LEADERS IN CYBERSECURITY

Elisa Romano

Data Protection Officer & Chief Information Security, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Elisa Romano is Data Protection Officer & Chief Information Security at Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. She is responsible for monitoring, informing and advising on data protection law compliance and establishing, implementing and maintaining local strategies and programs to ensure information and information assets are protected. She prepares and delivers internal training and manages the company’s Data Protection and Information Security Committee. Her team also consults and creates processes, policies and plans to address IT security risks and related incidents, working closely with IT internal staff and business counterparts.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

I have the chance to manage different and challenging topics daily. I divide my work day between meetings, email replies and education, which is a fundamental pillar of my job. I’m always looking for new solutions to enhance the security posture of the organization that I work for.

What aspects of your career journey have taken you by surprise?

The need to take action on opportunities immediately. You don’t have time to meditate about it. Entering the field of privacy at the beginning of my career and security in the second stage still surprises me daily.

Tell us about the cyber project you're most proud of working on in your career.

OLD: To obtain the certification as per the regulation ISO/IEC 27001 voluntarily!
NEW: Obtaining the ISO/IEC 27001 certification voluntarily!

How has public perception of cybersecurity changed over the course of your career, and how do you predict in the future?

The perception has evolved incredibly. I’m very happy that cybersecurity is a matter of regular discussion today. This shift will help organizations strengthen their security measures. It was different two years ago.

Tell us about your first job (can be anything!) and one lesson you might have learned from it.

My first experience was as a trainee litigation lawyer in a law firm. It gave me the certainty that it wasn’t what I wanted to do in my career!

What’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self about getting started in cyber?

Get an engineering degree!

Tell us about a role model or mentor who has helped shape your career.

I had a female boss who was never scared of anything because she was always well-prepared for each topic. I learned a lot from her. Despite always being the younger person during meetings and the sole woman, she never allowed anybody to use that against her.

A meeting gets canceled and you have a surprise 30 minute window of free time — how do you spend it?

I read some articles and information about cybersecurity.

What are the ways you stay grounded and take care of yourself?

I practice a lot of sports and spend quality time with family and friends!

When you think about your personal legacy as a leader, what do you hope people will remember?

My energy!