This month, we’re excited to feature Briana Tucker, Senior Manager at PwC in Technology Operations Consulting, based in Atlanta, GA. PwC is the second-largest professional services network in the world and helps businesses with accounting, technology, and other important services.

As a consultant at PwC, Briana’s specialty is managing technology and cloud operations, Information Technology (IT) risk management, and IT Service Management within the Financial Services industry. Briana creates plans and guidelines that help businesses use technology in the best way possible. One important part of her job is IT Service Management (ITSM), which means making sure businesses have the right technology support - including security - to keep systems working to support their daily business operations.

Briana has led high-impact IT transformation projects at some of the world's largest financial institutions, working closely with executive leaders such as Chief Information Officers (CIOs, who manage technology), Chief Financial Officers (CFOs, who handle finances), and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs, who manage cybersecurity). She enjoys collaborating with teams across Technology Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Risk Management to drive meaningful change and simplify complex challenges into clear, data-driven solutions, all while mentoring junior professionals to support their career growth.

Thank you, Briana, for sharing your experience in the IT Service Management and Cloud Operations field!

‍

1. How did you get started in consulting, and what drew you to this field? For those unfamiliar, can you explain what consulting is and what makes it unique compared to other roles in technology?  

I have always loved solving complex problems and using technology to make a positive difference, which led me to study Business Analytics and Political Science at Notre Dame. During my time in college, I learned about PwC’s Start Internship program for Freshmen and Sophomores, which opened the door to a consulting internship at PwC in Los Angeles, followed by a client-facing internship in Atlanta. Those experiences helped me realize that consulting was the perfect fit for me!

Technology consulting mixes different types of problem-solving, like strategy, risk, cybersecurity, and management to help organizations optimize their business. This field requires keeping up with new technologies and understanding how it affects people and the way that they work. In my job, we often say that technology is the easy part - it’s figuring out how people and processes fit together that present the real challenges. ‍

‍

2. Can you share how your technology consulting engagements intersect with cybersecurity and explain the role a security strategy plays in delivering value to organizations? 

Technology and cybersecurity always go together - you can’t have one without the other! In every project I’ve worked on, there’s always a cybersecurity team involved, whether it’s the client’s team or PwC’s experts. For technology to operate effectively, it must also be secure. That’s why partnering with cybersecurity teams is so important - they help make sure to account for security requirements right from the start.

A common challenge is helping technology and cybersecurity teams work together. I help tech teams understand what’s needed to keep things secure and how to do it. Cybersecurity should never be an afterthought - it needs to be part of the plan from the very beginning. The worst thing that can happen is getting really far into a project and realizing that security requirements are missing!‍

‍

3. How can technologists incorporate security into their strategies and operations, and why is it important to view it as a shared responsibility across all roles?  

Security should be a priority from the very start! Many of my clients are moving from older computer systems to the cloud (in other words, technology services offered through the internet), which can be new and challenging. It’s important for everyone involved to work together and share responsibility for secure and reliable technology. When teams are on the same page, they can collaborate better, avoid blaming each other when things go wrong, and make sure the technology stays safe and stable.‍

‍

4. When addressing complex technology challenges for non-technical stakeholders, what strategies do you use to make concepts accessible, and what advice would you give to those looking to enhance their communication skills and confidence?  

Technology consulting can seem intimidating, but the great thing is that it's a continuous learning process. I love taking big, complicated ideas and making them easy to understand, while always thinking about the bigger picture. The most important thing isn’t just what technology tools you use, but how you use them. The biggest challenges in tech aren’t always about the computers - they’re about people, teamwork, and making good decisions. You don’t have to be a technology expert to work in this field, but having a strong technical foundation is valuable for advising clients on how to use technology effectively.

If you want to work in tech, go for it! Don’t hold yourself back by thinking you don’t know enough - so much of the learning happens on the job. Leverage your soft skills - like communication and teamwork, and start building your network by connecting with professionals who work in tech to learn more about what they do. Be a sponge - absorb as much knowledge as you can, and stay curious!‍

‍

5. You've earned certifications like Amazon Web Services (AWS) Practitioner and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundations. Can you explain what these certifications entail, how they support professional growth, and how they address security within their frameworks?  

Certifications are a fantastic way to upskill and complement on-the-job learning. AWS certifications provide a foundational understanding of cloud environments, which have helped me engage with technical teams. With many clients starting to operate in cloud environments, it’s important to understand how their IT operations are impacted by these new ways of working. Security is a cornerstone of these certifications. AWS, for instance, teaches you to design with security in mind from the start. An AWS Security Specialty course I took reinforced these principles, helping me address security at both a big-picture level and in the details.

ITIL is a framework of best practices to manage IT services, including security. My ITIL certification helps me understand how IT services work and how to keep them running smoothly and securely. It focuses on managing technology, solving IT issues, and protecting systems. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in learning how businesses use technology effectively!