Zahra Abdulla
About Zahra Abdulla
Zahra Abdulla is the Senior Manager of Vulnerability Management at CIBC, with extensive experience in cybersecurity and operational improvements.
Current Role at CIBC
Zahra Abdulla is currently the Senior Manager of Vulnerability Management at CIBC. She has held this position since 2020 and operates out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In this role, she oversees the management of vulnerabilities within the organization, ensuring that risks are identified and mitigated efficiently.
Previous Positions at CIBC
Prior to her current role, Zahra Abdulla has held several key positions at CIBC. She was a Senior Consultant in Security Analytics from 2019 to 2020, and before that, she was the Senior Manager of the Configuration Management Team from 2014 to 2019. Her earlier roles included serving as the Team Lead for Technology Operations Information Management from 2008 to 2014 and as a Senior Application Developer from 2006 to 2008.
Early Career
Zahra Abdulla began her career with various roles across different organizations. She worked at Hewlett-Packard as a Business Planning Analyst from 2003 to 2006, and as a Data Administrator at INTRIA from 2000 to 2003. She also gained experience at CIBC World Markets as a Junior Analyst in 2000 and at CIBC Mortgages as a Mortgage Renewal Officer from 1996 to 1999.
Educational Background
Zahra Abdulla has a solid educational foundation. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) in Business Technology Management from Ryerson University between 2011 and 2023. Additionally, she completed her studies in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies at Oregon State University from 1987 to 1991.
Operational Improvements at CIBC
In her tenure at CIBC, Zahra Abdulla has been instrumental in implementing a business-centric operating model for cybersecurity. She achieved measurable quarterly improvements in operational activities through continuous improvement initiatives and reduced non-value-added operational work and errors via quality programs and process improvements. She ensures that key controls are accurate and aligned with the operating model and standards.