Exploring Excellence with HaystackID®: Stephanie Wienke
Editor’s Note: In this edition of “Explore Excellence with HaystackID®,” we highlight Stephanie Wienke’s story—a testament to the power of curiosity, mentorship, and adaptability. Her ability to connect diverse skills—from storytelling to security strategy—exemplifies HaystackID’s culture of innovation and growth. Whether managing audits, mentoring peers, or dissecting phishing emails, Stephanie’s impact is felt across the organization. Her journey reminds us that excellence isn’t just about expertise but collaboration, continuous learning, and the courage to embrace new opportunities.
Exploring Excellence with HaystackID®: Stephanie Wienke
By HaystackID Staff
At HaystackID®, fostering a culture of growth and innovation is not just a goal—it’s a way of life. Stephanie Wienke, Security Specialist, is a shining example of how embracing change, mentorship, and interdisciplinary skills can lead to incredible career evolution. From her roots as an English major and high school teacher to her role in HaystackID’s security initiatives, Stephanie’s journey highlights the power of adaptability and the strength of mentorship.
From Creative Writing to eDiscovery
Like many of us in this field, Stephanie’s path to HaystackID was anything but linear. Armed with her BA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a teaching certification from Carthage College, she began her career teaching high school English. However, after years in education, Stephanie sought a change.
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next,” Stephanie shared in a recent interview. “But I came across a receptionist position at NightOwl Global and thought, ‘Why not?’ At that point, I had no idea what eDiscovery was, but it seemed like an exciting opportunity.”
Starting as the welcoming face of NightOwl, Stephanie quickly became fascinated by the intricate puzzle of eDiscovery. “I met colleagues across departments and learned about their roles. Seeing how everything fits together captivated me,” she said on a recent EDRM Illumination Zone podcast episode.
Her curiosity and drive led her to take on finance, marketing, HR, and security tasks. Stephanie’s knack for breaking down complex processes and engaging others caught the attention of her future mentor, Michael Cammack, Vice President of IT and Security.
Embracing Mentorship and Career Growth
When NightOwl merged with HaystackID, Michael invited Stephanie to join the security team, a pivotal moment transforming her career trajectory.
“Michael has been instrumental in my growth,” Stephanie said. “He doesn’t just assign tasks—he takes the time to explain the ‘why’ behind them so I can understand the bigger picture. That’s helped me move from simply completing tasks to developing processes and writing SOPs that others can use.”
Stephanie has embraced opportunities to learn from her team, citing figures like Tiago Deretti and Dave Rein for their mastery of infrastructure. She’s also developed her vendor management expertise, overseeing security and privacy questionnaires and vetting prospective vendor responses.
“Mentorship is like a ladder,” Stephanie reflected. “You climb up as you grow your career, but you keep extending it to help others grow, just as you were helped.”
Turning Stories into Security Strategies
Stephanie credits her background in English and creative writing for her success in the security field.
“Being an English major gave me a lens to interpret ideas from multiple perspectives. Whether teaching The Odyssey or dissecting phishing emails, the skills are transferable,” she said.
Her ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences has been invaluable, saying, “Instead of mapping English standards to lessons, I map security controls to policies and procedures. It’s all about engaging your audience and ensuring the story resonates.”
Michael Cammack praised Stephanie’s impact: “Stephanie brings a unique ability to combine technical precision with clear, effective communication. Her talent for making complex security concepts accessible to all is a game-changer for our team.”
A Collective Effort: Advancing Security Excellence
A key highlight of Stephanie’s role has been managing HaystackID’s third-party audits, including achieving the prestigious HITRUST r2 Certification. This certification underscores HaystackID’s commitment to data privacy and security, particularly in sensitive fields like healthcare.
“By earning the HITRUST r2 Certification, we illustrate our commitment to the highest standards for data protection and information security and instill confidence in our clients that we handle their sensitive information with unparalleled precision and care,” said Hal Brooks, CEO of HaystackID.
“The HITRUST certification required us to gather over 1,000 pieces of evidence across 100 categories. Collaboration across departments was critical—we built trust and respect by working together to achieve a common goal,” Stephanie said.
HaystackID’s approach to security emphasizes empowerment and continuous learning. Stephanie delivers comprehensive onboarding sessions that instill confidence in new hires. The security team also runs monthly training programs, phishing tests, and awareness initiatives to ensure employees stay vigilant. Stephanie’s dedication to fostering a culture of security and privacy underscores HaystackID’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive client data.
As for the future, Stephanie remains focused on her dual strengths: building a robust security program and mentoring the next generation of professionals.
“Every day brings new challenges and opportunities. I’m excited to keep learning and contributing to our company’s success,” she said.
About HaystackID®
HaystackID solves complex data challenges related to legal, compliance, regulatory, and cyber events. Core offerings include Global Advisory, Data Discovery Intelligence, HaystackID Core® Platform, and AI-enhanced Global Managed Review powered by its proprietary platform, ReviewRight®. Repeatedly recognized as one of the world’s most trusted legal industry providers by prestigious publishers such as Chambers, Gartner, IDC, and Legaltech News, HaystackID implements innovative cyber discovery, enterprise solutions, and legal and compliance offerings to leading companies and legal practices around the world. HaystackD offers highly curated and customized offerings while prioritizing security, privacy, and integrity. For more information about how HaystackID can help solve unique legal enterprise needs, please visit HaystackID.com.
Assisted by GAI and LLM technologies.
Source: HaystackID