Axon CEO, Rick Smith, was introduced to Athena by the Head of Talent for a prominent Bay Area VC firm. With just one coffee and a follow-up phone call, Athena was able to suggest a number of terrific woman to consider. Rick Smith talked about this process and his experience in a video interview shared on the Athena YouTube channel. Rick touched on the importance of boards evolving with the company and shared how having diverse members, who are readily available through programs like the Athena Alliance, can help expand the impact of such an important decision.

Julie Cullivan has recently acquired a new role as SVP, Business Operations and CIO of ForeScout Technologies, following four and a half years as EVP, Business Operations and CIO at FireEye. At FireEye, Julie helped create and implement the company strategy, leading Business Operations and Information Technology through an IPO that increased the company’s overall revenue from $80 million to over $700 million and establishing their worth as a billion dollar corporation.

In her new role at ForeScout Technologies, Julie will build and maintain information security strategies for the Internet of Things company and lead actions across the company to move forward, namely through implementation of innovative technology solutions.

Julie brings an impressive skillset and portfolio to the Axon board, having secured her place as a thought leader in numerous aspects of technology, including cyber security, business digitization and more, and adding her experience in sales, channel and marketing operations, women in security and developing powerful, effective teams.

The Athena Alliance was pleased to work with Axon in taking steps toward a more diverse, representative board. In combination with Axon’s effort for diversity, Julie Cullivan’s expertise in technology and passion for gender diversity on boards is a promising move for the company, for Julie and for The Athena Alliance. Congratulations, Julie!

“I’m extremely happy to welcome Ms. Cullivan to Axon’s Board of Directors. Her combined extensive business, sales operations, IT and cyber security expertise brings huge value to the Axon Board of Directors. The value of such expertise can hardly be overstated at a time when our Company continues to grow, expand and evolve.”  

–  Axon CEO and founder, Rick Smith

If you want to introduce us to a board that could benefit from the support Axon received through Athena, email me [email protected]. I’m very bullish about our ability to make great introductions quickly and frictionlessly.