CyberWire Daily: “Lauren Van Wazer: You have to be your own North Star. [CISSP] [Career Notes]”

Date: January 25, 2026
Host: N2K Networks
Guest: Lauren Van Wazer, Vice President, Global Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Akamai Technologies

Episode Overview

This episode of CyberWire Daily features Lauren Van Wazer, a cybersecurity industry leader and public policy expert. Lauren shares her unconventional professional journey, highlighting the value of a technical foundation, the intersection between technology, policy, and law, and offers advice for navigating dynamic career paths, especially for women in technology. The conversation is rich with personal anecdotes, reflections on her time as a White House cybersecurity policy leader, and her approach to leadership and impact within global cybersecurity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Lauren’s Early Career and Educational Background

• Varied Early Interests: Lauren recounts her diverse interests, from language and mathematics to spending time outdoors.
  • Quote (01:03): “From when I was young I enjoyed doing a lot of things, everything from language to mathematics outdoors.”
• Choosing Engineering:
  • Influenced by her engineer father, who challenged her passions versus practicality.
    • Quote (01:21): “You like doing so many things, but you'll never pick up an engineering textbook for fun on a Saturday night...but you would pick up something in history or languages and so why don't you give that a shot? And so I went into engineering.”
  • Obtained a BSc in System Science Engineering.
  • Noted the persistent underrepresentation of women in the field (then 5%, now still only 9%).
• Value of Engineering Education:
  • Attributes critical thinking and technical fluency to her engineering background, which has been foundational both as a lawyer and a tech executive.
    • Quote (02:06): “I think engineering gives one an analytic, rigorous approach to problem solving...and it's given me a fluency in technology which has been critical in all of the work that I've done.”

The Intersection of Law, Technology, and Policy

• Career Transitions:
  • Started as a network engineer at AT&T, before attending law school at night (with AT&T paying the tuition — her “first successful bid at advocacy”).
  • Clerked for a federal judge, and worked in technology-heavy areas of environmental law.
• Entry and Growth in Cybersecurity:
  • After a career break as a stay-at-home mom, within 10 years, she became the White House lead for cybersecurity policy at the Office of Science and Technology Policy, also serving the National Security Council.

Leadership Role at Akamai Technologies

• Building a Global Public Policy Function:

  • Joined Akamai, created and grew a worldwide public policy team.
    • Quote (04:31): “In two weeks, it'll be nine years that I've been at Akamai and I've started and grew the function to worldwide function. I've got purview in over 140 different countries around the world. So I'm tracking cyber everywhere.”
  • Describes the role as dynamic (“not a job for someone who likes sameness”).

• Scope of Responsibilities:

  • Interpreting and monitoring global legislation/regulation (cybersecurity, internet regulation, net neutrality).
  • Advising senior executives and the board on government-facing issues.
  • Serves as a one-stop interface for all non-sales government engagements.
    • Quote (05:07): “If they make a mistake, it's my mistake and if they do well, they've done well.”

• Leadership Style:

  • Advocates “coach” and “collaborative” leadership, emphasizing empowerment and team development.
  • Quote (05:15): “I view my empowering of the people who work for me as the most important part of managing them...I've got their back.”

Policy Impact and Broader Industry Influence

• Desire to Leave a Positive Mark:
  • Driven by a wish to leave the world “a little better than when you found it,” quoting the Girl Scout motto.
• Career Highlights:
  • Key roles promoting broadband deployment and improving cybersecurity, including work at the FCC and facilitating Wi-Fi technology.
    • Quote (05:56): “Just having been able to have seat in the front row at some of the major technological transformations...and have had a little role in helping to make them happen.”

Career Advice and Closing Reflections

• On Overcoming Doubt and Following Your Path:
  • Encourages listeners to ignore naysayers, carve their own career pathway, embrace twists and turns, and take risks on projects they find “cool.”
    • Quote (06:15): “You have to be your own North Star.”
    • Quote (06:33): “It's your career ladder. You make it what you want and it's natural for it to have twists and turns. So don't get discouraged.”
  • Strongly recommends pursuing technical roles (“be an engineer”).
    • Quote (06:44): “And be an engineer. Do something technical. It's just been an extraordinary journey for me.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Foundation in Engineering:
  “Engineering gives one an analytic, rigorous approach to problem solving.”
  (02:06, Lauren Van Wazer)

• On Female Representation in Tech:
  “There were 5% women in my major, believe it or not. That was not yesterday, and there are only 9% women in my major today.”
  (01:44, Lauren Van Wazer)

• On Career Trajectory:
  “Nobody would have said, oh geez, you’re a stay at home mom. Oh, you know, within a decade you'd be at the White House, right?”
  (06:22, Lauren Van Wazer)

• On Leadership Philosophy:
  “If they make a mistake, it’s my mistake, and if they do well, they’ve done well.”
  (05:07, Lauren Van Wazer)

• Lifelong Impact Mentality:
  “The Girl Scout motto, wanting to leave a campsite a little better than when you found it.”
  (05:27, Lauren Van Wazer)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:55-03:00: Lauren's early influences, education, engineering as a foundation
• 03:00-04:00: Law school, advocacy, and transition from engineering to law
• 04:00-05:00: Return to workforce and climbing to White House cyber policy role
• 05:00-06:00: Leadership style, impact ambitions, Akamai’s global reach
• 06:00-07:00: Advice for unconventional careers, championing technical skills, encouraging risk-taking

Tone and Takeaways

Lauren’s conversational tone is candid, analytical, and motivational. She underscores resilience, technical fluency, and self-direction as keys to a rewarding, impactful career in tech and cybersecurity policy. The episode offers both inspiration and practical advice—especially for women and those considering diverse or non-linear professional paths.

Summary prepared for listeners who may have missed the episode or want a focused recap of Lauren Van Wazer's insights and advice.