About

Fifteen years translating security expertise into market influence.

I build the communications engine that lets technical organizations be understood, believed and remembered — across media, markets and moments of pressure.

My career began in public relations and found its home in cybersecurity — an industry where the stakes are real, the subject matter is genuinely hard, and clarity is a competitive advantage.

Across Symantec, NetApp, Sourcefire, Cisco, NSS Labs and Trinity Cyber, I have built communications functions from the ground up and led them through acquisitions, international expansion, hypergrowth and reputational pressure. I have partnered with threat researchers to make their findings newsworthy, coached executives to sound like themselves on the world's biggest security stages, and stood up rapid response programs that turn a breaking vulnerability into a moment of credibility.

What connects it all is translation and trust. Technical teams trust me with nuance; executives trust me with their voice; reporters and analysts trust that what comes from my desk is accurate, timely and worth their attention. That trust is what makes coverage, recognition and market positioning possible — not the other way around.

I believe great communications is built, not improvised: clear narrative foundations, disciplined message architecture, well-prepared spokespeople, measurement that shows what is actually landing, and an internal culture that knows the story before the market does. That philosophy has produced brand refreshes, editorial programs, award recognition and tier-one media results across five continents.

Portrait of Jessica D. Johannes

Education

Bachelor of Science, Public Relations — Business and Marketing minor. San Jose State University.

Professional associations

Cybermarketing Society · Wednesday Women · Austin Women in Communication

Career path

Leadership roles across defining names in security.

  1. Mar 2021 – Present

    Vice President of CommunicationsTrinity Cyber

    Own communications, brand and marketing strategy through hypergrowth — 3x headcount and 3x annual recurring revenue — positioning the company as a genuine market disruptor rather than another security vendor.

  2. Jan 2017 – Oct 2020

    Director, CommunicationsNSS Labs

    Trusted advisor to executive leadership on corporate and executive communications, independent security research launches, crisis and litigation-sensitive matters, leadership transitions and workforce realignment.

  3. Oct 2013 – Jan 2017

    Senior Manager, Executive CommunicationsCisco

    Led executive communications for three senior leaders in Cisco's Security Business Group, from RSA and Black Hat mainstage keynotes to analyst briefings, investor roundtables and town halls.

  4. May 2012 – Oct 2013

    Senior Manager, Global CommunicationsCisco / Sourcefire

    Ran worldwide programs across APAC, EMEA and LATAM, opened seven new markets, and managed an agency network of 11 regional firms across five continents.

  5. Jul 2010 – May 2012

    Manager, Public RelationsNetApp

    Enterprise technology public relations for a global data infrastructure leader.

  6. Jul 2008 – Jul 2010

    Manager, Corporate CommunicationsSymantec

    Corporate communications and launch programs, including award-winning security research and innovation showcases.

Key skill areas

What I am hired to lead.

Communications leadership

  • Cybersecurity communications
  • Executive communications
  • Corporate narrative development
  • Internal communications

Media & influence

  • Tier-one media relations
  • Broadcast media programs
  • Analyst and influencer relations
  • Share of voice measurement

High-stakes moments

  • Crisis and rapid response
  • Vulnerability and threat disclosure
  • Litigation-sensitive communications
  • Leadership transitions

Brand & content

  • Thought leadership programs
  • Brand and message architecture
  • Content and social strategy
  • Global agency management

Awards & recognition

Recognized for the work that mattered most.

NSS Labs

  • Above and Beyond Award — Crisis Communications (2018)
  • Above and Beyond Award — Black Hat and SD-WAN Test Launch (2018)

Cisco

  • “You Rock” Quarterly Impact Award — Partner Summit Supersession (FY16 Q3)
  • “You Rock” Quarterly Impact Award — RSA 2016 keynote (FY16 Q2)
  • Connected Recognition Awards — Global Sales Kickoff, RSA keynotes, Cisco Live US/EMEA/Mexico, Sourcefire acquisition integration

Symantec

  • Applause Awards — Innovation Showcase (2008, 2009)
  • Applause Awards — Demo 2008 launch, Underground Economy Report 2009