Editor’s note: ISACA’s Career Catalyst Stories showcase how members have been supported by ISACA throughout all stages of their careers. Today, we profile Karen Franklin, Director, Compliance Analytics with Discover Financial Services. Find out more about ISACA membership here.
Karen Franklin has been a champion of mentorship throughout her career, so when ISACA began its formal Mentorship Program two years ago, she enthusiastically jumped onboard.
“In my early professional days, mentors played a pivotal role by offering guidance and advice,” Franklin said. “Their influence allowed me to venture beyond my usual boundaries and advance professionally. Those experiences shaped me into the person I am now. I am firmly convinced that effective mentorship can significantly alter the course of one’s career and build the assurance necessary for people to achieve new professional peaks.”
Karen and ISACA: early career
Originally an art education student, Franklin shifted career gears and joined Discover Financial Services in process engineering before gravitating toward audit.
“After some time, I felt drawn to a new challenge,” said Franklin, now Director, Compliance Analytics with Discover Financial Services. “It coincided with internal audit's recruitment drive, which piqued my interest despite my limited knowledge about auditing, mainly shaped by major corporate scandals like Enron’s. An encouraging vice president in the audit department proposed that I consider an IT auditor position. Despite my reservations due to my background in technical work and analytics, I embraced the challenge and entered the field of IT auditing. This move altered the direction of my professional life profoundly.”
As has Franklin’s journey with ISACA. She joined ISACA in 2016 after consistently hearing from peers about its strong reputation as a credentialing body, and earned her Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) two years later.
“My involvement with ISACA furthered my professional development, leading me to explore their certifications and to successfully pursue the CISA designation, which stands out as one of the most pivotal decisions in my career,” Franklin said.
What’s happening now?
Franklin’s company recently revamped its risk management program, creating a need for someone to handle IT control testing. Franklin’s background and CISA certification positioned her well for the task.
“With my unique certification in the field, I took on this added responsibility and developed the control testing program,” Franklin said. “I appreciate having achieved my certification early on and keeping up with ongoing professional education.”
On top of her regular work responsibilities, Franklin has prioritized being an active mentor through ISACA – a way to give back to a professional community about which she feels strongly. An ISACA mentee of Franklin’s, George Goodwin, credited Franklin with helping him navigate a major career change.
“My mentorship program experience has shown me that ISACA is more than just a professional association that offers certifications and CPEs,” Franklin said. “It is also a global community of passionate and talented professionals who share a common vision and mission of advancing the IT audit and risk profession and creating positive change in the world.”
What’s next for Karen?
In addition to her ongoing mentoring relationships, Franklin said she will look to ISACA for new learning resources and thought leadership to keep up with the fluid business technology landscape. She is particularly focused on learning more about risks related to generative AI and the ongoing evolution of the cyber threat landscape.
“I use ISACA webinars to earn the CPE credits needed for my CISA and utilize their blog posts and articles for research that aids my professional growth and daily tasks,” she said. “Listening to diverse opinions and gaining knowledge from peers is a great strategy for advancement in IT. With constant technological evolution, it's imperative to keep abreast of industry trends and contemplate various risk management approaches.”