Jo Shemesh
What do you do at OPSWAT?
Some of you may know me as an executive producer of OPSWAT 20: The Future is Critical. I am a member of the brand team and help make visions a reality 😉. I head up our customer stories and testimonials—whether through video, written stories, or simple testimonials for our website, it's my goal to make sure that we highlight the real-world impact of our solutions. I love seeing and hearing how our technology and solutions protect our customers.
I also work on many of our large and special projects within our brand team, ensuring their successful execution alongside our talented team.
If you could describe OPSWAT in one word, what would it be and why?
I tried to find the right word to describe OPSWAT—and as cheesy as it sounds, for me it always circles back to "FAMILY". What I treasure the most is the people. As I have said before, the people at OPSWAT are my colleagues by chance, but we are friends by choice. Coming to work every day and working with your friends towards the same goal is priceless.
How did you begin your career in the cybersecurity industry?
Well, I got lucky. The story is this: after a 10-year stretch in digital forensics, I was ready to make my next move. I knew that I wanted to stay in the Hitech world, so I searched for a company that was doing something for the greater good, making a difference, and helping protect our way of life. I wanted to also take the next step in my career and hoped that with the Hitech world being so small, I could work with the “dream team” I’d previously worked with once again.
Along came OPSWAT with a few original members of the “dream team”, and I jumped at the chance. From the first moment I set foot in the office and Ori, our Sales leader, handed me that perfect cup of coffee, I knew I was in the right place. And here I am, almost a year and a half later, still enjoying the ride, Ori's coffee, and working with the growing dream team.
What do you like most about your direct team?
My team are the best, and I'm not just saying that—the brand team rocks! Our relationship is built on respect, trust, and transparency. I love the fact we all get along so well and are on the same page. Communication is key, as the team is scattered around the world. But to be fair, the distance has never stopped us from being a powerhouse 😉.
I also just want to give a shout out to the team in Israel too. You rock and I am so grateful for you.
What do you like most about the office where you work?
Where do I begin? Apart from it being round the corner from my house, our office is huge and very different from our previous place in Herzliya. Our office dogs (Max, Leo, and Angel) are always running around and bringing great energy to the workplace. We have a pool table and a custom-made arcade machine which is always fun, and we hang out there quite a bit! We have our personal barista, Ori, who makes the best coffee in town, and a stunning balcony area where we hold our office BBQs. What more can you ask for?!
What are your favorite activities outside of work?
Outside of work I love running and working out. I've completed two half marathons—the first one I ran to raise money for Guys and St Thomas Hospital in London, where my dad received treatment for Leukemia. The second I ran to beat my time, and I succeeded by two minutes. We'll see when the next one will be.
I am very easy going so hanging out and watching Netflix is pretty common outside of work 😊. But I also love hanging out with family and friends, going to the beach, dining out, traveling, and shopping.
Tell us a bit about your family
I have been married to Aharon for 12 years now and we have three kids—Leeor (10), Ella (8) and Liv (2), and a dog called Casper. What makes me really proud is that the kids are fluent in both English and Hebrew.
Life is a juggle, and they keep me on my toes, including Aharon and Casper, but I couldn't feel more blessed and grateful for them.
