CDSA

Imaginate: Making the Overwhelming Simple

Simin Haik, founder of Los Angeles-based boutique advisory and security assessment firm Imaginate, launched the company with the goal of helping vendors complete their Trusted Partner Network (TPN) assessments properly and with as little stress as possible.

However, the former UltraViolet guru has expanded her services beyond content security assessments for entertainment players, offering advisory services for project management best practices, and regulatory compliance services.

Haik spoke with MESA about the need for TPN and its assessments, the future of women in cybersecurity, and what’s next for her company.

MESA: What was the impetus behind Imaginate, why did you start the company?

Haik: Imaginate stands for imagine and innovate, a sign that you can achieve what you envision and work for. I created the company as an opportunity to help others impact the world in a positive, way one step at a time.

MESA: As a qualified assessor for the Trusted Partner Network, walk us through the process of helping vendors get certified. What all goes into a TPN assessment?

Haik: TPN assessment can be overwhelming for some, and our aim is to make it easy and even enjoyable by breaking it down into small, digestible steps, and explaining the meaning of each part of the process. I provide a personal service, and with the thorough assessment, my clients see the path to a secure company and a successful enterprise.

MESA: One study has women making up only 20% of the cybersecurity workforce, and another pegs the number of women working in the information tech field at 25%. What do you see as the challenges for women in these fields?

Haik: The tech industry and specially cybersecurity field has been mostly male dominated. I am proud to be the first qualified TPN assessor that is a woman, paving the way for others to join. We need to provide better education at a young age– introduce our girls to all options, encourage them to learn as much as they can, and let them chose with open eyes.

MESA: In the past you’ve led projects for Fox, Sony and UltraViolet. What did you take away from those projects that you apply to your current business offerings, including technical program management service?

Haik: As a senior program manager, I provide services to help my clients succeed and deliver the products that improve their business and introduces innovation, enabling substantial, and sometimes rapid growth. Innovation is the core need for survival as technology is advancing and evolving continuously.

MESA: What does Imaginate offer in the regulatory compliance arena, and what type of auditing services are media and entertainment companies in need of the most?

Haik: Imaginate assists companies to achieve compliance with various regulations such as ISO13485 (for medical devices), PCI, SOX, ISO 27001, and others. In addition, we help with submitting an FDA applications.

MESA: What are some of your favorite use case examples, where clients have made the most out of what your business offers? And what’s next for Imaginate, what can we expect from the company in the near future?

Haik: I had a few cases with clients that have been referred to me after their prior TPN assessor could not complete the process. Using our methodical approach, I was able to complete these assessments in record time and accuracy. Being a woman gives me another perspective to manage my clients. “Impossible” is not in my lexicon. I really enjoy hearing the satisfaction of my happy clients.

Imaginate will continue providing excellent personal service, especially during the pandemic. We all need to be adaptable and creative, with openness to out of the box solutions and innovation, even when nothing is immediately obvious.