Upcoming AMA Events

More ISACA Ask Me Anything opportunities are coming soon! Check back here, or keep an eye on ISACA communications for more information.

Scroll to find links to previous AMA events and read the valuable conversations. 

Frequently Asked Questions


Q: What is an AMA?

AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions are an opportunity for you to get to know a professional on a deeper level. Utilize the session to ask about their career path, personal growth & journey, and future goals. 


Q: Are there different types of AMAs?

ISACA AMAs are typically online discussion threads hosted over one week on Engage, enabling asynchronous participation from our global audience. Any user with an ISACA account can join the respective Engage community hosting the AMA, log in, and participate in the thread. The AMA guest may not respond to questions posted after the event has ended. 


Q: Where can I submit my questions?

All questions must be replies to the designated AMA thread. You must have an ISACA account to post a question, and you can create a free account here. All content must abide by the Engage Code of Conduct and community participation guidelines which are available within each community's library. 

    

Past AMAs

I’m an AI Ethics Researcher: Ask Me Anything!

ISACA Information and Cybersecurity Forum

   Pablo Ballarin
   4-8 November 2024

Pablo is an experienced cybersecurity professional with over 25 years in the field, specializing in information security, risk management, and AI Ethics. Pablo has extensive experience in working with global organizations, including telecommunications companies, public agencies, retailers and financial institutions. He is a recognized speaker and educator in cybersecurity and AI Ethics, holding different industry certifications, and frequently appears on different Spanish media discussing the challenges of technology and its impact on society.



Read a recent article from Pablo: Unveiling the Intersection of Ethics and Digital Trust in New Emerging Technologies

   

   

   

   

I’m Pioneering AI Governance and Building the Future of GRC: Ask Me Anything!

ISACA Governance Community

   Meghan Maneval
   29 July - 2 August 2024

Meghan Maneval is a distinguished figure in the cybersecurity and governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) sectors, renowned for her innovative approach and commitment to enhancing diversity in the tech industry. With nearly 20 years of experience, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to simplify the complexities of cybersecurity for organizations around the world. 
 
As a product strategist and evangelist, Maneval leverages her unique insights to drive significant advancements in GRC tools. She's been directly involved in the development GRC solutions, advocating for risk-centric strategies that adapt to the evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Her pioneering work in AI governance, including the design of a continuous monitoring process and the development of an AI Governance course for ISACA, showcases her dedication to responsible and secure AI usage. These achievements awarded her the SC Media Women in Cybersecurity Award. 
 
Beyond her technical achievements, Maneval is passionate about fostering an inclusive work environment. She founded the Women in Leadership Program at RiskOptics, aiming to empower female employees and equip them with the skills necessary for leadership roles. Her efforts reflect a deep commitment to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for women in technology.
 
Additionally, Maneval is an active mentor, particularly within the Girl Scouts, where she inspires young women to pursue careers in STEM. Her involvement with the Cyber Guild's Diverse Minds Movement and her doctoral research on the impact of AI on neuroinclusion further illustrate her commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive tech community.
 
Meghan Maneval's comprehensive contributions to cybersecurity, her innovative solutions, and her dedication to mentorship and diversity mark her as a transformative leader in the field.

   

   

   

   

I’m an ISACA Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework Architect, Hall of Famer, and North America Conference presenter: Ask Me Anything!

ISACA Conference Community

   Mark Thomas
   25 March - 29 March 2024

We look forward to our AMA with Mark Thomas, internationally known GRC expert, architect of the Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework, regular conference attendee and speaker, and a local to our upcoming conference destination – Phoenix, Arizona, USA!

 

Digital trust and the ecosystem framework will be a common theme at the upcoming ISACA North America Conference, and we know you may have questions about the conference experience as a speaker or attendee. Curious about what to expect onsite? Questions about where to eat dinner in Phoenix? Excited to learn more about ISACA’s Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework launch? You’re in the right place – all questions welcome!

 

Join us March 25-29 in the ISACA Conference Community on Engage to ask Mark your questions about the upcoming ISACA North America Conference and the recent launch of the Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework.

 

Mark is an internationally known Governance, Risk, and Compliance expert specializing in information assurance, IT risk, IT strategy, service management, cybersecurity, and digital trust.  Mark has a wide array of industry experience including government, health care, finance/banking, manufacturing, and technology services.  He has held roles spanning from CIO to IT consulting and is considered a thought leader in frameworks such as COBIT, DTEF, NIST, ITIL and multiple ISO standards.   Mark is also a two-time recipient of the ISACA John Kuyers award for best conference contributor/speaker as well as an ISACA Hall of Fame recipient in 2024. He is also an APMG product knowledge assessor for the CGEIT, CRISC and CDPSE certifications. 

