Crocodiles in the Board Room! With Andy Ellis

Simplifying Cyber

What makes a truly effective security leader in today's complex threat landscape? In this enlightening conversation with Andy Ellis, former CISO of Akamai Technologies and author of "1% Leadership," we explore how the role of the security executive has transformed from a technical specialist to a strategic business enabler.
Andy shares his remarkable journey from Air Force information warfare specialist to becoming Akamai's first security hire, where he spent 20 years building a multi-billion dollar security business within the infrastructure company. His unique perspective challenges conventional thinking about security leadership, organizational structure, and how security teams should communicate risk to the broader business.
"Your job as a security professional is really to enable the business to make wiser risk choices," Andy explains, reframing the security function away from being the department of "no" to becoming a trusted advisor that helps organizations understand and navigate risks effectively. Using colorful analogies about crocodiles in the boardroom, he illustrates why security leaders should focus on making relevant risks believable rather than raising alarms about threats that don't align with business priorities.
We dive deep into the evolution of the CISO role, discussing why the traditional reporting structures may be outdated and how smaller companies are blending security leadership with IT functions as traditional infrastructure moves to SaaS. Andy challenges security professionals to understand why controls exist rather than just implementing them, asking three critical questions: "What is the real reason you do this? Could we stop? What should we do differently?"
Whether you're an aspiring security leader or a seasoned CISO, this conversation offers valuable insights on leadership, communication, and how to deliver real security value in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Listen now to learn how small, incremental improvements in your leadership approach can transform your security program's effectiveness and business impact.

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Fejezetek

1. Crocodiles in the Board Room! With Andy Ellis (00:00:00)

2. Welcome and Introduction (00:00:05)

3. Andy's Career Journey (00:02:10)

4. Evolution of the CISO Role (00:05:20)

5. CISO Reporting Structure Debate (00:10:05)

6. Leadership and Risk Communication (00:18:55)

7. The 1% Leadership Philosophy (00:26:00)

8. Why People Want to Be CISOs (00:32:25)

9. Finding Your Leadership Moment (00:34:50)