learning more about recycling is important.”

Dobyns-Bennett teacher Natalie Pickett is the sponsor of the school’s Environmental Club. The group extended their collaboration to other classes at the school: digital media and supply chain management. Pickett said an electric truck owned by the school’s Career Technical Education Department is used to transport plastic waste to Eastman for molecular recycling.

“Our students are very interested in recycling and the environment, so we were excited for the opportunity to learn about molecular recycling,” Pickett said.

Environmental Club extends recycling efforts at football games

When the 2025 Dobyns-Bennett football season rolled around, the D-B Environmental Club got into the recycling spirit again. To reduce the environmental footprint of football events, volunteers from the Environmental Club were stationed at strategic points at the season-opening game, ready to catch any plastic waste. Fans are encouraged to dispose of their plastic bottles and containers responsibly.

Plastic collection will last through the football season. The waste, collected in bins donated by Eastman, will be sorted and used as feedstock at Eastman’s methanolysis facility.

“We’re happy to be partnering with Dobyns-Bennett’s Environmental Club on this important initiative,” said Chris Layton, Eastman’s director of circular policy and strategy. “Just like in football, teamwork is essential. By working together, we can make a significant impact on reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability locally.”

The high school students are equally enthusiastic about the project.

“We’re very excited to be able to partner with Eastman so that we can make a difference, not only at our school but in our community,” said Caidence Pope, vice president of the Environmental Club.

 

 

With nearly 40% of carbon emissions coming from the built environment, the construction industry is building and renovating more and more sustainably. With innovative solutions and new construction methods, we have a whole new vocabulary that this podcast is going to decipher for you!

Faced with ever scarcer natural resources and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the construction industry is looking to urban mining – the recovery of construction materials from demolished buildings. Explore with us the opportunities and obstacles to this important idea.

Listen here, U…for Urban Mining, a Saint-Gobain Podcast

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
More than 161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050

With nearly 40% of carbon emissions coming from the built environment, the construction industry is building and renovating more and more sustainably. With innovative solutions and new construction methods, we have a whole new vocabulary that this podcast is going to decipher for you!

Faced with ever scarcer natural resources and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the construction industry is looking to urban mining – the recovery of construction materials from demolished buildings. Explore with us the opportunities and obstacles to this important idea.

Listen here, U…for Urban Mining, a Saint-Gobain Podcast

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
More than 161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050