#3 - From Biomedical Engineering to CISO: Identity Lessons They Don’t Teach in School (with Sulohita Vaddadi)

In this episode of The Identity Heroes, Sulohita Vaddadi—Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at GE Corporate—joins us to share her unconventional journey into cybersecurity and identity.

From a background in biomedical engineering to leading identity at one of the world’s most recognized enterprises, Sulohita reflects on how technical expertise, project management, and humility helped shape her career. She shares the importance of cross-functional collaboration, what she learned from failed projects, and how vendors can earn lasting trust by being honest partners—not just sellers.

This conversation dives into:

• What skills matter most for IAM leaders today
• How to communicate identity’s value across the business
• Why it’s critical to design for compliance and adoption
• Practical tips for doing more with leaner teams

Whether you're building your first identity program or leading strategy at the enterprise level, Sulohita’s insights offer a candid, actionable view into modern IAM leadership.

Key Themes & Takeaways

• Identity is a business enabler, not a back-office function
• Success in cybersecurity should align with strategic outcomes
• Learning from failure is a vital part of career growth
• The best vendors act like partners—not just sellers
• Clear expectations and smart prioritization enable lean teams to thrive
• Asking for help is a sign of leadership, not weakness
• Project management and communication are IAM superpowers
• Defining business value clearly drives stronger adoption
• Empathy and transparency strengthen vendor and internal collaboration
• Technical success means nothing without operational success

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Sulohita's Heroic Journey

03:53 Accidental Journey into Cybersecurity Career

07:40 Career Transition: Architect to Identity Leader

09:45 Designing a Degree in Identity

14:23 Vendor to Client-Side Transition

19:14 Career Challenges: Lessons and Turning Points

20:24 Infrastructure Challenges Delay Project Success

23:35 Failing Forward in Business

28:20 Maximizing Cybersecurity Through Effective MFA Usage

32:37 Fostering Transparency and Empathy

35:31 Streamlining Identity Infrastructure Management

36:29 Maximizing Learning Opportunities

41:12 Skunk Work Innovations in AI Consulting

43:39 AI's Future in Sci-Fi Literature

🔗 Want more Identity Heroes? Visit strata.io/identityheroes to explore all episodes, get show notes, and meet our guests.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the guest and do not represent the opinions of their employer or family.