Climbing the Ladder of Cybersecurity Success
Betty Elliott is revolutionizing cybersecurity and helping women achieve success in the industry.
Elliott grew up in a small town in Minnesota with dreams of teaching math and coaching high school sports. Now, she’s the senior vice president and chief information security officer at Freddie Mac, where she teaches and coaches her team of information security professionals to ensure security of Freddie Mac’s networks.
Elliott didn’t always know that information security would be her career path. In college, she majored in math, thinking she’d teach high school. She later took jobs in finance and project/program management, which she believes laid the foundation for where she is today.
“Every opportunity that I’ve had led me to where I am today,” Elliot said. “Understanding how to manage a budget and how to deliver on initiatives are key aspects of my current role.”
Elliott’s career in information security began when she was a project manager at Best Buy. She was assigned to lead the program to implement what is now the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS) ). Elliott led a program that gave her broad exposure to all facets of information security. She quickly realized that she loved the nature of this industry and made the transition from program management to information security.
After her time at Best Buy, she quickly rose in the ranks at various companies, going from manager to director to vice president in less than six years. Along the way, she earned several industry awards for her work, including the coveted CISO 100 award for her industry experience and dedication to the information security community.
“I think my style and some of the learnings that I took from other roles positioned me for growth,” Elliott said. “When I speak on panels or when I engage with people, I think they recognize my confidence and my knowledge, and they respect that.”
Teamwork is a prominent pillar of Elliott’s leadership strategy – a pillar that stems from her years playing competitive basketball. Elliott was an off guard at North Dakota State University and made it to the Final Four National Championship during her senior year. She went on to coach her daughter in basketball for nine years. Now, she takes key learnings from experiences as player and coach and applies them in her leadership.
“I’m a part of this team, not just leading it,” Elliott said. “Everyone contributes in their own way, and they all have a role. It’s important for people to know that they’re appreciated and that we are all doing great work.”
Elliott joined Freddie Mac in December 2020, attracted by the company’s mission and perspective on security risk, which offered complexities in the field she hadn’t experienced before. In her role, she not only works to protect the company from threat, Elliott also highlights the benefits of information security to Freddie Mac colleagues through education, awareness and meaningful metrics.
“It’s important to tell the right story to achieve the support needed to be successful in protecting the firm,” Elliott said.
Not only does Elliott love the work, but she also loves the balance she has been able to achieve at Freddie Mac. She makes time to enjoy golf, travel and spend time with her seven kids and seven grandkids, either sledding in the cold Minnesota winter or swimming in the pool during the summer.
“We work smarter and more efficiently,” Elliott said. “I’ve structured the team to focus on and prioritize the right things. We work long hours, but the balance is there.”
As a woman leader in a male-dominated industry, Elliott admits that her strong personality and background in sports has helped her relate to her colleagues. But she also works hard to stand out and carve a new path as a leader. Promoting other women leaders and finding ways to elevate them is one of her passions. As someone who was never afraid to challenge the status quo and stand up for herself, she urges other women in the industry to do the same.
“Have confidence and make sure that you know your space,” she said. “Have the authority and the credibility to be able to push back in a meaningful way."
Elliott found her path in information security and hasn’t looked back since, striving to be a better and more inspiring mentor to her team and helping them to succeed.
- Professional Development
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