   

   

   

   

I Advocate for Hiring Entry-Level Cybersecurity Professionals: Ask Me Anything!
ISACA SheLeadsTech Community

   Naomi Buckwalter
   30 October - 3 November 2023

Naomi Buckwalter, CISSP CISM, is the Director of Product Security for Contrast Security and author of the LinkedIn course: “Training today for tomorrow's solutions - Building the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals”. She is the founder and Executive Director of Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to closing the demand gap in cybersecurity hiring.

She has over 20 years' experience in IT and Security and has held roles in Software Engineering, Security Architecture, Security Engineering, and Security Executive Leadership. A dynamic speaker and mentor, her passion is helping people, particularly women, get into cybersecurity. Naomi has two Masters degrees from Villanova University and a Bachelors of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.



Get to know Naomi! Watch Naomi's interview with ISACA from October 2022, where she discusses employee burnout in Cybersecurity. 

  

I'm an Artificial "Intelligence" & ML Expert, Author, TED Speaker, and Teenager: Ask Me Anything!
ISACA Emerging Technology Community

   Tanmay Bakshi
   17-21 July 2023

AI prodigy and technological savant, Tanmay Bakshi, is not your ordinary 19-year-old. His accomplishments manifest in roles as diverse as Author, TED & Keynote Speaker, Google Developer Expert for Machine Learning, AI & Software Architect for IBM Watson Apps, Instructor at the University of Winnipeg, Visiting Professor at iUniversity Tokyo, Media Personality, and YouTuber. Passionate about leveraging technology for the greater good, Tanmay aims to empower over 100,000 individuals to harness tech advancements in pursuing positive global change.

Over the past decade, Tanmay has shared his insights with over 300,000 executives, developers, and students in more than 30 countries, keynoting for organizations such as the United Nations, Apple, Walmart, Microsoft, Google, KPMG, Linux Foundation, Heineken, Shell, HSBC, and Amazon. He was recently the keynote speaker at the ISACA Digital Trust World Conference. His coding journey began at the tender age of five, and by nine, he had published an iOS app, garnering the attention of The Toronto Star and being named their Newsmaker of the Year 2013.

Among Tanmay's impressive achievements is his work with IBM, where he is developing AI techniques to revolutionize the drive-thru experience at McDonald's. He has also created applications to enhance songwriting capabilities, recognize individuals via their heartbeat, and decode mental states using EEG data. Global recognition for his contributions includes being named Young Entrepreneur by Bloomberg Businessweek, the Knowledge Ambassador Award from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, Twilio Doer Award, Life Mentor Award by the Creative Foundation, and the Young Edison Award by Shanghai TV.

Prominent international media outlets such as Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNBC, and CBC have featured Tanmay. Driven by a strong desire to make a lasting positive impact, Tanmay Bakshi remains committed to using his extensive knowledge to transform the world through technology.

            

I'm the Head of Governance and Trust
at the World Economic Forum: Ask Me Anything!
ISACA Governance Community

   Daniel Dobrygowski
   24-28 April 2023

Daniel Dobrygowski is the Head of Governance and Trust for the World Economic Forum. He’s an attorney and educator with two decades of experience at the intersection of technology, law, and policy, and he oversees the Forum’s work relating to technology risk, corporate governance, and digital trust. One of the founders of the Forum’s Centre for Cybersecurity, Daniel has led efforts to understand and shape global technology and cybersecurity norms, law, regulation, and standards. He serves on the New York Cyber Task Force (convened by Columbia University), on the board of Karhana Global, a technology education organization, and as a past board member of the Cyber Risk Institute. He currently sits on ISACA’s Digital Trust Advisory Council. Daniel has been recognized by the National Association of Corporate Directors in its NACD Directorship 100 as one of the most influential leaders in the corporate governance community.

Daniel holds an MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, a JD from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law where he was an editor of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal, and a BA from the Johns Hopkins University. Prior to coming to the Forum as a Global Leadership Fellow, Daniel practiced law in San Francisco and Washington, DC, counselling clients on antitrust/competition, consumer protection, and privacy matters in regulatory proceedings, investigations, and litigation. He has also worked extensively in the US on civil rights issues, including voter protection and election law. 

