Karen Worstell is well known in technology and cybersecurity circles as a serial CISO for iconic brands, advocate for cyberpros, speaker, and author. She got her start in computer security thanks to her software engineering professor in grad school who encrypted the final exam.

In her 30+ years of cybersecurity, her experience spans multiple industry verticals in research and engineering, consulting and advisory, and operational roles leading security and BCDR at Bank of America, AT&T Wireless, Microsoft, and Russell Investments. She has served on the US Department of Commerce security advisory boards, Aerospace Industries Association, and National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. She is active in ISSA and ISACA and is a Distinguished Fellow of the ISSA. Karen frequently speaks about human and technical aspects of cybersecurity on media channels and hosts an online program called "Ask the Howlers.” She is an expert in holistic internal controls and demonstrating a duty of care in cyber governance.

Today she serves as senior cybersecurity strategist for VMware in the Network and Advanced Security Group where she regularly advises private companies as well as state and local governments on cybersecurity strategy.