Illustration by Kouzou Sakai
We spoke with 37 CEOs to gain insight into how they manage cybersecurity risk.
Illustration by Kouzou Sakai
"It quickly dawned on us how ill-prepared we were
and how little we actually knew about the real
risks of being hit by something like that. We did not
understand how severe the risk could be. We couldn’t
even imagine it. "
- CEO of a $5 billion European company
In a first-of-its-kind research study, ISTARI and Oxford University's Saïd Business School dive into the minds and experiences of CEOs on how they manage cybersecurity risk.
Our study offers an unparalleled look into the emotions and anxieties of the highest levels of decision-making.
0 CEOs
Number of CEOs we spoke with
0
CEOs without experience of a serious cyberattack
0
CEOs who had endured a serious cyberattack
0.3 m
Combined number of employees the CEOs oversee
$0bn
Average revenue of the companies interviewed
0
Years of combined experience as CEO
Dr Manuel Hepfer is a cybersecurity researcher at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. He holds a PhD in Cybersecurity and Strategic Management from the University of Oxford. His research focusses on how organisations can build resilience to cyberattacks, and the role of CEOs and Boards in managing cybersecurity risk. He has presented at major industry conferences, including RSA and Gartner. His research won several awards and appeared in academic and practitioner journals such as MIT Sloan Management Review and the Financial Times. Drawing on his research, he helps companies proactively strengthen their cyber resilience.
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Rashmy is the CEO of ISTARI. Rashmy has held several global sales and marketing leadership roles in her career. She spent over two decades at IBM, where she was global sales leader for IBM Security and Chief Marketing Officer for IBM North America. Rashmy is passionate about building a culture of long-term client relationships and developing talent. She advocates for women in technology and is a member of many boards, including most recently that of Allianz SE.
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Michael is a Professor of Management at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. He studies CEOs and senior leaders in corporate, professional and public sector organizations. His work focuses on their leadership development and delivery of large-scale (digital) transformations. Michael regularly contributes to Oxford Saïd’s flagship leadership programmes and speaks at academic and practitioner conferences. His research is published in leading academic journals, industry reports and professional handbooks, and has been featured in Harvard Business Review, the Financial Times, BBC and other global media.
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