Heather Flanagan is the Principal at Spherical Cow Consulting and co-convener of The Identity Salon, where she helps organizations navigate the fast-moving world of digital identity and Internet standards. With more than 15 years of experience translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable strategy, Heather is known for her ability to bridge communities, guide collaborative work, and make standards development a little less intimidating.Named to the 2025 Okta Identity 25 as one of the top thought leaders in digital identity, Heather is also a regular speaker and writer, focusing on standards, governance, and the real-world challenges of identity implementation. If there’s work underway to shape the future of identity or rethink how the Internet functions, she’s probably in the middle of it.