Welcome to the October edition of the Demix Monthly Newsletter

This month’s issue shines a light on the value of culture and connection across the globe.

From our national celebrations that bring people together, to knowledge-sharing platforms like ISACA Engage, and the role of CMMI’s People Domain in shaping strong organizational cultures.

Exciting days ahead…

While many holidays are occasions of joy and pride, we also recognize that not every celebration carries the same meaning for everyone. Some holidays may be seen differently across communities, with varying historical or cultural perspectives. At Demix, we believe it is important to acknowledge these differences with respect, while still honouring the fact that for many, these moments remain meaningful traditions.

Wed Oct 1 —International Coffee Day. Global awareness/celebration of coffee.

Fri Oct 3 —German Unity Day (Germany). National holiday marking reunification.

Sun Oct 5 —World Teachers’ Day. UNESCO global observance.

Fri Oct 10 —World Mental Health Day. WHO-led global awareness day.

Mon Oct 13 —Thanksgiving (Canada). Statutory holiday (most provinces/territories).

Thu Oct 16 —World Food Day. FAO’s annual global observance.

Fri Oct 24 —United Nations Day. Anniversary of the UN Charter entering into force.

South Africa’s Heritage Day

On September 24th, South Africans celebrated Heritage Day, a day dedicated to embracing the cultural wealth of the nation.

From traditional attire and food to music and dance, Heritage Day is a reminder of the beauty of diversity and shared history.

For us at Demix, looking back at this day reinforces the importance of inclusivity. Celebrating heritage encourages unity, respect, and pride, while also reminding us that a strong corporate culture is built by recognizing the unique backgrounds of all individuals.

Celebrating the Chinese National Holiday

The Chinese National Day, observed annually on October 1st , marks the founding ofthe People’s Republic of China in 1949.

It is one of the most important public holidays in China, often celebrated with family gatherings, large-scale parades, cultural performances, and a week-long “Golden Week” of festivities.

At Demix, we value cultural diversity and global awareness. Recognizing this holiday is a way for us to honor the history, traditions, and contributions of our colleagues, partners, and peers connected to China.

Culture & CMMI: The Role of People in Organizational Growth

As we reflect on cultural celebrations worldwide, it’s also meaningful to connect this with our continuous journey in CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration). Culture isn’t only about heritage and traditions, it is also about how people work, learn, and grow together in an organization.

Within CMMI Version 3, the People Domain captures this focus. It emphasizes that lasting organizational success relies on developing, retaining, and enabling a motivated workforce.

People Domain (PPL)

Purpose: Developing, retaining, and enabling the workforce to accomplish objectives.

This domain highlights the essential role of people in building strong processes, fostering collaboration, and shaping a resilient culture.

Practice Area in the People Domain

Related Practice Areas that Shape Culture

Although not formally part of the People Domain, these Practice Areas also play a key role in corporate culture:

Why This Matters

When organizations intentionally invest in their people, through empowerment, training, and adaptable work practices, they create environments where collaboration thrives, innovation flourishes, and excellence is sustained.

Spotlight: ISACA Engage Platform

We’re excited to highlight an initiative from ISACA – the Engage Platform. This global platform is designed for professionals to connect, share knowledge, and exchange insights on technology, governance, risk, security, and transformation.

Key Communities & Forums You Can Join Now

• Professional Domain Forums

• Audit & Assurance: Audit programs, assurance frameworks, methodologies, IT assurance

• COBIT & Frameworks: Sharing experiences and use cases

• Emerging Technology: New tech disrupting business, risk, and operations

• Governance: Leadership, IT strategy alignment, decision-making

• Information & Cybersecurity: Best practices, threats, incident response

• Privacy: Compliance, awareness, regulatory updates

• Risk Management: Frameworks, assessments, trending risks

• Certification / Exam Prep

• CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC, CDPSE: Peer Q&A, tips, and preparation communities

• Special Interest Groups

• SheLeadsTech: Increasing representation and leadership of women in tech

• Rising Professionals: Networking, career strategies, and peer advice

While Demix’s participation is still in the works, we encourage everyone to take a look and explore the opportunities the platform offers for professional development and networking. You can access the Engage Platform here:

🔗 Engage Link: https://engage.isaca.org

CMMI and the Future of Cybersecurity

In today’s digital landscape, cyber resilience is a strategic priority. Governments are taking steps to set clearer expectations, and two recent UK initiatives are important examples:

• Cyber Governance Code of Practice:
  Focused on strengthening board-level oversight of cyber risks, this code outlines governance responsibilities for directors and executives to ensure cybersecurity is treated as a strategic business issue.

• Software Security Code of Practice:
  Addressing the full software lifecycle, this code guides vendors to design, build, and maintain secure software from the outset. It emphasizes secure development, resilient build environments, and transparent communication with customer.

  
  

While these codes provide direction, CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) provides theframework to put them into practice.

If you’d like to learn more, visit the CMMI booth at the ISACA Europe Conference in London, 15–17 October 2025.