Boston CISO Executive Summit

Uncovering the mysteries of body language — how people communicate their thoughts and feelings without saying a word — is a decisive first step toward mastering any business and social situation.  Top executives know that detecting split-second signals from your team and  leadership then taking immediate action is crucial to being a persuasive communicator and problem-solver especially during tricky internal matters or high-level negotiations.

During this session you will learn how to:

• Move beyond the vacuum of artificial body language to a behavioral approach based on YOU
• Strengthen interpersonal relationships, be a more decisive leader and manage your nerves better
• Uncover the less obvious needs of others and improve your team’s confidence and competence

The difficulty in aligning security with business goals often leads to security functions being viewed as hindrances rather than facilitators. As CISOs ascend to business leadership roles, altering this perception is essential. In this keynote, Ravi Thatavarthy will share his insights, illustrating how AI can bridge alignment gaps and engage stakeholders effectively. He will discuss how aligning security across business functions can shift the perception of his team to enablers, advocating a positive mindset that showcases AI's role in driving business success. CISOs must adopt a "yes" mentality to lead organizational change successfully.

Join this keynote to learn about:

• Analyzing business needs and challenges to serve as a proactive partner
• Designing solutions that preserve data security integrity
• Forming innovation teams, collaborating with leadership proactively and achieving business alignment

 In today’s dynamic landscape of escalating business complexity, evolving threats, and global regulatory demands, real-time situational awareness is critical for mitigating material risks. What strategies can organizations employ to effectively integrate people, processes, and technology for proactive threat assessment and management?

Join this session to explore:

• Understanding the link between situational awareness and material risk mitigation
• Adapting to emerging threats while maintaining compliance with shifting global regulations
• Building resilient programs that combine tactical readiness with strategic risk assessment

SaaS adoption has skyrocketed but so have the risks — from shadow SaaS to evolving identity threats. Static security measures won’t cut it. Organizations need a flexible, real-time approach to securing SaaS environments while maintaining agility.

Join this discussion to dive into:

• Dynamically managing SaaS security through vendor and identity controls
• Detecting and mitigating shadow SaaS risks before they escalate
• Making proactive, data-driven security decisions in an unpredictable landscape

Fostering true cyber resiliency requires balancing preparation across the organization with what actually unfolds during a major event. Hear the behind-the-scenes stories of events highlighted in the news from the CISOs who led their teams through them. Then take part in activity to see how prepared you really are compared to your peers. Because we all know, it’s not if it’s going to happen… but when.

Join this interactive session to explore with peers:

• Stories of detection and recovery – what went right and what fell short
• Best practices for organizational communication before, during and after an incident
• Ways to better fortify now to allow for a faster recovery later

Conflict reigns in the high-pressure worlds of cyber governance, cyber engineering, IT Infrastructure, and development teams. They all have their unique goals that are critical to the success of the organization but interactions between the teams are often ineffective and counterproductive. How do we navigate this natural tension and lead the teams to joint success?

Join this session to discuss:

• Applying practical strategies to overcome team challenges
• Investigating perspectives of each team
• Learning what drives the conflict and ways to help teams unify

Don’t you wish you could pop into your CIO's head, instantly understanding their approach to important topics and decisions? Now’s your chance to pursue that candid context, pose anonymous questions and watch an all-CIO panel pull back the curtain.

The questions in this session will be decided by the audience and will touch on themes like:

• Building relationships across the C-Suite, with both stakeholders and the enterprise
• How to pursue innovation while keeping the lights on
• What’s next for the role of CIO and CISO

Chris Smith, an endurance athlete, achieved the extraordinary by completing the Tour Divide race, a grueling 48-day adventure along the Great Divide, legally blind. Overcoming 50 mountain passes, five flat tires, and broken brakes, his determination was unwavering. Despite relentless snow, wind, and wildlife, Smith triumphed over the world's longest mountain bike trail, sharing profound insights on overcoming adversity.

Join this session to learn about:

• Welcoming transformation and conquering barriers
• Facing adversity with a renewed perspective
• Embracing a novel mindset for overcoming challenges

Finish the day sharing lessons learned with your peers over light fare and drinks at this closing reception hosted by your governing body members.