In this episode, Dr. Ashley Sweetman, co-author of Communicating Cyber Risk, joins to discuss how security leaders can translate complex threats into clear business and financial terms with Steve Durbin.
Drawing on over 30 interviews with CISOs and executives, Ash explains why empathy, consistency and honesty matter as much as technical skill. He also explores how to build trust with the board, what a security-focused culture looks like in practice and where AI can help or hinder communication.
You can only use that argument a few times before people stop listening.
Key Takeaways:
- Empathy is a security skill.
- Build board trust before a crisis. Regular one-to-ones and education sessions help boards challenge constructively when it matters.
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Drop the worst-case script. Explaining real impact on customers and services keeps people listening longer than repeated warnings.
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Follow along with our podcast transcript and discover related ISF resources.