His areas of research include technology risk, privacy, competition regulation, internet rights, elections, and corporate governance. Daniel shares his expertise on leadership, cyber risk, digital democracy, and digital trust in appearances online and in-person and his work has been featured by global think tanks as well as leading publications including Harvard Business Review, CNBC, and Wired. He also teaches as an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University on digital trust and cybersecurity topics.

    

I'm a Privacy Jedi: Ask Me Anything!
ISACA Privacy Community

   Michelle Finneran Dennedy
   6-10 March 2023

Michelle Dennedy is a Privacy Jedi, known for evangelizing new approaches and business justifications for soundly-defined, transparent security and privacy policies and systems that protect healthy, safe, and ethical global businesses.

Michelle has held numerous executive roles focused on privacy, including Chief Privacy Officer at Cisco and McAfee/Intel, and currently serves as CEO of PrivacyCode, Inc. and Partner at Privatus Consulting, home of Wicked Privacy. She is also the co-author of The Privacy Engineer’s Manifesto & the Privacy Engineer’s Companion. Michelle instantiated and was the founding Chair for the recently approved and published IEEE 7002 (2022) Standard for ethics and governance of privacy engineered systems. She is also a member of ISACA’s Digital Trust Advisory Council.

In 2009, she was awarded the Goodwin Procter-IAPP Vanguard award for lifetime achievement and the EWF–CSO Magazine Woman of Influence award. In 2012, she was recognized by the National Diversity Council as one of California’s Most Powerful & Influential Women. In 2014 she was cited as an AlwaysOn Power Player in On-Demand Computing and was honored as the Gold Stevie award as Woman of the Year in Technology. 

    


I'm on the Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework Team: Ask Me Anything!
ISACA COBIT and Frameworks Community

Mark Thomas headshot

  

 

  Mark Thomas
  7-11 November 2022


Mark Thomas, President of Escoute Consulting, is an internationally known Governance, Risk and Compliance expert specializing in information assurance, IT risk, IT strategy, service management and digital transformation. Mark has a wide array of industry experience including government, health care, finance/banking, manufacturing, and technology services. He has held roles spanning from CIO to IT consulting and is considered a thought leader in frameworks such as COBIT, NIST, ITIL and multiple ISO standards. Mark routinely speaks at US and international conferences and earned the ISACA John Kuyers award twice for Best Speaker/Conference contributor of the year. Mark is also an APMG product knowledge assessor for the CGEIT, CRISC and CDPSE certifications and is a certified COBIT Assessor.

Mark served on the volunteer team that helped to develop ISACA's Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework. Bring your questions about this exciting initiative and learn how you can help champion the digital trust movement!
  
   


I'm a Risk Transformer: Ask Me Anything!
ISACA Risk Management Community

Luma Badran headshot

  

 
   Luma Badran
  10-14 October 2022


Luma Badran is a global executive officer with over 25 years’ success in advising and delivering on numerous C-level and mission critical initiatives within the financial services industry. As a “risk transformer” for companies, her extensive experience spans industry and management consulting, with a strong focus on non-financial risk (technology, information, cyber, third party and financial crime risks), data governance and management, regulatory compliance, and global change management expertise. She is currently Manulife's Global Head of Technology Risk Management and the Chief Information Risk Officer of the Global Wealth and Asset management business.

As a leader, Luma brings a sincere bias for action, achievement, and inclusivity. She is known for her ability to lead in challenging environments with the confidence necessary to drive and achieve outcomes. As a female leader in a field often dominated by men, she is intentional in mentoring, serving as a role model, inspirational speaker, and change advocate.

Bring your questions about Luma's path to success and learn lessons to apply to your own career during this AMA!

Frank Yam headshot

  I am the New ISACA Board Chair: Ask Me Anything!

  Pam Nigro
  1-5 August 2022
  ISACA SheLeadsTech Community



ISACA installed Pamela (Pam) Nigro, CRMA, CISA, CGEIT, CRISC, CDPSE as its 2022-2023 board chair in June 2022. Nigro is Vice President of Security and Security Officer at Medecision, where she is responsible for all cybersecurity efforts that secure and protect information important to Medecision and its customers, while ensuring the overall cyber resiliency of the company. She is a recognized thought leader and subject matter expert in information technology, security, privacy, confidentiality of healthcare systems, and healthcare risk, governance and compliance.

