In this episode of The Identity Heroes, Heather Flanagan — Principal at Spherical Cow Consulting — shares how her background in library science laid the foundation for a career simplifying complexity and shaping global identity standards.

Heather takes us from her early days as a librarian-in-training to managing systems at Stanford and Duke, to becoming a key facilitator across W3C, IETF, and OpenID Foundation working groups. Along the way, she reveals how the skills of organizing, indexing, and communicating translate seamlessly into technology — and why non-coders play an essential role in driving progress in IAM.

🎯 This conversation dives into:

• The parallels between library science and identity standards
• How simplifying complexity — the “spherical cow” way — makes hard problems solvable
• Why non-coders, facilitators, and implementers matter in standards work
• The challenge of delegation and digital legacy in the AI era
• What mentorship and communication can teach us about collaboration

✨ Key Themes & Takeaways

• Library science and identity standards share the same DNA: structure, clarity, and organization
• Simplification is a superpower in problem-solving
• Diversity of skills strengthens technical communities
• Delegation and digital legacy remain key challenges in a digital-first world
• Mentorship and shared learning sustain the identity community

Whether you come from tech or the humanities, Heather’s story shows that identity needs every kind of mind — not just coders.

🔗 Explore more Identity Heroes: https://www.strata.io/identityheroes

🎙️ The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the guest and do not represent the opinions of their employer or family.