By websitebuilder
•
25 Mar, 2021
When Regine Bonneau, CTPRP, walks into a room, she commands attention. With her signature Fuchsia stilettos and accessories, she’s makes a statement with her poise and confidence. What sets Bonneau apart is that she’s a leading industry expert in the cybersecurity industry – a field mostly dominated by men, where only 20% are women. Hailing from Haiti, Bonneau emigrated to the United States when she was ten years old, escaping the coup d'état at that time along with her family’s desire to create a better life filled with more opportunities. Her family settled in New York City, where she was driven by her natural curiosity and zeal for learning. It was in junior high that she first became interested in robotics and coding in a computer programming class that was led by an inspiring female teacher. “That was where I first learned how to code and what sparked my interest in robotics and cyber technology. I found it so fascinating that I was able to create mechanical objects and then program them to complete different tasks and movements. After that, nothing electronic was safe. I fixed everything from the television to the radio to old printers laying around my house. Luckily my mom was supportive every step of the way,” says Regine Bonneau, founder and CEO of RB Advisory LLC. Taking advantage of the opportunities she was afforded as an American, Bonneau pursued three degrees, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration and finance, as well as a master’s degree in law with a concentration in financial services. Adding to this impressive list, she also is fluent in four languages: English, Creole, Spanish and French. What led Bonneau to pursue the path of an entrepreneur was the freedom to innovate. After more than 20 years leading financial services, including risk management and compliance services for employers in the health care, financial and energy sectors, Bonneau applied her knowledge and expertise to form RB Advisory adding cybersecurity services. This leads full circle to the impact Bonneau has on women in technology, especially black women. Over the last five years since the formation of her company, Bonneau has risen to prominence on a national scale, based on her expertise and outgoing style. Of the 20% of women being represented in cybersecurity, only 3% are black including, men and women. Bonneau represents the model of success that comes with hard work combined with a passion to succeed. While underrepresented, women, especially women of color, are part of the technology sector and they’re here to stay – for that Bonneau is unapologetic. “While we have come a long way in the last five years or so, there is still work to be done to ensure the industry is more welcoming for women. We cannot settle for a handful of women in a room of 1,000 technology experts,” says Bonneau. In her signature style, Bonneau is reinforcing the hashtag #unapologetic. She says it stems from a conversation with a mentor who once urged her to stop describing the technology industry as “male dominated” because it implies women don’t belong. Instead, she said, women in technology must be audacious and unapologetic because they do belong; those who are already here are here to stay. And that is precisely what Bonneau intends to do. With five years under her belt and a growth rate last year of more than 30%, she is on a trajectory toward continued success. In March, she announced that the company has been authorized to represent the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB) as a Registered Provider Organization (RPO). RPO status ensures that RB Advisory has agreed to the CMMC-AB code of professional conduct, can deliver non-certified CMMC consulting services, and is listed on the CMMC-AB Marketplace. As part of the ecosystem support to secure the nation’s supply chain, RB Advisory will help government contractors working with the United States Department of Defense (DOD) determine the required CMMC maturity level, become audit ready, and maintain compliance post certification. CMMC compliance services include Risk Assessment, GAP analysis, technical solutions, and documentation development. Since October 2020, RB Advisory has already been working with several companies in the Florida High Tech Corridor’s robust aerospace and modeling, simulation and training industries to ensure compliance. As a community leader, Bonneau believes in giving back and leading by example. She serves on many advisory boards and is a member of several business organizations. She is a frequently sought-after industry thought leader and subject matter expert. She represents diversity and inclusion, and she mentors all who seek her support. Her energy is contagious, and her spark lights up a room. Bonneau underscores the importance of mentoring as a factor that impacts success. “We are all aware of the power of mentorship — if you are a woman in technology and aren’t already giving back as a mentor, I encourage you to do so. We also need to change the conversation with parents of young women. I grew up with a mother who constantly asked when I would become a doctor, so I know what it feels like to be influenced to pursue a certain career path. We need parents to understand the diverse career opportunities available in technology that are just as fulfilling and well compensated. This field is not just for their sons,” says Bonneau. To inspire and encourage other entrepreneurs, especially women, Bonneau says, “Be passionate and don’t be afraid to show it. This is important for everyone, but especially for women. If you do not show up to meetings with enthusiasm and the desire to learn then why are you there? Be passionate and excited about what you do, then people will admire that in you and be more interested in the ideas you bring to the table.” With a winning attitude and approachable demeanor, it’s no wonder Bonneau has been awarded by the community as a “Deeva in Tech” by Women on the Rise, 40 Under 40 by the Orlando Business Journal and more recently its award program, Women Who Mean Business. Bonneau has been named by The National Business Journals as one of the Top 100 Influencers in the Nation: Rising Stars in 2019, she was also featured as one of the Top 12 most influential Black Leaders in Cybersecurity by rThreat and her company was recognized by the African American Chamber of Central Florida as the “Emerging Company of the Year” also in 2019. She hosts a cybersecurity column in the Sanford Herald , recognized as “Regine the Cyber Queen.” Bonneau holds leadership roles in several technology industry associations, is a New America Cybersecurity Fellow, and member of the International Consortium of Minority Cybersecurity Professionals (ICMCP). Bonneau is active in the community and is currently involved in several charitable organizations. She served on the Advisory Board for Arnold Palmer Medical Center (Champion’s Circle) and as a Board Member for NAWBO Orlando, Howard Phillips Center (Champion’s Circle), and Boys Scout Council of Central Florida. She is a member of Women in Defense and the National Defense Industrial Association and currently serves on the advisory boards for Florida Polytechnic University, University of South Florida MUMA College of Business and ECPI University. To learn more about Regine Bonneau, CTPRP, please visit her biography on our team page.