#0185: (WIS) Leading with Strength: People, Strategy, and Security with Cindy Heiner

Cindy Heiner, Chief Information Security Officer at Aiden Technologies, brings more than two decades of security leadership to this candid conversation about career pivots, people-first leadership, and the evolving role of AI in security operations. What began as a near-exit from IT (she was seriously considering opening a coffee shop and bookstore in rural Oklahoma) turned into a defining career in cybersecurity after a colleague recruited her to build one of the earliest application security teams in 2003.

 

In this episode, Cindy shares how CliftonStrengths coaching helped her grow as both a leader and an introvert navigating a male-dominated field, why building the right team matters more than filling roles, and how she approaches AI and automation in security with enthusiasm balanced by a firm belief in human oversight. She also speaks directly to women considering a career in security, challenging the gatekeeping mindset and encouraging candidates not to let job descriptions scare them off.