Aparna Saha
Aparna Saha is an accomplished cybersecurity leader with over two decades of experience in information systems, currently serving as the Head of Global Cyber Security Operations and Incident Response at Fresenius Medical Care. In this role, she leads global efforts to protect critical healthcare infrastructure, overseeing threat monitoring, incident response, vulnerability management, and security engineering. Her work plays a vital role in safeguarding sensitive patient data and ensuring operational continuity across a complex, international healthcare environment.
Prior to joining Fresenius Medical Care, Aparna spent more than 13 years at Amgen, where she held multiple leadership roles spanning identity and access management, cloud security, and cybersecurity architecture. She was instrumental in developing enterprise-wide security strategies, implementing advanced risk management frameworks, and driving innovation through AI-driven security solutions. Known for her ability to translate complex technical challenges into actionable strategies, she has consistently led large, cross-functional teams and major global initiatives with precision and impact.
Aparna’s leadership philosophy is rooted in perseverance, authenticity, and a people-first mindset. She believes in “leading from the heart” and measures success by the number of leaders she helps develop. Passionate about continuous learning and innovation, she is dedicated to advancing cybersecurity practices while fostering inclusive, high-performing teams. Her career reflects a commitment not only to technical excellence, but also to mentorship, strategic transformation, and making a meaningful difference in the organizations and communities she serves.
• Pathways Leadership Development Graduate, CIO Executive Council
• Leading with a Heavy Heart
• NShield Certified System Engineer
• Sun Certified Java Developer
• CISSP
• IBM Certified Deployment Professional Tivoli Identity Manager V5.0
• Fergusson College- M.C.S.
• Nowrosjee Wadia College- B.C.S.
• 2019 CISO Manager of the Year
• Inclusion in Who's Who in America
• Honored Listee-
Marquis Who's Who
• Health ISAC
• Scouting America Leader
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to three main things. First, my parents and the way I was brought up, where I was never given a limit. I could go after anything I desired, essentially. Second, I have a very supportive spouse. Being in cybersecurity is a high-stakes job - like last weekend, I had to work through the weekend. It's not really easy with two little children if you don't really have a supportive family member or spouse. Third, I've had some very good mentors along the way, and that's definitely something I would like to give back. Women find it very hard to dream big, I don't know why, and I had this problem early on in my career too. Until someone opens your eyes to the art of possible, that's when your drive really exponentially grows. So I attribute it to the mentors and the managers who actually saw the potential and pushed me to go after those opportunities.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't stop exploring something new, and don't let anyone tell you that you cannot pick up a new workstream or a new path. Cybersecurity is vast, and as I'm hiring people, I have hired plenty of college graduates, and I've hired people recently who are 15 years of not cybersecurity, and yet I've hired them into cybersecurity operations. So I would say the best way is to keep exploring new things.