November 04, 2025

The DNA of Organizational Resilience: Leadership First, Technology Last with Heather Costa, Director of Technology Resilience at Mayo Clinic

41 minutes

This episode features Heather Costa, Director of Technology Resilience at Mayo Clinic.

With over two decades of experience building resilience programs at leading healthcare institutions, Heather has redefined what it means to prepare for and thrive through disruption. From Cleveland Clinic to Mayo Clinic, she’s led enterprise-wide recovery strategies that balance people, process, and technology.

In this episode, Heather explains why true resilience starts with leadership, not technology, how to set clear priorities when everything feels critical, and how to design organizations that adapt and recover faster.

This is a powerful look at the mindset and methods behind building resilience that lasts in healthcare and beyond.

Guest Bio

Heather M. Costa is a leading authority in cyber and technology resilience, currently serving as Director of Technology Resilience at Mayo Clinic. With over twenty years of experience, she has shaped resilience programs at premier healthcare institutions, notably pioneering business resilience at Cleveland Clinic before architecting Mayo Clinic’s enterprise-wide recovery and continuity initiatives.

Heather is a dynamic leader, keynote speaker, and mentor, frequently invited to share her insights at organizations and conferences such as Harvard NPLI, HIMSS, and the HIPAA Summit. She is recognized for building high-performing teams and fostering the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

Heather holds a Master’s in Homeland Security – Information Security and Forensics from Penn State, a summa cum laude Bachelor’s in Emergency Management from the University of Akron, and multiple esteemed certifications including Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), Certified Cyber Resilience Professional (CCRP). She is Vice President for the WiCyS Healthcare Affiliate and a member of several distinguished honor societies.

Outside of work, Heather is a dedicated solo mom to five children, inspiring her family and community with her resilience and leadership.

Guest Quote

"[Resilience] means not just recovering, but being better. Adapting, where we're wired in our DNA organizationally, to thrive in disruption, not just survive.”

Time stamps

01:08 Meet Heather Costa: Cyber Resilience Expert

04:49 Understanding Resilience in Healthcare

22:36 Starting with Minimal Viable Recovery

25:56 Worst Case Scenario Planning

28:30 Building a Resilient Environment

29:33 Heather's Blue Sky Strategy Planning

35:26 What's Missed When Building Resilience

37:43 Final Advice on Resilience

Sponsor

The HIP Podcast is brought to you by Semperis, the leader in identity-driven cyber resilience for the hybrid enterprise. Trusted by the world’s leading businesses, Semperis protects critical Active Directory environments from cyberattacks, ensuring rapid recovery and business continuity when every second counts. Visit semperis.com to learn more.

Links

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