Parichart Jiravachara
“A business environment that’s inclusive and benefits everyone also benefits the business.”
Parichart is an esteemed cybersecurity leader, speaker and writer who heads Deloitte Thailand’s Risk Advisory and Cyber Risk Services team, which she built from scratch. She has over 20 years of experience in several areas, including accounting, IT and management consulting.
She’s spoken at industry conferences like the Women Thailand Cyber Top Talent 2023 event hosted by Thailand’s National Cyber Security Agency. She has also published cybersecurity articles and actively participates in initiatives supporting women in STEM and cyber. She hopes that her journey proves that anyone, regardless of their background in cyber, can succeed.
What aspects of your career journey have taken you by surprise?
I never thought I’d be in IT or cybersecurity. I was focused on getting an MBA – but fate would have it that the course I wanted wasn’t offered that year. So, I took a chance and furthered my studies in a different field – IT – and found that I liked IT, and in particular anything cyber related. In the course of my work advising businesses on cyber risk, my accounting background comes in useful, as I can understand what my clients need.
What do you do for fun?
I love exploring new cafes and cafe hopping because I can get work done without disruption, plus I get to enjoy good coffee. There are tons of cafes in Thailand!
How can we attract more women to the cybersecurity industry?
We need more role models and community support. At Deloitte, we have initiatives supporting women interested in STEM, and I actively share my experiences to inspire women studying or working in IT.
What makes you proud to be a part of the cybersecurity industry?
I’m proud of growing a team from one person (me) to a large team with a whole spectrum of capabilities including IT governance, business continuity management, data governance and more. In the early days, I told the team that to show clients that we’re capable despite having a small team, we’ll invest in their education, including courses and certifications, and bring in global support for projects.
