DPIT: Don't Let Fear Decide w/Charissa Wong (46:47 #363)
DPIT, Thursday, July 10th, 2025
At Bowers and Kubota in Honolulu, Hawaii, Charissa Wong serves as Director of IT and Security, leading technology initiatives for a local architecture, engineering, and construction management firm. With six years in her current role and additional experience running cybersecurity consulting firm Cyber Kia, Charissa understands the unique challenges of IT leadership in small market environments.
From managing limited IT resources as a 'jack of all trades' to making strategic career pivots between IT and sales, Charissa discusses the realities of professional growth when traditional career ladders don't exist. She shares insights on building community through organizations like the CIO Council of Hawaii, protecting local small businesses from cyber threats, and the critical importance of peer networks in isolated markets.
Wong also offers valuable perspectives on gender dynamics in technology, the power of cross-functional experience, and how geographic constraints can actually drive innovation in professional development strategies.
- How IT leaders navigate career growth in geographically isolated markets
- The unexpected value of cross-functional experience in sales for IT professionals
- Building professional community and peer networks in small market environments
- Overcoming gender dynamics and communication challenges in technology leadership
- Strategic approaches to cybersecurity consulting for vulnerable small businesses
What happens when geographic isolation meets professional ambition?