
Boston CISO Community
Inner Circle
March 5, 2024 | Smith & Wollensky
March 5, 2024
Smith & Wollensky
Collaborate with your peers
Join Boston's top CISOs for an intimate networking dinner and facilitated discussion on key business challenges. Enjoy a relaxed evening of dinner and drinks with your peers to share best practices, make new connections and build professional relationships.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CISOs today:
Preparing For Cost Optimization In An Uncertain Future
Demonstrating Your Worth — Having A Clear Communication Strategy Across The Business
Boston CISO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the discussion topics and agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CISOs, For CISOs®.
Governing Body Co-Chairs

Kevin Brown
SAIC
SVP, CISO

Julie Fitton
Analog Devices
CISO

Javed Ikbal
Bright Horizons
VP/CISO

Tony Parrillo
Schneider Electric North America
VP, Enterprise IT Global Head of Security

Bobby Rao
Fresenius Medical Care
Global CISO

Holly Ridgeway
Citizens Financial Group
Chief Security Officer

Ravi Thatavarthy
Rite Aid
Chief Information Security Officer

Michael Woodson
Sonesta
Director of Information Security and Privacy
Agenda
March 5, 2024
4:30pm - 5:30pm Executive Networking Reception
5:30pm - 6:45pm Discussion Topics
Turning Economic Headwinds into Opportunities

Robert Sherman
Chief Information Security Officer & Vice President, Information Technology
American Tower Corp

Robert Sullivan
CISO, VP Technology Shared Services
Agero

Gernette Wright
IT Security Officer
Schneider Electric North America

Alex Cunningham
CISO
Advisor360
In the ever-evolving global economy, CISOs face even harsher challenges when defending cybersecurity budgets. Uncertainty persists as enterprises face global economic headwinds, new regulations, increasing technology spending, and an ever-increasing threat landscape. By connecting cybersecurity expenses to business outcomes and demonstrating the value of change spend, they can optimize technology investment and effectively communicate the value offered to retain key budgets.
CISOs must rise to the occasion and prepare for possible cost-optimization requests. By honing their communication and storytelling skills, they can effectively navigate the C-suite and win over stakeholders as security advocates, ultimately securing the budgets they need to defend against the ever-increasing threat landscape.
Preparing For Cost Optimization In An Uncertain Future
- How can we educate executive leadership on how cybersecurity supports and defends tangible business outcomes, such as revenue generation, cost savings, strategic initiatives, and brand protection?
- How can we formalize cybersecurity’s strategic planning to provide greater transparency to leadership on how resourcing decisions are made?
- What steps can we take to optimize our technology spend and maneuver the ever-increasing vendor market?
Demonstrating Your Worth — Having A Clear Communication Strategy Across The Business
- How can you connect cybersecurity spending to business outcomes and communicate the value of change spending to stakeholders?
- What storytelling techniques have been successful in bringing key stakeholders on board with cybersecurity spending?
- How can you effectively communicate the need for secure adoption of new technology to key stakeholders?
6:45pm - 7:15pm Networking Break
7:15pm - 8:30pm Summary Discussion & Dinner
8:30pm - 9:30pm Social Hour
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Boston CISO Community Inner Circle.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue
Smith & WollenskyMore Information
280 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 603-7195
Daily Rates:
Over 2 hours - $42
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.