The motivation lies in playing each other better

If you happen to see campaigns from Orange Cyberdefense Denmark on your digital and social platforms, there is a good chance that it has been in the hands of Karen Riesgaaard Nøhr. As Marketing Coordinator and Office Manager, she is involved in a wide variety of marketing-related tasks and projects – both in Denmark and across the Nordics.

If you need graphics for LinkedIn, website updating or banners for the next online campaign, you never go to Karen Riesgaard Nøhr in vain. For several years, she has guaranteed that Orange Cyberdefense's Danish website is always updated with the latest content, that customers receive news emails and that all marketing material for various digital campaigns and physical events complies with the guidelines described in Orange Cyberdefense's CVI, which ensures that everything regarding graphic design complies with Orange Cyberdefenses's overall Look & Feel identity. In addition, she also contributes to the close marketing cooperation across the Nordics, which makes Orange Cyberdefense's marketing campaigns in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark more effective.

Focus on close collaboration in 2024

In 2024, one of the marketing department's most important tasks will be to coordinate closely with the sales department and set joint goals that can generate even more sales leads. There is also a focus on automating time-consuming marketing tasks with new tools.

"For me, it's a good day when I can feel that sales and marketing succeed in playing each other better, because in that way we become stronger. It is super important that we really understand each other's roles and working conditions. When we work well together on common goals, increases my energy. It makes sense and creates value", says Karen Riesgaard Nøhr.

Freedom and flexibility is a must

In Orange Cyberdefense, all employees benefit from a great deal of freedom to solve their tasks as it suits them best. The flexibility is higher than Karen has been used to in her previous jobs. She appreciates the freedom to go for a run in the middle of the day if she needs a physical break, which can kick-start new ideas before she starts working on the next work task. Not only does this makes her everyday life easier - it also means that she can working whenever she feels she is most efficient.

"Over the past years there has been a huge change in how we organize our working hours. The boundaries are much more fluid, and today it is not at all strange that someone writes or replies to an e-mail before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. This of course also means, that you must manage your working time yourself, so that it does not overshadow other important things. For me, it is a gift to have a flexibility that allows me to create a more flexible balance between my work and private life. Who knows - maybe one day I can perform my work from a motorhome in New Zealand?", says Karen.

Inspiration, improvement and creativity is important

Where some approach their careers with a lot of planning, it is more important for Karen to continuously feel how her work should develop in the present. The most important thing is that she has a creative job that gives her inspiration and joy - and of course some good challenges.

"I would like to get better at navigating in a large, global organization. Marketing is, after all, a professional field with many touch points and a great deal of interaction on many levels and across national borders. Then I would also like to crack the code to our CRM system and find ways that makes it possible for us to use more automation in our day-to-day work. And then I would like us to be even more aligned with sales, to make sure that we collaborate in a way that makes it possible for us to reach our target groups with great precision", says Karen.

The gender balance will eventually change in the business

On a day-to-day basis, Karen doesn't mind the fact that most of her colleagues are men. She believes that this will change soon. The younger generation looks at things differently, and both genders are now digital natives, because they been used to using IT since their early childhood. Therefore, Karen also believes that young women's perception of IT is less gender-divided than the generations before them. In 2023, the IT University received more applicants from women than ever before. Karen summarizes her position on gender distribution like this:

"Men may still be overrepresented in cybersecurity in the future, but I’m convinced that it will be less pronounced. But to me it really doesn't matter. Women are different, men are different, and we all have different paths to reach our goals. I think it is the differences that create a good dynamic in the workplace. So, to the women who are interested in working with cybersecurity, I can only say: Look at the people - are they nice? Do you see opportunities for good collaboration? It that’s the case then you should apply - the industry wants more talented women – so apply!"