(Credit: PARIMA)
Introduction of Profile: For Jaya Viado, a career in risk management was never part of the plan. As an engineering graduate, she began her career in semiconductor manufacturing before applying for a supply chain analyst role after one and a half years. However, a HR recruiter encouraged her to consider a risk management specialist position instead — a decision that unexpectedly shaped her career. Today, with more than six years of experience across enterprise risk management, business continuity, and insurance, Jaya continues to help organisations navigate an increasingly complex risk landscape.
Unexpected transition into risk management
“I didn’t know much about risk management. I didn’t plan to pursue it as a career,” she recalls. “But being open and saying yes to that opportunity opened a door that I didn’t know I needed.”
Entering risk management without prior experience was both exciting and challenging. Fortunately, Jaya joined a team of experienced practitioners who provided guidance and mentorship while exposing her to the fundamentals of enterprise risk management.
No One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Throughout her career, Jaya has worked across different industries, each with its own business environment, culture, and risk profile.
These experiences reinforced one of the most important lessons she has learned: risk management cannot be applied using a standard template.
“You can learn all the theories and frameworks through training and certifications,” she says. “But at the end of the day, how you apply them depends on the organisation, its culture, its people, and its business landscape.”
Transitioning between industries required her to continually start learning again, understanding new processes, regulations, business objectives, and stakeholder priorities.
“What worked in one organisation may not necessarily work in another,” she explains. “The challenge is learning the business deeply enough to understand how risk management can support it effectively.”
For Jaya, technical expertise alone is not enough. Success also depends on understanding people.
“Risk managers need a little bit of charm,” she laughs. “You need to win people over. People should feel that you’re there to help them think more proactively about risks, not just to impose another to-do list.”
The Power of Continuous Learning
(Credit: Jaya Viado)
Jaya’s commitment to learning has also led her to pursue professional certifications, including ISO 31000 and the RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) certification.
She credits supportive organisations and mentors for encouraging her professional development but says the most effective learning happens when theory meets practice.
Finding Purpose in the Profession
One of the habits Jaya continues to cultivate is an openness to continuous learning.
In a world where business environments, technologies, and risks are constantly evolving, she believes risk managers must be equally adaptable.
“What works today may not work tomorrow,” she says. “That’s why it’s important to keep broadening your perspective.”
While formal training remains valuable, she places equal importance on learning from fellow practitioners and industry peers.
This is one reason she actively participates in PARIMA events and initiatives.
“The insights you gain from other risk managers are incredibly valuable,” she says. “You learn about real-world experiences, practical challenges, and approaches that frameworks alone can’t teach.”
For Jaya, the strength of the risk profession lies not only in technical expertise but also in the community that supports it.
Sleeping Better at Night
Looking back, Jaya has never regretted saying yes to that unexpected opportunity years ago.
“The nature of risk management really fits my personality,” she says.
Jaya is optimistic about the future of the profession, particularly as more organisations recognise the value of risk management and a new generation of practitioners enters the field.
But perhaps the most meaningful change she has observed is within organisations themselves.
Risk managers often joke that risks keep them awake at night. Yet Jaya believes that mindset is slowly changing.
“I’m beginning to sleep a little better,” she says. “Not because the risks are gone, but because organisations are becoming more aware of them.”
For someone who entered the profession by accident, Jaya’s journey is proof that sometimes the most meaningful careers begin with a single unexpected opportunity, and the willingness to say yes.
