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RSAC CISO Podcast Cyber the Top

Cyber at the Top

A podcast dedicated to CISO insights, hosted by Dr. Hugh Thompson, RSAC Executive Chairman

Step inside the minds of the industry’s top security leaders with Cyber at the Top—a new podcast hosted by RSAC Executive Chairman Dr. Hugh Thompson. Each month Hugh sits down with CISOs protecting some of the world's leading organizations to share real experiences, hard-won lessons, and practical strategies.

Whether you're new to cybersecurity management or a seasoned leader, you'll walk away with insights you can apply immediately—delivered with Hugh’s signature storytelling and industry perspective.

This is cybersecurity leadership advice from the people who’ve actually done it—no theory, just results.

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Tune In to the Latest Episode

Cyber Resilience in Action: Lessons from a CISO

Cyber resilience has become a defining priority for today’s security leaders, but translating the concept into real-world impact isn’t easy. In this episode of Cyber at the Top, Dr. Hugh Thompson is joined by Emma Smith, CISO at Vodafone, to explore what cyber resilience looks like in practice and how it shapes decision-making at scale. Drawing on her experience leading a major global security transformation, Emma shares how organizations can prepare for disruption, reduce impact, and recover more effectively over time. The conversation looks at resilience through the lens of people, culture, operating models, and measurement, and highlights why trust, accountability, and continuous improvement are essential to sustaining resilience in complex, highly regulated environments.

RSAC Membership unlocks the video version of this episode.

Up Next on Cyber at the Top

Don’t miss upcoming episodes where CISOs from the biggest names in the industry dive deep into the real challenges shaping cybersecurity today.

RSAC Podcast CISO at the Top
Shadow AI: The Hidden Threat Inside Your Organization

RSAC CISO Podcast
The Need for Speed: How High-Performance Computing Is Reshaping Cybersecurity

Nasrin Rezal
Innovation Meets Security: The CISO’s Role in Shaping the Future of Cyber

Bjorn Watne

Beyond Confidentiality: The New Priorities in Information Security

For years, information security was largely centered on protecting confidentiality. But as our world becomes more digital and increasingly dependent on always-available, trustworthy systems, integrity and availability are taking on equal importance. In this episode of Cyber at the Top, Dr. Hugh Thompson is joined by Bjørn Watne, Global CISO of INTERPOL, to explore how this shift is changing the way security leaders think about risk. Together, they discuss why disruption is becoming a defining threat, how emerging technologies are reshaping security priorities, and what it means to balance all three pillars of information security. The conversation offers a thoughtful look at how CISOs can reframe security as a driver of resilience, reliability, and organizational trust.
RSAC CISO Podcast

Featured Episode

Third-Party Risk: Challenges and Strategies for Security Leaders

As digital ecosystems expand, third-party relationships have become both business enablers and critical sources of cyber risk. In this episode, T.J. Patterson, VP and Information Security Officer at STAR Financial Bank, joins Dr. Hugh Thompson to explore how CISOs can navigate the growing complexity of third-party risk management. They discuss practical methods for identifying and prioritizing high-risk vendors, maintaining visibility beyond initial assessments, and driving accountability across the supply chain. From regulatory shifts to the limits of automation, this conversation offers actionable strategies for managing risk at scale.

RSAC Cyber at the Top

Featured Episode

Risk Quantification: Turning Cyber Risk into Business Language

Bridging the gap between cybersecurity and business priorities starts with a common language that explains risk in terms business leaders can relate to. In this episode, Mathias Buecherl, Group CISO at Heidelberg Materials, joins Dr. Hugh Thompson to explore how data-driven measurement is reshaping how organizations communicate, prioritize, and invest in security. They discuss why standardized metrics matter, how to translate cyber threats into financial and business terms, and what it takes to gain executive buy-in. From overcoming resistance to applying financial rigor to building maturity over time, this conversation offers a roadmap for making cyber risk measurable and meaningful.

Cyber at the Top

Featured Episode

Choosing the Right Cybersecurity Partners: A CISO’s Playbook

Everyone sounds credible on the showroom floor—but only a few vendors earn long-term trust. In this insight-packed podcast, Dr. Hugh Thompson sits down with Tal Arad, former CTO and Group CISO at Carlsberg Group, to reveal how seasoned security leaders see past the hype, pressure-test solutions early, and spot the signals that separate real partners from risky promises—before the contract is signed.

RSAC CISO Podcast Cyber the Top

Featured Episode

Evolving Zero Trust for the AI Era

Zero Trust is more than a framework—it’s a strategy for scaling security without slowing innovation. In this episode, Mastercard’s Deputy CISO Alissa “Dr. Jay” Abdullah joins RSAC Executive Chairman Dr. Hugh Thompson to discuss how global enterprises can build a strong Zero Trust foundation, measure progress, and align leaders around a shared vision. The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping Zero Trust and how these principles can be applied to securing AI systems themselves.

RSAC CISO Podcast Cyber the Top

Featured Episode

Leading a Converged Security Organization: Bridging Physical and Cyber Risk

As physical and digital threats continue to converge, security leaders must adapt. In this session, Dell Technologies CSO John Scimone joins RSAC Executive Chairman Dr. Hugh Thompson to explore the evolving role of CISOs and the strategies required to create a unified security framework that delivers protection across every layer.

RSAC CISO Podcast Cyber the Top

Featured Episode

Defining Strength: Building a Resilient Incident Response Capability

A strong incident response (IR) function is more than a playbook—it’s a mindset. In this episode, Lincare Holdings’ Head of Information Security Prentis Brooks joins Dr. Hugh Thompson to explore what defines true IR maturity. From developing agile response teams to aligning business priorities and technology readiness, they break down how leading organizations prepare for, detect, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

Exclusive for RSAC Members―Go Beyond the Episode

Loyalty Plus

With the RSAC™ Membership, the podcast is just the beginning. Go beyond the audio and unlock exclusive member-only experiences:

  • Join the conversation in the Cybersecurity (General) on the RSAC™ Membership Platform
  • Plus, be on the lookout for upcoming bonus clips and extended interviews
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Cyber at the Top is an RSAC Original Podcast produced by RSAC. 

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