Lisa Tagliaferri, a former Futures Initiative (FI) Graduate Fellow, has carved out a fascinating career at the intersection of humanities, technology, and cybersecurity. Currently working at the cybersecurity startup Chainguard, Lisa brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her work, shaped by her background in Comparative Literature and Digital Humanities. In this FI Spotlight, she reflects on her time with the Futures Initiative, the role of the humanities in tech, and the importance of open-source software in creating more equitable digital landscapes.
From Comparative Literature to Cybersecurity: An Unexpected Journey
Lisa’s academic journey began with a PhD in Comparative Literature at the Graduate Center, CUNY, where she focused on digital humanities and 14th-century Italian writing. Her research examined how figures like Catherine of Siena worked to codify Italian as a vernacular language, making knowledge more accessible beyond the Latin-speaking elite class. This idea—that language and knowledge should be accessible to all—has remained central to Lisa’s career, even as she transitioned into the tech world.
After leaving academia, Lisa found herself drawn to technology and its potential for democratizing knowledge. “Technology is a kind of language,” she explains. “And my hope is that there is a ‘vernacular’ technology—where the people most impacted by technological change are able to participate meaningfully in shaping it.” This perspective led her to roles in open-source software and developer relations, where she continues to advocate for accessibility and inclusion in tech spaces.
The Power of People-Centered Learning
During her time as an FI Fellow (2014-2016), Lisa was drawn to the initiative’s commitment to equity, student-centered learning, and structural change within higher education. “It felt like being part of a startup within a larger institutional space,” she recalls. “You knew you were contributing to something bigger—something that was actively making change.”
She credits FI with reinforcing her belief in participatory learning and knowledge-sharing. The experience of working with CUNY students, whom she describes as “brilliant and deeply engaged,” further underscored the need to create educational and professional spaces that center people rather than rigid systems. She also admired FI’s ability to create high-impact learning experiences using minimal technology—a stark contrast to the tech industry’s current obsession with AI-driven solutions in education. Lisa observed how FI’s “low-tech” but people-centered model stood out in contrast to the growing emphasis on high-tech solutions in education. “It’s interesting how well it works without all the AI and tech tools when you just give people the space and opportunity.”
Advice for FI Fellows Bridging Academia and Industry
For current FI Fellows considering careers beyond academia, Lisa offers practical advice: embrace interdisciplinarity, but be prepared to translate your skills for different audiences. “One of the challenges of being an interdisciplinary scholar is that your expertise might not be immediately legible to hiring managers outside of academia,” she notes. “But skills like synthesizing information, thinking critically, and writing persuasively are invaluable in any field.”
Lisa has seen firsthand how PhDs—especially those with interdisciplinary training—can thrive in tech startups. “In a startup, you need people who can wear multiple hats, think strategically, and learn quickly. That’s exactly what a PhD trains you to do.”
The Role of Humanities in Tech: A Critical Perspective
As someone deeply embedded in both the humanities and tech, Lisa is keenly aware of the industry’s blind spots. “Tech values technical expertise above all else, but it’s the humanistic perspectives that help us ask the right questions,” she says. “Who is being excluded? What are the ethical implications of what we’re building?”
She sees open-source communities as one way for individuals and organizations to lead within the technology sector. “Open-source software has the potential to be a democratizing force,” she explains. “But sustaining it requires real investment and a commitment to keeping it accessible.”
A Passion for Open Source, Art, and Lifelong Learning
Beyond her professional work, Lisa is an advocate for open-source software and believes in its potential to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing. She has also contributed to digital humanities projects and remains interested in the intersection of technology and cultural history.
Outside of tech, Lisa is a dedicated visual artist, engaging in figure drawing and alternative process photography like daguerreotypes and tintypes. “I love working with my hands and creating something tangible,” she shares. “It’s a different kind of problem-solving, but just as rewarding.”
Looking Ahead
Lisa remains hopeful about the future of both technology and education. “I’d love to see more spaces where people can bridge different disciplines and create knowledge together,” she says. “That’s what FI did for me, and that’s what I hope to continue fostering in my own work.”
Her journey from the humanities to cybersecurity might seem unconventional, but at its core, it remains rooted in the same principles: accessibility, knowledge-sharing, and the belief that everyone should have a stake in shaping the systems that impact their lives.
Lisa’s story is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary thinking—and a reminder that the best career paths are often the ones we don’t anticipate.
