Tamara Lauterbach
Tamara Lauterbach, MBA, is an experienced cybersecurity specialist currently serving as a Senior GRC Specialist at Gong in New York City. With over a decade of expertise in cybersecurity, Tamara’s background spans Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), Identity Access Management (IAM), and data security. Prior to Gong, she held a leadership role as Cybersecurity Manager at Guthrie, where she led initiatives to achieve HITRUST certification and strengthened organizational security frameworks. She is skilled at designing and implementing compliance controls across frameworks such as HITRUST, GDPR, ISO 27001, and SOC 2, and is known for driving cultural change towards security-focused environments.
Tamara holds advanced degrees including an MBA in Fraud & Forensics and Organizational Leadership from Carlow University and a Master of Public Health. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), InfraGard, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), where she promotes collaboration, innovation, and diversity in cybersecurity. Committed to mentoring and community engagement, Tamara frequently speaks at industry events and universities, sharing insights and inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
• Integrated Audit & Assurance Professional
• Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge v.4
• Certified Corporate Ethics Manager
• Demystify Decision Making
• Certified Ethics Associate -IT
• HIPAA Professional
• Project Management Essentials Certified
• ITIL Foundation Level
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification
• Pattern Recognition, Profiling and Analysis
• Integrated Data Privacy Professional
• GRCA
• GRC Professional
• Integrated Policy Management Professional
• Certified CSFP
• Carlow University- M. B. A.
• Argosy University- B. A.
• South University
• Women in cyber security
• Infragard
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
• CyberEdBoard Community
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of hands-on experience and formal education—my degrees gave me the tools to communicate effectively and drive business continuity, while my father, a former IBM engineer, mentored me early on by challenging me to solve real technical problems on my own. That blend pushed me to think outside the box and step beyond my comfort zone, which has shaped how I lead and innovate in technology today.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received was from a former boss who told me, “If you don’t connect the dots, you won’t survive”—that mindset has stayed with me and sharpened my critical thinking throughout my career.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is bridging the gap in understanding when it comes to communicating risk and new technology, especially when people are resistant to change—yet adapting is essential to avoid being left behind.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values I hold most important in both my work and personal life are integrity, honesty, and radical candor—speaking my truth with respect and clarity, even when it’s tough, while staying open to hearing others’ perspectives. As a woman, I’ve often had to prove myself, but I believe my knowledge should speak for itself, and I strive to balance confidence with openness.