Adriana Sanford,
Head of Cybersecurity Leadership
Adriana Sanford is a distinguished legal professional and renowned expert in cybersecurity, audit, and risk management. With advanced law degrees from Georgetown Law and Notre Dame Law, she has held senior roles in both in-house legal departments and top-tier international law firms, including Assistant General Counsel at a financial institution and Latin American Regional Counsel for a Fortune 50 company. As a Chilean American, Sanford broke barriers by becoming the first Hispanic accepted into Georgetown's dual LL.M. program in Taxation and International Comparative Law, setting a precedent for underrepresented groups in the field. Her extensive experience and profound insights on privacy, data protection, and ethical leadership have influenced an audience of 93 million viewers worldwide through her role as a senior analyst for CNN en Español. Sanford is also a highly sought-after keynote speaker, having delivered over 150 high-profile addresses to executives and senior leaders globally. She has been a featured keynote speaker at premier events such as the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Annual SuperConference in Chicago and the ISACA Latin America CACS/ISRM Conference in Mexico City.
Amid global uncertainty, Sanford showcased exceptional leadership by creating a global risks series during the COVID-19 pandemic. This five-month series, sponsored by Manufacturing Talk Radio and offered free to the public, featured 50 world-renowned experts addressing critical COVID-19 and post-pandemic issues, delivering invaluable insights to tens of thousands. She has also produced and hosted several radio shows. Additionally, her academic contributions include teaching business law, business ethics, and international management, cybersecurity policy, and international privacy law to thousands of graduate and undergraduate students at seven top-tier universities across the United States and abroad. Deeply committed to humanitarian efforts, she serves as Head of Cybersecurity Leadership at Telecom4Good and as an Ambassador for Inspire2Live, a global health movement based in Amsterdam focusing on combating and preventing cancer in low and middle-income countries. Sanford was also appointed to the American Bar Association’s International Law Section’s National Security Law Committee Steering Group. Her story is interwoven with the threads of a profound family legacy. Sanford’s great granduncle, Franz Schweyer, served as the Bavarian Interior Minister and was a staunch opponent of Adolf Hitler. His bravery and ultimate sacrifice, as one of the earliest victims of the Holocaust, have deeply influenced her life’s mission. Standing up for what is right, even in the face of insurmountable odds, is a duty she shares.
Sanford offers her unwavering support, encouragement, and solidarity to women and aspiring leaders in security, cybersecurity, and healthcare around the world. She is the recipient of the inaugural CSWY Cybersecurity Woman Law & Privacy Professional of the Year Award in 2019 and has been profiled in SPRINGER’s "Women in Security: Changing the Face of Technology and Innovation." Sanford is among the top 160 women to be considered for the Cybersecurity Woman of the World Award 2024. Her journey and accomplishments serve as a powerful testament to resilience, courage, and the impact of empowering women in underrepresented regions, fostering a more inclusive and innovative global community.
