Data & Security Experts Bridge the Gap at Inaugural Boardroom Event

As part of its Data & Security Week North America, CDO Magazine launched its first Data & Security Boardroom Event addressing “The Intersection of Data & Security” in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 13.

Speaking about the event, Steve Wanamaker, CDO Magazine CEO, says: “Data and security are going to continue to have stronger alignment in the era of generative AI. Having strategic relationships and collaboration between the office of the CDO and CISO will give organizations a competitive advantage in creating enterprise value.”

Dr. Christina Sandema-Sombe, Nike Chief Data Steward, agrees and adds, “The need for strong collaboration between security, legal, privacy and data governance teams is evident to better prepare companies to defend against threat actors.”

The select group of senior data & security executives invited to the exclusive event shared their thoughts and learned how their peer experts are tackling the convergence of data privacy and data security – to protect data and reduce risk while leveraging data for the greatest value.  

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Bridging the two disciplines is Matt King, Belcan Chief Security and Data Officer. He says,"The CDO Magazine Summit and the Data & Security Boardroom Event both facilitated many new relationships for me. Where the summit offered opportunities to hear stories and best practices, the boardroom event created an atmosphere to discuss more personal stories and direct leadership challenges. The combination of these two events has been the best value for my time of any conference that I have been to in recent memory."

Similarly, Shane Rodabaugh, Baptist Health System VP, IT Infrastructure, says, “The first Data & Security Boardroom Event hit all my current areas of interest. We had a great diversity of industries represented, and were brought together by some of the very same challenges. The table discussions allowed all of us to engage at a much deeper level and broaden our network at the same time.”

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Key takeaways from the discussion were:

1. Data enablement drives security if it is implemented in the ‘right’ way with the ‘right’ people.

2. Security effectiveness can be leveraged as an asset to drive business distinctives amongst competitors.

3. Chaos disruptions and information breaches in business can be embraced as an opportunity to litmus test data security.

4. Gen AI is built and managed on the foundation of clean and secure data.

5. Leaders are taking a cautiously optimistic approach to the future of Gen AI to provide guide rails for innovation.

“It’s not data or security. It’s data and security,” says Jennifer Mezzio, Silicon Valley Bank Global HR Data Officer. “Chaos is your litmus test for data security. It’s important for us to stop thinking of it as data or security, and start thinking of it as data and security. Data governance and data security both focus on a similar goal, that is – ensuring that the right people have access to the right data. Creating partnerships between CDOs, CISOs and their organizations allow us to embrace diverse perspectives and limit silos when it comes to data protection.” 

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“The event brought together security and data executives to bridge the understanding that providing access to good quality, secure, and permissioned data can lead to tremendous competitive advantage,” says Della Shea, CDO Magazine founding Global Editorial Board member and Country CDO Ambassador for Canada.

Jarrod Anderson, Senior Director Artificial Intelligence, ADM, sums up why having a platform to openly discuss data and security is so important: “I had the privilege of attending the Data & Security Boardroom Event where the discussions on Generative AI and resilience in today's threat landscape were both direct and enlightening. I was enriched by the wealth of knowledge shared through direct conversations on how data leaders are staying at the forefront of data and security innovations. Events like this underscore the importance of ongoing dialogue and the pursuit of knowledge in our ever-evolving digital landscape.”

Executives attending the Boardroom Event included: 

Jarrod Anderson, Sr. Director, Artificial Intelligence, ADM; Danielle Crop, CDO Magazine Global Editorial Board Member; Jim Halcomb, EDM Council Head, Product Management; Joe Lammers, Cintas Director, IT Portfolio; Roy Jones, John R Jurgensen CoDirector, Infrastructure & Cybersecurity; Matt King, Belcan Chief Security & Data Officer; Will McGuire, Hillman Group Director, Information Security; Alex Marsh, Milwaukee Tool Security Manager, Governance, Risk and Compliance; Jennifer Mezzio, Silicon Valley Bank Global HR Data Officer; Emily Morgan, Coterie VP, CISO; Phanii Pydimarri, Health Care Services Corporation (HCSC) Head of Strategic Planning & Partnerships; Michael Redmond, Metro Louisville Deputy CISO; Salema Rice, CDO Today CEO; Shane Rodabaugh, Baptist Health VP, IT Infrastructure; Christina Sandema-Sombe, Nike Chief Data Steward; Anupam Srivastava, State of Ohio Department of Administrative Services CIO; Andy Willingham, Munich Re Information Security Program Management; Eric Andrews, Securiti VP, Marketing; Jeff Fazek, Rubrik Sales Engineering Manager, SLED; Alex Ketron, Rubrik Sr. Account Executive; Steve Wanamaker, CDO Magazine CEO; and Chris Marshall, CDO Magazine Global Community Leader.

The CDO Magazine Data & Security Boardroom Event was sponsored by Securiti and Rubrik: