Women in Security: Anu Herranen of Nortek Security & Control

CARLSBAD, Calif.—Anu Herranen, Nortek Security & Control's director of marketing and branding, has focused on technology in several different areas, holding positions at Microsoft and Nokia before entering the security industry by joining Nortek in late 2015.

“I've always had this passion for gadgets and trends,” Herranen said. This interest in technology and consumer behaviors overlaps well with the security industry and Nortek Security & Control's offerings. “I really enjoy it [at Nortek Security & Control], I especially like the versatility of our product lines. It's great to be in a company that actually � sees the whole end-to-end experience from end users' perspectives.”

Herranen said that she handles the marketing and branding for all of Nortek Security & Control's product lines, including PR, ecommerce, social media and customer communication.

“I lead a team of 10 people,” she said. “We basically make sure that when we talk about our products, or we feature our products, we are consistent � and we reach our customers in the best possible way and make sure they can be successful when selling our products or using our products.”

Increasing women industry wide can be a challenge, rooted in culture. “It does start from the culture, and it's hard to create an industry culture. It's definitely easier to have the change taking place within each company. That means that the company culture needs to promote bringing women on board,” she said.

Nortek Security & Control has a “women in technology” team. This team helps to drive change, Herranen said, and it is “not only things that promote women, but things that just showcase how important it is to have that diversity in the workplace and what women can bring to the equation.”

Herranen compared the security industry to other technology industries, which there are increasing numbers of women. “More and more companies highlight that and they want to have that change happening in the work place,” she said.

Self-advocacy and mentorships are two ways to increase the numbers of women in executive levels, Herranen said.