Today we’d like to introduce you to Ieshea Hollins, Founder and CEO of Direnzic Technology – one of the first digital forensics and cybersecurity companies in the nation, which was founded in 2008 with offices in Louisiana and Texas.
Hello Ieshea, we’re so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Thank you so much! I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity to connect with you and your amazing community.
As far as my story … I have many roles and wear many hats, which I’m guessing is something your audience can relate! I’m a dedicated mother, family member and friend. I’m a business owner and public speaker who is passionate about what I do. I’m an experienced cybersecurity expert and a minority woman operating in technology. Each hat I wear is very important to me and plays a huge role in what led me to create my organization.
Currently, I’m a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Cybersecurity Evangelist – both usually require a little explanation (*laughs*). A CISO oversees an organization’s information, technology and cybersecurity, while a Cybersecurity Evangelist advocates for all things cybersecurity, including the many ways it affects our lives. I’ve been in this field for more than 20 years and my goal is to change the way people view cybersecurity, technology and the human impacts regardless of the hat they wear. I have seen the disastrous effects hacking and breaches can have on the assets of businesses and on the personal lives of individuals. So when I say the issues around cybersecurity are urgent, I really mean it.
As a business owner: I founded Direnzic where it’s our mission to help businesses and organizations “Minimize Risk; Maximize Success” and to help individuals and families “Erase The Fear; Embrace The Change”. As the Direnzic saying goes: “If you have tech, you need cybersecurity.” We recognize that the digital demand and change are inevitable. So we’re here to champion innovative solutions affording clients the opportunity to proactively and reactively safeguard themselves against cyber risk, crime, and trauma.
As a Mother: I have worked alongside organizations that help victims of human trafficking and other life-altering cyber cases. I’m passionate about my family and children’s safety both online and offline; that passion carries over to all families and children. We live in a new day of technology and it’s essential to bring more awareness, safe access and solutions to all generations, especially our youth.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This year, I’ll be celebrating the 15th anniversary of Direnzic – the road has been worth it but it has not been easy. As a minority woman in tech I never looked at cybersecurity and thought I couldn’t; yet others looked at me and thought I shouldn’t. At times, I’ve struggled with finding clients because they weren’t expecting a minority woman to walk into the room. I’ve also navigated men assuming I didn’t know how to navigate tech.
Yet for every challenge, I’ve learned to lean into my faith and always look for the window that opens as a door closes. Rejection from clients taught me to look for federal contracts. Struggles with contractors both made me more resilient and drove me to pivot staffing strategy toward a full-time team.
I don’t let the negative deter me but rather inspire me to work harder to move forward while reaching back to make the way easier for those coming after me. That’s why I’m passionate about advocating for women in I.T. and also for small business owners. That’s why making tech more accessible, diverse and just is a top priority of mine.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Yes! I use the systems already in place (such as the 3 C’s: control over existing IT resources, communication across the organization and connection with a trusted cybersecurity partner). Yet I do all of this in conjunction with updated versions I’ve created to ensure we are prepared for what’s coming down the pipeline because the reality is… we’re still missing 4 other C’s!
This is why I launched the C4 Series: the new style of cybersecurity education! This initiative, though relatively new, has been applauded by civic leaders and industry experts alike. This program’s cornerstones include: Consciously Connected™, Consciously Disconnected™, Consciously Unplugged™ and Consciously Healed™. I’d love to provide you and your audience a sneak peak about each one:
Consciously Connected™: under this program, you can learn tips on how to keep your family and friends safe while traveling online. Since 2022, we’ve offered Direnzic-certified programs, such as the Internet Safety Masterclass. This masterclass is here to help parents, teachers & youth leaders keep kids safe online. After working on cases related to human trafficking, I can tell you this one is vital, urgent and mandatory.
Consciously Disconnected™: under this cornerstone, you can learn how to maintain proper cyber hygiene. What do I mean by this (*laughs*)? Making sure we log off safely is as important as making sure we log on safely.
My first book is a great example of this: Technology Guide to Divorce which is a journal and planner that educates people going through divorce, separation and breakups on the nuances of Disconnecting Their Tech™. After helping clients navigate hacking and breaches during breakups simply because their tech was still connected – and after navigating that myself – I knew this guide was needed. This is one of three in my Technology Guide series – Technology Guide to Succession Planning and Technology Guide to Social Media are available for preorder.
