AmCham’s Tech Talent Network at AWS: DEI in the Workplace & the Increasing Importance of Cybersecurity
The third Tech Talent Network (TTN) gathering of the year was hosted by AWS, where participants had the opportunity to meet with Nathalie Håkenstad on the impact and aims of DEI in the workplace and Martin Ingenes on the increasing role of cybersecurity for businesses and organizations.
DEI drives better business
Nathalie Håkenstad, Enterprise Account Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS), discussed the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the workplace and how companies should integrate these principles into their business strategy. She emphasized that DEI is not a quick fix or a mere checkbox exercise but is fundamentally about ensuring representation, fairness, and a sense of belonging for all employees.
Nathalie explained that a diverse workforce isn’t just morally right; it also drives better business outcomes by appealing to a broader customer base and building trust through better connections. DEI initiatives help ensure that all employees feel they can bring their true selves to work, which in turn positively impacts customer relationships.
A need for more proactive cybersecurity
Martin Ingenes, founder of and principal consultant at the penetration testing company Kovert, highlighted the critical role of cybersecurity in protecting organizations from increasingly sophisticated threats. Kovert specializes in penetration testing, red team simulations, and social engineering, including phishing attacks that exploit human error to gain unauthorized access.
Martin underscored the persistent challenge in cybersecurity, where defenders often think in lists, while attackers think in graphs, making the latter better equipped in finding vulnerabilities. He provided examples of how phishing sites can be used to deceive users and how attackers, once inside, can navigate through multiple levels of an organization’s defenses. Martin stressed the importance of proactive security measures, as rates of attacks are increasing from a broad range of actors around the globe.
Afterwards TTN participants gathered for afterwork drinks at Aker Brygge for networking and planning future TTN topics.
TTN is a non-competitive arena for knowledge sharing, professional development, and expanding international market insights, currently open to select Patron-level technology industry member representatives. Exclusive quarterly sessions with industry leaders and external speakers create opportunities for collaboration and leadership development.
For further information and interest in the program, please contact Ragnhild.Dalen@amcham.no.