Jami Hughes, a pioneering cybersecurity leader and Northridge High’s first graduate, shares her journey from student to Zion's Bank (Midvale, UT) executive, highlighting resilience, mentorship, and her mission to empower women in tech.
Midvale, Utah - May 27, 2025
Jami Hughes: From High School Trailblazer to Cybersecurity Leader
“I had to learn to hang out with the boys, adapt to the challenges of being a girl in engineering, and prove that I could do it just as well.”
Jami Hughes has never been one to take the easy route. As a member of the first graduating class at Northridge High School in Layton, Utah, she began building a legacy of confidence and ambition early on. In high school, she loaded her schedule with Advanced Placement classes and interned at Kimberly-Clark in Ogden—an experience that helped define her path.
Through it all, her biggest inspiration was close to home.
“My dad always told me, if you’re a girl in engineering, you’ll go far—because companies are looking for that diversity.”
Studying Tech, Surrounded by Guys
That message stuck. Hughes gravitated toward computer science in high school and realized quickly that she would be one of the few women in the room.
“I enjoyed computer science, so it felt like a natural fit. But that also meant being one of two girls in a class of thirty guys. Working at Kimberly-Clark helped me realize I could make it—I could succeed in this field.”
A Pivot Toward Business and Security
After high school, Hughes enrolled at the University of Utah. Like many students, she faced tough decisions about her future.
“I went back and forth between engineering and business. I got nervous and chose a business degree with a tech emphasis. But when I joined Citigroup’s credit card division in their management trainee program, I realized how much technical background I already had.”
That realization launched her into cybersecurity. After completing the program, Hughes became Citigroup’s first-ever Business Information Security Officer.
Leading Security at Zions
Today, Hughes serves as an EVP and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Zions Bancorporation at the financial institution's state-of-the art Midvale Technology Campus, opened in July, 2022. Her role spans cybersecurity operations, managing response teams, and mentoring young professionals.
One of her proudest moments? Seeing her team step up under pressure.
“When you see your teams working together to resolve an issue—what could be a high-stress situation—it’s really powerful. That’s what cybersecurity teams are trained for. It’s like solving a complex puzzle, and I love that.”
Empowering Interns and Junior Analysts
Hughes believes strongly in giving newcomers a front-row seat to real-world challenges.
“People are surprised, but when we have a cyber event, I’ll often bring interns or junior analysts into the Security Operations Center (SOC). We ‘read them in’—that’s what we call walking them through a sensitive incident—and I let them experience it firsthand. Honestly, it’s often the intern who asks the question that cracks the case.”
Transparency, Disclosure, and 8-K Reports
Hughes also plays a key role in deciding how and when Zions communicates cybersecurity issues to the public.
“Communicating cyber events to customers is a critical process within our executive team. We assess what happened, then consult legal to decide whether it requires disclosure. Most incidents—like failed phishing attempts or blocked access attempts—don’t. But when they do, we have a full process in place, often involving an 8-K report.”
Editor’s note: An 8-K is a public filing with the SEC that discloses significant events shareholders should know about, including certain cyber incidents.
Building Networks of Support for Women in Tech
Hughes doesn’t just lead inside the office. She’s also a community builder.
“I was at a fintech in Draper, Utah, and we started the Women in Leadership Network with the motto: ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ When I came to Zions, I asked about a women’s network, and they said a group of us did lunch once a month. That wasn’t what I had in mind.”
So she made it happen. She drafted a formal charter, recruited collaborators, and launched Zions’ first structured Women in Leadership Network.
“It’s very successful today and continues to grow. Seeing more women participate in things like the Women Tech Council—that’s something I’m deeply proud of.”
Advice for Girls Pursuing STEM
Hughes is open about the challenges girls face in STEM, and she has clear advice for those just getting started:
“You are not alone. You don’t have to do it all yourself. Figure out what kind of support you need at that moment—whether it's from your spouse, your best friend, or your family—and lean on them. Keep that balance so you don’t lose yourself in the work.”
Watching the Rise of Gen AI
Looking to the future, Hughes is especially excited about Generative AI—and how teams can embrace it.
“People worry that AI is going to take jobs. But one of the coolest things I heard at a conference was: Gen AI isn’t going to replace your job. But someone using Gen AI might.”
That’s why she ensures her teams are not only trained but encouraged to explore and adapt.
“It’s exciting to watch Gen AI evolve, but it’s also exciting to see the stumbles. Sometimes we expect the tool to have all the answers—and it doesn’t. That’s part of the learning process.”
Haylee Heiner and Shae Stephenson are serving as SheTech Media Interns for the 2024–2025 academic year. Both are seniors at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah, where they’re enrolled in the school’s rigorous International Baccalaureate program. Active members of the National Honor Society at both the council and group levels, they’ve completed numerous STEM courses and are involved in a variety of extracurricular activities.
The SheTech Media Internship—offered through TechBuzz News—provides young women opportunities in networking and journalism. Media interns' work is published on TechBuzz News, Silicon Slopes, and other media platforms. Through the internship, interns engage with finalists of the Women Tech Awards, reporting on achievements and contributions to the tech industry.