Security's Most Influential People in Security 2019 - Karen Frank
Director of Global Security Pratt & Whitney
Karen Frank is the Director of Global Security for Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Company. Frank is responsible for developing and supporting the implementation of Pratt & Whitney’s global security strategy and serves as the focal point for corporate security within the organization.
Frank previously held leadership roles at Caterpillar Inc. in Enterprise Security and IT Service Management. She held global accountability to strategically transform the IT consumer experience, including supplier relationship management, asset management and infrastructure demand shaping and analytics. Frank previously was the Enterprise Security Program & Consulting Director for Caterpillar Inc., managing security services and associated governance in support of domestic and international corporate risk management initiatives related to the security of people, information, property and brand.
At Caterpillar, Frank helped drive a comprehensive converged (physical, cyber, crisis management) strategy within the corporation. She was chosen to do a rotation within the IT function as a result of her success in driving several IT security initiatives to successful fruition.
“My time spent in traditional IT operations afforded the opportunity to make sustainable change in an area outside of my historical area of expertise,” Frank notes. “Success in the role came from empowering subject matters experts within the team, which allowed me to grow as a leader, but also to gain invaluable learning that is very relevant to enterprise security and overall risk management.”
Frank also helped drive ESRM concepts as a member of the ASIS ESRM Committee. She has also been a guest speaker on women in security and ESRM in numerous venues.
Frank is a Six Sigma Black Belt and has prior law enforcement experience as a Criminal Investigator for the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office in Illinois. She is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
Her career is advice is to “Be prepared for change throughout your career. The corporate security field is changing rapidly to meet the expectations of business leaders seeking trusted security risk management advisors. The law enforcement field has become very dynamic with changes in social media and technology. This necessitates ongoing competency development, a strong ability to collaborate and a willingness to adapt and embrace change.”
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