In this interview, Sandra McLeod, CISO at Zoom, reflects on her first year moving from reactive “technical firefighter” duties to a proactive business strategist role focused on aligning security with company objectives. She recounts listening to engineers, the board, and customers, preparing for incident management and accountability, and offers candid advice for women considering leadership roles. #SandraMcLeod #Zoom
Keypoints
- She shifted from reactive incident response toward strategic alignment of security with business goals.
- The first 90 days emphasized listening; engineers, the board, and customers all wanted confidence in security leadership.
- Engineers sought direction and empowerment so security becomes an enabler, not a blocker to innovation.
- Incident management requires operational response plus clear escalation judgment and post-incident accountability.
- Her advice to women: reflect on why you want to lead, test leadership through projects and mentoring, and learn if it energizes you.
Read More: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2026/04/23/sandra-mcleod-zoom-ciso-leadership/