Women in the C-Suite: Navigating Challenges, Inspiring Change
Speakers
-
Kirsten MeskillChief Security Officer, Solventum; Chair, ISMA Board of DirectorsKirsten Meskill serves as the chief security officer (CSO) at Solventum, a global medtech and health care company. She has over 20 years’ experience in corporate security preceded by over 10 years’ service in the US Army. Meskill previously served as CSO at Kraft Foods, Mondelez International, BASF Corporation and Bed Bath & Beyond. She started her corporate and security careers with Philip Morris/Altria. Meskill currently serves as president of the board for the International Security Management Association (ISMA) and on DSAC’s Executive Membership Committee.
-
Tia HopkinsChief Cyber Resilience Officer and Field Chief Technology Officer, eSentireAs chief cyber resilience officer and field chief technology officer at eSentire, Tia Hopkins is focused on engaging with the cybersecurity community, providing thought leadership, supporting strategic customer and partner engagements, and working closely with the sales, marketing, product, engineering and customer success teams to drive security outcome-focused initiatives. She has spent the past 20+ years of her career in various IT and IT security roles and has over a decade of experience in the managed services space. Outside of her role at eSentire, Hopkins is also an adjunct professor of cybersecurity at Yeshiva University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in cybersecurity leadership.
Hopkins holds a B.Sc. in information technology, a, M.Sc. in information security and assurance, a M.Sc. in cybersecurity and information assurance and a Master of Business Administration. She was recognized by SC Media as a 2019 Reboot Leadership Award recipient in the Outstanding Educator category. In 2020, Hopkins was awarded The Software Report’s Top 25 Women Leaders in Cybersecurity and the Cyber Defense Magazine’s Top 100 Women in Cybersecurity, and in 2021 she was recognized by IFSEC Global as a top global influencer in the Security Executives category. She has been most recently recognized as Team Leader of the Year at the SANS Institute 2023 Difference Makers Awards.
-
Sharon HongVice President VS&A Sales Engineering & Ecosystem, Motorola Solutions -
Mary K. WelshSenior Vice President, Asset Protection, Walmart U.S.Mary Welsh is senior vice president (SVP), asset protection for Walmart U.S., the largest division of the No. 1 company on the Fortune 500. As the leader of asset protection, Welsh is responsible for the safety, security, loss, fraud and returns operations for nearly 5,000 stores/facilities and leading a team of over 50,000 employees. Prior to joining Walmart in March 2023, she was SVP, chief security officer (CSO) at UnitedHealth Group, the most diversified health care company in the United States. Welsh also led the Global Security function at St. Jude Medical for 10 years. In the public sector, she was in the U.S. federal government, which included multiple international assignments throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. While working on national security issues, Welsh acquired a deep understanding of foreign government and business cultures, developed expertise in security and crisis management and established a global network of government and private sector contacts in the security industry.
Welsh serves on the board of ModernWell, the first female-centered co-working space in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Breck School, an independent college-preparatory pre-K through grade 12 school also in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prior board assignments include the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST, an organization that supports and advances the careers of women leaders in health care; the Twin Cities Security Partnership, a private-public partnership between law enforcement, government agencies and private industry which promotes a stronger, safer Twin Cities community; and the International Security Management Association, the leading industry organization for CSOs.
Welsh maintains active professional memberships in the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, affiliate membership in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Domestic Security Alliance Council and the U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council. -
Lisa M. OliveriPrincipal, Type O Consulting; Former Director of Global Risk Management, Security and Operations, National Democratic InstituteLisa Oliveri has extensive experience managing global safety, security and operations for international nongovernmental organizations, faith-based organizations and academic institutions. Prior to her career in security, she was a science teacher with an interest in international development and health care ethics. Oliveri holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Trinity College, a Master of Science in Education and a Master of Arts in international affairs from Fordham University. She is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and a Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) and is a dedicated volunteer, mentor and advocate for young professionals and women in security. Oliveri is a member of the ASIS International Global Board of Directors and serves on the OSAC Public Private Partnership Board Executive Committee.