Today, Derek Harp interviews Susan Peterson Sturm, the Chief Information Security Officer at Cognite. 

Susan is a Transformational Operational Technology leader with 20 years of experience in profitably scaling innovative software-based businesses, including automation, IIOT, and cyber security. She has a proven track record of growing and structuring early-stage, profitable digital software-driven P&Ls in excess of $150M. She specializes in change management, product management, M&A, and strategic alliances. Susan serves on advisory boards of Cognite, Innosphere Ventures & One Warm Coat. 

Susan is an incredible individual with vast experience! She’s an empath, DEI champion, mentor, board advisor, and volunteer focused on poverty alleviation. 

In this episode, she discusses her background, talks to Derek about her professional journey, and offers helpful tips and advice.

You won’t want to miss this episode if you are considering a career in the cybersecurity space. Tune in to hear Susan’s fascinating story and benefit from her years of experience in the security field. 

Show highlights:

• Susan talks about her studies.
• Her motivation for pivoting into energy after graduating from college.
• What she gained from her career in international affairs.
• Some of Susan’s interesting roles early on in her career.
• The benefits of getting in-the-field experience.
• There are many different leadership paths to be chosen within the industry.
• What you can gain from working abroad with distributed teams.
• Where security first intersected with Susan’s career.
• Why it’s worth investing your time in networks.
• How being vulnerable can help you develop valuable relationships.
• The role mentorship has played in Susan’s career.
• How Susan ended up in her current role as a CISO.
• Motherhood can be very challenging for women in senior roles. 
• The importance of moving on from any workplace where you don’t feel safe to express your needs.

Links and resources:

(CS)²AI

Cognite

Susan Peterson Sturm on LinkedIn