PBN Leaders & Achievers Awards 2026
VIKEN JAWHARJIAN
RISE Group Inc. director of information security
The director of information security for RISE Group Inc., Viken Jawharjian has been with the engineering, design and environmental testing company in Cranston for five years, though he has nearly 30 years of experience in information technology and cybersecurity.
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Jawharjian has helped shape a security program that includes cybersecurity for RISE Group. He also ensured that the team understood the purpose of security and how to avoid phishing and other scams.
Jawharjian also led the company through a switch to a better-protected email system.
“I grew up in a generation where technology was evolving fast. You know, obviously as a kid, it started off with video games, then you get inquisitive,” he said. “How does this all work? Like, how does it come together to make what you’re seeing on the screen?”
He has expanded the use of Microsoft Teams for the company, customers and vendors.
“[It’s a shift] from being an individual in a role that actually looks at some problems or challenges like compliancy or weakness in a system, taking that technical risk and then being able to flip it and make it more relatable to executives so that they can make informed decisions and make them quickly so that we are staying ahead of the curve and not behind our competitors,” he said.
With a background in martial arts and having served in the military, Jawharjian said he considers leadership to include creating pathways for others to succeed.
“It’s a beacon when there’s a problem or a challenge or ambiguity,” he said. “I’ve always kind of revolved around three characteristics and [the first one is] modeling behavior because people always – if they respect you and you’ve gained that respect and that trust – they will assimilate. They’ll be like, ‘Well, hey, this leader is doing this consistently. Therefore, it must be a successful trait. I want to follow that.’ ”
Empathy and finding solutions to conflict are the other two aspects of leadership he holds close.
He advised those interested in IT to be curious and adaptable.
“If you’re coachable, you can be the best employee,” he said.
