“This was my second time at a CISO Day, and I truly enjoyed how close-knitted this community is: they know each other, there’s a great atmosphere. People trust each other, and they’re openly sharing both their knowledge and their challenges, worries,” said Frieda Barendse. “The transparency about what’s going on and what needs to be done, about their responsibilities beyond their work at their organizations, but towards society – that was all very good to hear and sense, and it shows that trust and collaboration is fostered across all levels.”

This sense of community and shared knowledge is fundamental to the ongoing growth and relevance of cybersecurity professionals. “It’s true, the community has become very solid”, Job Voorhoeve added. “It gets stronger every year, and there is a strong sense also that the profession itself is evolving.”

The evolution of the CISO role and large transformation programs also accentuate the importance of assessing the whole cybersecurity teams. "Supporting CISOs by evaluating their teams to make sure they have the right competencies is vital for successful change,” said Barendse. “It goes hand in hand in ensuring that on top of sound technical abilities the CISOs have soft skills and ability to manage their teams effectively. This is one of the reasons why Amrop has been able to assist organizations hiring and developing tech leaders so effectively.”

The role of women and new perspectives in cybersecurity leadership

The discussion on gender dynamics was particularly insightful and it seemed to play part in the CISO of the Year Award context too. This years winner was Florence Mottay, the VP Information Security & CISO at Zalando and her pitch, heard among the pitches of her two male counterparts who were also nominated, made a very positive impression.

“Mottay positioned herself as a true visionary,” remembers Barendse. “Her way of speaking showcased a broad and very autonomous leadership style – she had a broad perspective, looking outside of the company, an approach encompassing the benefits to society, beyond just the organization.”

There were also some unexpected and gender-related developments in the tech space discussed by the representative from the Belgian government. “Apparently now approximately 30% of hackers are women, who are seen to be using different approaches and techniques from their male counterparts,” Voorhoeve explained. “This goes to show that understanding gender differences in hacking approaches is crucial – and that perhaps more women should also be hired to handle these threats.”

There were also good news as far as hacking is concerned. “The event celebrated the efforts of DIVD, a volunteer organization which perform ethical hacking,” explained Voorhoeve. “They look for vulnerabilities in organizations and notify them, helping to strengthen security." An award was given to them, recognizing their vital work, emphasizing the community’s collaborative spirit.

Strengthening cybersecurity as a strategic business advisor

A key theme was the importance for CISOs to evolve into strategic business advisors. "It’s not just about technical skills; being able to influence the board and secure continued investment is critical,” Job Voorhoeve pointed out. “Currently there’s still a gap: many CISOs in Europe need to improve their ability to influence non-executive boards. This is an opportunity for growth - CISOs must understand the business domain deeply and act as trusted advisors, not just technical experts.”

Pre-conference sessions discussed the constant flux of threats and the need to enhance European Union cybersecurity sovereignty. "Support from major companies like Microsoft was discussed to strengthen EU capabilities," Voorhoeve emphasized. "We prepare for war - not to fight, but to defend ourselves."

*Photography credits: Dennis Khalil