Mentors, Risks, and Rewards: Insights From Sailaja Kotra-Turner

The Professional CISO

In this episode of The Professional CISO Show, host David Malicoat interviews Sailaja Kotra-Turner, CISO and Director of Global Infrastructure and Operations at Brown-Forman. Sailaja shares her remarkable journey from IT automation to cybersecurity leadership, offering invaluable insights into the evolving role of the CISO, the importance of mentorship, and the integration of security within infrastructure teams. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, Sailaja's story is filled with practical lessons on becoming a proactive business leader in cybersecurity.

Key Takeaways:

• Career Evolution: How Sailaja transitioned from IT to cybersecurity, overcoming challenges along the way.
• Mentorship Matters: The critical role mentors played in her professional growth.
• Security Integration: Strategies for embedding security within infrastructure teams.
• CISO Role Transformation: The shift from technical expert to business leader.
• Certifications Strategy: Choosing the right certifications to signal career intent.
• Building a Security-First Culture: Practical tips for fostering security awareness across organizations.

Quotes:

• "We need to get to the point where every infrastructure professional is also a security expert."
• "The earlier security leaders are involved, the better. It’s always easier to build security in from the start."

Resources & Links:

• Follow The Professional CISO Podcast: www.thpc.co
• Watch on YouTube: The Professional CISO YouTube Channel
• Connect on LinkedIn: The Professional CISO
• Sailaja Kotra-Turner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sailajakotraturner/
• David Malicoat on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-malicoat-cissp/

Upcoming Event:

• 12th Annual North Texas ISSA Cybersecurity Conference:Join us on September 6th at the Plano Event Center. The Professional CISO Podcast will be on-site, conducting live interviews and engaging with industry leaders. (https://www.ntxissa.org/)

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Hashtags: #Cybersecurity #CISO #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #Mentorship