Senior Risk Consultant, Control Risks One

Location: London
Key skills: Open-source intelligence analysis, security management, international development management
Interests: Ashtanga yoga, ceramics, cooking, travel, video games

“I add value to Control Risks by introducing unique perspectives from my personal background while seamlessly collaborating and integrating with others.”

Cherisse Decena,
Control Risks

Cherisse Decena


I grew up in a suburb of Virginia, US, with my parents and younger brother. My mom has always been my role-model because of her compassion, empathy and kind-heartedness. I left home to pursue security studies for my undergraduate degree, but little did I know, I would end up integrating those characteristics from my mom into my security studies. 

‘What does empathy and compassion have to do with security studies?’ is a question I’m frequently asked. Working in risk analysis exposes you to violent coup d’états, terrorist attacks and destructive natural disasters, all of which can take a toll on your mental health. A natural coping mechanism is to de-humanise these events, leading to cognitive biases during analysis. Empathy can lead to better un-biased analysis and keep our clients safe.

When I joined Control Risks, I was pleased to see that the company is committed to supporting their employees’ mental health. It’s great to know that there are mental health champions to reach out to for neutral support. During my day-to-day activities, I also noticed there are more women working at this firm compared to other security companies and it feels good to be a part of a growing network of women championing diversity in the security sector.

Away from my job, I focus on my mental health and well-being. I’m an Ashtanga yoga practitioner and enjoy spending my spare time making ceramics and playing video games. I also like cooking new recipes and discovering London. 

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