Nigro is also an adjunct professor at Lewis University in Illinois, USA, where she teaches graduate-level courses on health information security, healthcare data security, privacy, and confidentiality, healthcare informatics, ethics, risk, IT governance and compliance, and management of information systems in the MSIS and MBA programs. A long-time leader of the Chicago Chapter of ISACA, she has more than 25 years of experience in the information technology industry and holds numerous IT certifications. She has also been awarded “Distinguished Toastmaster” from Toastmasters International. Nigro is a frequent speaker at industry conferences.

Bring your questions about Pam's road to success and learn lessons to apply to your own career during this AMA!
  
   
Frank Yam headshot

     I'm an ISACA Hall of Fame Inductee: Ask Me Anything!

     Frank Yam
     20-24 June 2022
     ISACA Rising Professionals Forum




Professor Frank Yam is a 2022 ISACA Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of this year’s prestigious Eugene Frank Founders Award, the highest recognition bestowed upon a dedicated ISACA member annually. Professor Yam has more than 30 years of experience in governance, auditing, risk management and cybersecurity, and has served in more than 50 terms of office in various ISACA international boards and committees, including six terms on the ISACA Board of Directors, and as president of the China Hong Kong chapter.

Often referred to as the “super-connector,” Professor Yam is a well-respected global leader in the community and an icon for ISACA. He is currently the Chairman & CEO of Focus Strategic Group Inc. Bring your questions about his road to success and learn lessons to apply to your own career during this AMA!
Tina Gravel headshot

     I'm a cybersecurity influencer: Ask Me Anything

     Tina Gravel
     21-25 March 2022
     ISACA SheLeadsTech Forum



An award-winning executive with more than 28 years in information technology. Tina Gravel is SVP Global Channels and Alliances at Appgate, a secure access software and services company. Tina is known as a cybersecurity influencer and has received countless awards for her work; Top Gun 51 Channel Chief by Channel Online in 2019, Women of the Channel (7 years). CRN Top Executive of the Channel (3 years). In June 2020, Tina was named #58 on a Global list of IIOT influencers by Onalytica and in August of 2021 as an honoree on the Channel Futures DE & I 101 list and top Tech Woman Influencer by Award Magazine in August of 2021.  
Raneem Rashid headshot

     I'm a blockchain professional: Ask Me Anything

     Raneem Rashid
     21-25 February 2022
     ISACA Engage Emerging Technology Forum





Raneem Rashid, a Blockchain expert with 6+ years of expertise in development, team leading, training and solution designing for multiple organizations. Raneem currently resides in Saudi Arabia, working full time with Smart chain LLC across UAE and Saudi Arabia, responsible for solution architecting and consulting for blockchain and non-blockchain based solutions and as a freelancer she is associated with Pearson Professional Middle East as an emerging technology course instructor for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain courses in a virtual environment. She collaborates with wiseHer platform as a blockchain expert and community advocate at Chainlink. She is a Certified Blockchain Solution Architect, IBM Blockchain and R3 Corda certified.

Outside her work, she has been actively contributing by sharing her knowledge via public speaking and technology experience to the advancement of the sector by mentoring one-to-one, writing on LinkedIn with 6500+ followers and conducting regular external technical training for both tech evangelists and business leaders from organizations such as Apple, Sage, King Fahad Medical City etc.

Raneem have also been recognized as Global thought leader by Thinkers360 and was nominated as “Speaker of the Year” at the Women Tech Global Conference in the areas of AI, RPA, Cloud Solutions, Tech, Innovation & Future of work.
Cat Coode headshot

     I'm a data privacy expert, parent, and run my own business: Ask Me Anything
   
     Cat Coode
     24-28 January 2022
     ISACA Engage Privacy Forum





Cat is the founder of Binary Tattoo. Binary for the language of all things digital. Tattoo for the permanence of what goes online. Baked by two decades of experience in mobile development and software architecture (BlackBerry), as well as a certification in data privacy law, Cat helps individuals and corporations better understand cybersecurity and data privacy.

She specializes in global privacy regulation compliance and delivering privacy education seminars. She is a member of the Canadian Standards Council for GDPR. She has worked with tech start-ups through to large organizations in a breadth of industries including healthcare, education, and social media.

Cat was named one of Canada's Top 20 Women in Cybersecurity 2021.

Cat leverages her aptitude for teaching and her engineering background, in both her speaking and consulting engagements, to break down technical concepts in ways everyone can understand. Putting privacy at the foundation of everything you do.