NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University alumna Mignona Coté, one of the leading chief information security officers (CISOs) in the industry, was recently recognized with two significant honors.
Coté was named one of Cyber Magazine’s top 10 female leaders who are defending large enterprises against advanced cyber threats. According to the magazine, “the cybersecurity landscape of 2026 demands leadership that transcends traditional technical boundaries, requiring executives to secure critical infrastructure while enabling rapid digital transformation with AI.” The magazine also points out the lack of gender diversity in the field, as women only hold “about 17 percent of CISO positions in Fortune 500 companies and make up 22 percent of the broader cybersecurity workforce.”
Coté is one who is breaking that glass ceiling. She was one of seven top security executives to be recognized with a 2026 DallasCISO ORBIE Award, which honors CISOs who drive business transformation and industry impact. Presented by Inspire Leadership Network, Coté received the Global ORBIE for organizations over $1 billion annual revenue & multi-national operations. It was the second time she received the award attributed to her influence across two high tech industries.
Coté said she is honored to be recognized among such outstanding peers. She was an early pioneer in tech, starting with NSU, working across seven Fortune 50 companies and basing her principles from growing up in Natchitoches.
“The ORBIE is the preeminent executive recognition for C-suite leaders,” according to globenewswire.com. “Since 1998, the ORBIE Awards have recognized leadership excellence, building relationships between executives and trusted business partners, and inspiring the next generation of executives. Finalists and winners are selected through an independent peer-adjudicated process led by prior ORBIE recipients. Criteria is based on leadership and management effectiveness, business protection created by enterprise security and engagement in industry and community endeavors.
Coté is senior vice president and chief information security officer for Infor, one of the world’s largest providers of enterprise cloud software. She has more than three decades of experience in information security, risk management, compliance and auditing.
Coté earned two degrees from Northwestern State, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems in December 1985 and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in May 1986. She was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority and Purple Jackets. She began her career as an IT auditor for the City of Shreveport, then was recruited to Dallas for a management training program with Comerica Bank. Since then she has become a world leader in multi-cloud security, building solutions in high-tech, healthcare, insurance and large financial institutions.
Last year, Coté was inducted into the Chief Security Officer Hall of Fame and has been recognized for pioneering work in the information security industry.