IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Dr. Adriana Sanford, our finalist in the "Cybersecurity or Privacy Woman Law Professional" category of CSWY Awards 2020

Nothing makes me happier than shining the spotlight on someone changing the world!

That is my “why” for creating the Cybersecurity Woman of the Year and Ally of the Year Awards. There are so many courageous women and men making sure we are safe and secure who rarely get the attention they deserve. These awards bring us together to celebrate all the talent in our cybersecurity community.

Last year, I mentioned in my opening statement that we need more women in cybersecurity, not only because we look at things differently, but also because we are the ones that make light out of the darkness. We are the creators of life we bring into this world to thrive and survive. We are also the subtle but strong protectors of our families, our communities, and each other. The world needs us – perhaps now more than ever!

Before we get to who won this year’s awards, I wanted to share more about all the people our judges considered as deserving nominees. Here is a look at another spectacular woman saving the world every day, our 2020 Cybersecurity Woman of the Year nominee Ms. Adriana Sanford:

What is your “why” for being in the cybersecurity or privacy field?

As the numbers of data breaches increased, so did my interest in the cyber field. My experience with global threats spans well over two decades and cyberattacks are among the topmost pressing threats to our world. 

Over the last decade, I have been educating corporate executives, thousands of college students, and the public at large through CNN Dinero. 

My focus is on global threats and laws at the international level, where the costs of non-compliance with global privacy laws can present potentially enormous risk and hefty penalties. When there are global threats and competing security interests anywhere, we are all at risk.

COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global health threat that presents new cyber challenges. Over the last five months, I have turned my attention to helping businesses and the global community with this crisis. The ‘Great Lockdown’ created a global workforce disruption and businesses became more prone to cyberattacks than ever before. Wrongdoers began selling fake COVID-19 cures, counterfeit masks, and faulty thermometers, as well as apps that appeared to share fake virus-related information.

Describe one of your achievements that you are most proud of and why.

I am most proud of the following professional and personal achievements:

Professional 1#.

I am most proud of founding the OU Global Risks and Threats Leadership Forum, which makes it possible to provide our global community with real-world solutions from the Cyber, Intelligence, Finance, Law Enforcement, and Corporate sectors. The four-part COVID series launched on Saturday, June 6. World-renowned experts, visionaries, and industry leaders collaborate with one another and provide guidance on an array of coronavirus-related challenges.

Personal 1#.

Being a parent and raising two children into adulthood. Parent-related tasks can sometimes equate to a 98-hour workweek. Moms that work full-time and are sheltered-in-place have it even harder during the pandemic crisis. 

If you were a queen of the world and could change one behavior to make everyone safer, what would it be?

Stronger international cooperation to provide needed reforms. The fast-moving pandemic has made international cooperation harder for some countries, but it is important for the flow of supplies, the stabilization of global public health, and the global economy.

Name one person, alive or dead, you would like to collaborate on a project with?

Mother Teresa. My favorite quote: "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."

If selected for the award, how do you envision that impacting your mission, reach, sustainability, and results?

I was humbled to receive this award last year. I believe that this is one of the biggest incentives any professional can receive. It was a great honor to have my dedication to this field valued, and the recognition boosted my energy level.

How can CSWY 2020 help you further your mission? 

Carmen Marsh and the CSWY event bring awareness to the need for greater inclusiveness in the cyber field. These awards are some of the most visible external-facing representations that validate that we as women are advancing in the field.

What would you like to see happen for women in the coming year in the greater Cyber/Tech community?

More diversity in leadership, perspectives, and experience is needed. I hope to see more policies that foster inclusive and sustainable recovery.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I have a collaborative environment of experts in various sectors --- Cyber, Intelligence, Finance, Law Enforcement, and Corporate. We discuss issues and provide one another with different perspectives on complex security issues. We are a global network of friends and so we use LinkedIn or WhatsApp to communicate with each other. 

Anything else you would like to add? 

• Thank you Carmen for putting this uplifting event together once again. It is much appreciated by the global community. 
• We are living in a time when there is tremendous uncertainty. Businesses should take into consideration the local market and map out areas where there is potential for high disruption, as well as areas where there are high penalties for non-deliveries. Executives should make sure that their operations are agile enough to adapt when needed, look for alternatives, and take the time to analyze what their stakeholders are doing during this crisis.

More about me:

Connect with me

On Linkedin:

"Our community is strong even during these challenging times and I find so much inspiration from all of you. You have done everything you can to focus on what you can do – protecting people so we can keep some normalcy in a world gone wild." Carmen Marsh

Please visit our CSWY 2020 site to cast your vote: https://leadmind.inteligenca.com/cswy2020/