Alexandria San Miguel
Head of Information Security
Chanel
With over 20 years in tech, I kicked off my career at a global consulting firm with a focus on tech and enterprise risk. In 2015, I pivoted into information security and cyber risk management. Most of my journey has been set to the beat of the music and entertainment industry, but a few years ago, I made a stylish move into the fashion industry proving that even in the most serious jobs, there's room for some fun and flair. Based in vibrant NYC with my spunky tween, I'm an avid traveler, trivia aficionado, and a sucker for pretty things.
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Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
In college I studied Computer Science, but a summer internship at GE showed me that development wasn’t my jam. Thanks to networking and campus connections, I landed at Deloitte in Enterprise Risk Services, focusing on IT controls (read: not coding). For several years, I provided clients with best-of-class services and benefited from the firm's dedication to investing in their people.
From there, I made a couple of jumps doing similar work within the private sector. By the time I'd been at Sony Music for 4-5 years on their Risk & Controls team, I made a career shift in 2015 and moved into Information Security. After another 5 years there, I decided to try on the fashion industry at Brooklyn-based fashion rental company, Rent the Runway, and built their Security GRC function. Now, I’m the Head of Information Security at Chanel Inc., where I lead a team dedicated to protecting the House, our brand, and our clients’ data.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Hard to pick just one: Be authentic, Be curious, Keep it simple, Accept failure, Don't be a jerk.
What is the greatest challenge CISOs face today, and how are you addressing it?
CISOs and similar roles are often not appointed to permanent board or executive positions, leaving company leaders without critical insight into immediate cyber risks. This oversight can lead to severe operational, financial, regulatory, and reputational consequences. In my experience, transparent, frequent, and clear communication to executives that is focused on business impact risks — rather than focusing on the technology — helps bridge this gap.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CISO?
A clear understanding of what the business considers their critical processes and functions in terms of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
How do you measure success as a leader?
This depends on the context but generally: high engagement levels in all directions, employee satisfaction, fostering a supportive and growth-oriented environment that encourages creativity and innovation, empowering teams to find solutions and take initiatives.
What is the value of being a member of the Evanta community?
Connecting with peers, sharing knowledge, expanding my network for the benefit of me and my professional circle.
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