Renata's Story | ABB

Renata

When Renata Pesinová joined ABB on 14 February 2024, she jokingly described it as the start of a “love story.” Two years later, that story has grown into a dynamic and impactful role in operational technology (OT) cybersecurity — one that combines technical expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and a strong drive to raise awareness.

Renáta Pesinová, ICS Cyber Security Engineer, Czechia

Renata works as a cybersecurity engineer for control systems, focusing on distributed control systems (DCS) and OT environments. In her local unit, she is the only dedicated cybersecurity specialist, which makes her role both broad and highly visible. “In my role, I support sales, provide technical advisory, implement network devices, and create network architectures according to compliance and ABB standards,” she explains. “I also collaborate with marketing and speak publicly about OT security. It’s a huge range of responsibilities.”

Her work sits at the intersection of engineering, legislation, and customer requirements. One of the biggest challenges, she says, is translating theory into practical, effective solutions. “You have ABB standards, legislative compliance, customer requirements, sales expectations — and you need to combine all of it into one final solution that works reliably in reality,” she says.

Raising awareness around OT security has become an important part of her contribution. She frequently presents internally and externally, helping position ABB as a trusted partner in secure industrial automation.

Growth through collaboration
Since joining ABB, Renata has actively developed her expertise through professional certifications, internal training, and global collaboration. “From the moment I joined, I had strong support from my manager,” she says. “I was able to complete many certifications that I needed for my role, and ABB offers multiple training courses.”

However, for Renata, the most valuable learning comes from people. “It’s not only about learning something from documents or online courses. It’s always about sharing,” she says. “You need to understand the context, know who to ask, and not be afraid to reach out.”

As the sole cybersecurity specialist in her country, cross-country collaboration is essential. She regularly connects with colleagues across Europe to compare implementations, discuss challenges, and exchange best practices. “If you are locally alone in the field in your country, you absolutely need strong connections with others,” she says. “The communication across countries is at a very good level. People are open to mentoring and giving advice.”

Locally, she collaborates most closely with application and system engineers, whose in-depth knowledge of control systems is critical for secure implementations. At the same time, she works closely with sales teams and often joins customer meetings to provide technical expertise. “For cybersecurity, you really need to discuss thoroughly with the customer,” she explains. “You need to know exactly what they require — including legislative requirements — because not every customer has the same obligations.”

Stepping beyond the technical role
In addition to her engineering responsibilities, Renata is active in several company initiatives. She is part of the ABB Talent Ambassador Program and was recognized among the best globally for her active engagement. She is also involved in the Security Hero initiative, where she organizes cyber talks, shares updates, and supports internal awareness activities. “I feel ABB gives me a lot, and through these initiatives I can return the favor,” she says. “You can bring your own energy and help others grow.”

One achievement she is particularly proud of is co-organizing her local unit’s first OT security webinar for customers. In her market, she noticed that many people primarily associated ABB with switches and sockets. “We wanted to create awareness that ABB is also about digital solutions and especially OT security,” she says. The positive feedback from industry experts reinforced that the message resonated. “It was encouraging to hear that they trust ABB and that they see we take security seriously.”

A culture that welcomes ideas
For Renata, one of the biggest surprises about ABB is its openness. “People might think ABB is a strict corporation with checklists that you need to follow,” she says. “But new ideas are really expected here. You can propose a new solution in a project, and it will be heard. You can really realize your potential here.”

She believes this openness, combined with strong collaboration and continuous learning, creates real space for growth. “It doesn’t matter so much what you studied originally,” she adds. “If you have passion, willingness, and you work on yourself, ABB gives you a chance to grow and become an expert.”

In a field where technology evolves rapidly, and expectations are high, Renata thrives on complexity — turning requirements into reality and ensuring that critical systems remain secure, available, and trusted.