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CyberEdBoard Profiles in Leadership: Patty Ryan

Nov 12, 2024
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QuidelOrtho CISO on How Communicating With Team Members Helps Lead Through Change

CISO Patty Ryan didn’t begin her career in cybersecurity, but her commitment to transparency and trust has helped her bridge that gap. Faced with unexpected challenges, she relied on her strengths in communication to lead her team through complex shifts in the organization.

Ryan places a priority on keeping her team informed and engaged, recognizing that open dialogue is key to maintaining morale and trust. She holds monthly 30-minute one-on-one meetings with the global team - with no agenda.

"I call it my 'I'll stop the rumor mill' meeting," said Ryan, CISO at QuidelOrtho, a San Diego-based manufacturer of diagnostic healthcare products. "It’s been about cutting through the noise, cutting through the gossip. They know I’m going to accurately represent their work and their vested interest."

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group, conducted as part of CyberEdBoard's ongoing Profiles in Leadership series, Ryan discussed:

  • How adaptability and communication strengthened her leadership in cybersecurity;
  • Approaches to keeping teams engaged during organizational changes;
  • The value of community mentorship in advancing industry growth.

Ryan is responsible for defining QuidelOrtho's global information security strategy, roadmap and operating infrastructure. Partnering globally with IT, compliance, commercial, regulatory, legal, quality, R&D, and strategic marketing resources, she ensures that all security controls operate effectively and efficiently, that staff are aware of their responsibility to protect client and proprietary information, and that the security team defines and manages information risk appropriately. She has over 30 years of IT experience, - over half of that time in information security executive roles - across a variety of industries at companies including Bankers Trust, Citi, CitiStreet, Johnson & Johnson, and legal firms Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy LLP. She is a CyberEdBoard member.