Consciously Unplugged™: under this program, we’ll help you maintain a healthy relationship with technology as it continues to advance. Our purpose here is to highlight and respond to the impacts of technology overuse and addiction. We’ve got programs for everyone: from young people to high-ranking executives to teams!
Consciously Healed™: under this cornerstone, you can access support and resources related to the stress and trauma that can arise as a result of cybercrimes, such as cyber stalking. Consciously Healed includes seminars and retreats to provide direct support to members in the community who have been victims of cybercrimes.
As one of the first of its kind, C4 is gaining traction within the cybersecurity community. I’ve worked hard for buy-in with federal agents in both Louisiana and Texas who have agreed to be speakers and advocates on behalf of the program. I’m working with members of the legal community to provide assistance as well as members of the mental health and psychiatric community. So we invite you to join us and to access everything we have to offer.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
On a personal note, I’d say the most important lesson has been to be kinder to myself as I give myself permission to make the decisions necessary to grow a non-traditional IT organization.
From the perspective of Direnzic, the most important lesson has been to protect the tech user – and not just the digital assets. Cybersecurity is about protecting technology, but internet safety is about protecting you: the user. This is why Direnzic is the space where “Technology Meets Reality”. Technology can save lives, but it unfortunately can also sometimes make our lives more difficult.
Yet there’s an upside to this! As the saying goes, “knowledge is power”. It’s through recognizing this fact, accepting it and working with it that we can make a difference, and that is what my team is here to do. We’re here to help you every step of the way.
In an effort to educate and empower, for the past 10 years for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October) I’ve hosted a cybersecurity awareness conference and small business expo. Last year, my conferences were hosted in both Louisiana and Texas, where I operated as both host and Keynote Speaker in front of over 250 attendees. I concluded the year by touring with the TX CPA Expo teaching numerous sessions per stop on Disaster Recovery and The Dark Web/Internet Safety.
… On that note, before we bring this interview to a close, I’d love to share a special invitation with your audience! We’re hosting two annual events this year as a part of our mission to make this information and the solutions more accessible. You are invited to both! Registration is now open: www.eventbrite.com/o/direnzic-
- JUNE 22nd, 2023: Internet Safety Tech Symposium – It’s All A Matter Of Consciousness (serving tech users, families, kids, schools, family attorneys, mental health practitioners and more)
- OCTOBER 19th-21st: Cybersecurity Awareness Conference – Featuring Inaugural Hackathon PLUS 15-Year Anniversary Gala (serving tech users, college students, teachers, ethical hackers, cybersecurity professionals, businesses, entrepreneurs and more)
As an established industry expert, I continue to work with federal and state agencies, municipalities, manufacturing, port authorities, civic and publicly owned companies helping them achieve cyber literacy & compliance, disaster preparedness & strategic planning, structuring IT infrastructure rollouts & designing information security roadmaps.
Additionally, I’ve started a group called Tech Connectors, a community created to connect individuals to technology resources to help grow and empower them by providing a platform that matches people to others in the technology space with information sharing, mentorship, entrepreneurial training, career opportunities, and peer support. This group grew 250+ members in one year, and as group host, I have been featured in over half a dozen podcasts. In 2014, I was a founding member of NELASEC (Northeast Louisiana Information Security), a technology professional networking group in Northeast Louisiana that hosts monthly meetings and saw annualized average membership growth of 22% year over year. My other organization, Against All Odds, Inc., partnered with my organization, Direnzic Technology, allowed my to host summer camps and youth retreats for disadvantaged youth, which grew to house more than 500 students.
Most recently I was named one of the 2023 Top 20 Women in Tech Award honoree. It’s truly not been an easy journey but definitely a worthy one.
Additional Ways To Learn About Ieshea Hollins:
- Initial Consultations (for all services such as social media restoration, disaster planning, etc.): www.calendly.com/direnzic
- Get her book “Technology Guide To Divorce”: www.technologyguidetodivorce.
com - Visit her website: www.direnzic.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.direnzic.com [1]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/iesheaspeaks [2]
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ieshea [3]
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ieshea [4]
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/direnzic [5]
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@
direnzic - SoundCloud: www.technologyguidetodivorce.
com [6] - Other: https://linktr.ee/ieshea
