We are very excited to announce adding a new FAIR Enablement Specialist, Katy Janas, to our growing and dynamic membership community. The Enablement Team at the FAIR Institute, leads the charge in welcoming new members to help navigate their journeys with the FAIR Model, the only internationally recognized quantitative standard for cyber risk management. Through introductory calls and ongoing support, the team ensures that members are set up for success.
Katy is a Northern Virginia native, now based in New York City, who has already hit the ground running! You can reach out to Katy and the FES Team for information on training and certification, events, membership resources, and more at fes@fairinstitute.org.
Tell us about yourself beyond your job title - what has shaped your interests, and what gets you excited outside of work?
I’ve always been super interested in sports—I grew up playing just about every sport you can think of. They’ve shaped who I am today, teaching me the value of teamwork and hard work. Plus, I just genuinely love watching them. Outside of that, spending time with my friends and family is huge for me. I love being around people and feeding off their energy, so honestly, I’m happy doing pretty much anything as long as I’m with others.
What were you doing for work before joining the Institute?
Before joining FAIR, I worked in sales with the New Jersey Devils, where I focused on selling season tickets and group and premium experiences. It was a super fast-paced and competitive environment, and I learned how to build relationships with fans and clients while also being able to manage multiple priorities under pressure. The role really strengthened my communication, negotiation, and customer service skills, and gave me a strong foundation in time management and resilience, so I’m truly grateful for that experience, and now I’m excited to bring those skills and energy and contribute to the FAIR Institute.
What would you say are your natural strengths or skills that you bring to everything you do? How do you expect to provide the most benefit for the Institute community?
I’d say a couple of my biggest strengths are that I’m very outgoing and genuinely passionate about connecting with people. I love getting to know others, hearing their stories, and building those relationships. Because of all that, I bring strong communication skills, and I’m always quick to respond and follow through. I think that translates well into being able to support members, answer questions, and make sure anyone who wants to learn more about FAIR feels welcome and taken care of. On top of that, I’m someone who brings positive energy and enthusiasm to whatever I’m doing, so I’d be excited to contribute to the community and help it continue to grow.
What was it that drew you to this role? Why did FAIR, the Institute, or cyber risk management and quantification sound interesting to you?
What drew me to FAIR and cybersecurity is the opportunity to work with real-world challenges in a corporate setting. I want to be able to provide practical, meaningful solutions to people, and I see FAIR as doing exactly that. Cyber risk is only becoming more critical these days as technology continues to grow within every business, so helping companies understand that risk in financial terms is something that really resonates with me. On top of that, I do believe in FAIR’s model and methodology, which makes me super excited about the impact I could have here.
For someone listening who's curious about FAIR but doesn't know where to start, what would you tell them?
FAIR isn't overly complicated to learn--it's really designed to help people better understand and learn about risk in financial terms. That way, businesses can make smarter decisions, help their decision-makers be more proactive and ultimately save money.
What are you looking forward to - personally and/or professionally - in the coming year?
Personally, I’m excited to keep exploring, since I’m still pretty new to New York City and Hoboken. Professionally, I’m looking forward to building up my knowledge more in cybersecurity and risk management, and just getting more involved in the industry as a whole.
Join the FAIR community! Become a FAIR Institute member now.