CIO & CISO Think Tank

The Future of Cybersecurity & IT

Date

September 18, 2025

Location

New York City, NY

Community

CIO / CISO

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Agenda

September 18, 2025
All times Eastern Time
8:30 AM-9:00 AM
Registration
9:00 AM-9:30 AM
Morning Networking
9:30 AM-9:35 AM
Opening Remarks
9:40 AM-10:25 AM
Keynote Panel
Rearchitecting the Enterprise for Agentic AI: Control, Collaboration, and the Next Frontier of Automation

Agentic AI, autonomous systems that perceive, reason, and act with minimal human intervention is poised to redefine how work gets done. As these intelligent agents move beyond experimentation into enterprise-scale deployments, organizations must prepare to fundamentally rearchitect their digital environments.

This panel will explore how leaders can operationalize agentic AI to drive efficiency, creativity, and strategic advantage while preserving oversight, governance, and trust. Discussion topics will include designing workflows around autonomous decision-making, managing human-agent collaboration, and navigating emerging risks such as bias, security, and operational drift. Join us as we unpack what it truly means to lead in an era of intelligent, action-oriented AI and how to ensure these agents serve both your innovation goals and core business values.

10:25 AM-10:40 AM
Disruptor
The Silent Breach: Cyber Security Blind Spots in Leadership Teams

Step into a hacker’s mindset with Cyberwolf CEO Daan Gheysens as he unveils the hidden vulnerabilities that make top executives and board members prime targets for cybercriminals.

In this presentation, Daan Gheysens shares remarkable insights from over 100 cyber exposure assessments conducted for high-profile leaders worldwide. You’ll discover how personal wealth, influence, and decision-making power—not just corporate access—make executives uniquely vulnerable, and how you can deal with these sensitive vulnerabilities as a CI(S)O.

Together with:

Cyberwolf Inc.
10:40 AM-10:55 AM
Coffee Break
10:55 AM-11:15 AM
Disruptor
Fly Direct: Building a Gen-3 Cybersecurity Startup

From a napkin sketch, to funding, to scale, this honest keynote breaks down the efforts it takes to build a modern cyber company: design-first, customer-obsessed, and engineered to go direct (no stopovers). Learn the practicals about raising funding from Google Ventures, behind-the-scenes of engineering & team building required, and branding as a moat.

Speaker
Kunal Agarwal
Kunal Agarwal

CEO & Founder

dope.security

Together with:

dope.security
11:15 AM-12:00 PM
Panel
Bridging Strategy and Systems: Aligning Business Goals with IT Innovation

In a world of rapid digital disruption, the most successful organizations are those where business strategy and IT execution move in lockstep. This panel brings together business and IT leaders to explore how to align long-term growth objectives with the right mix of emerging technologies—from AI and cloud platforms to data-driven decision-making and modern application architectures.

Panelists will discuss how to break down silos between departments, drive innovation through collaborative planning, and build agile digital infrastructures that scale with evolving business needs. Expect insights on joint KPIs, governance frameworks, and the cultural shifts required to turn IT from a support function into a strategic growth enabler.

12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Lunch & Disruptor Showcase
1:00 PM-1:45 PM
Panel
The Future of Cyber Resilience: Winning in a World of Constant Threats

In an era of escalating cyber threats, evolving attack surfaces, and accelerated digital transformation, traditional security models are no longer enough. This keynote will explore what it means to build cyber resilience in today’s complex environment—where speed, adaptability, and business alignment are paramount. From securing hybrid and multi-cloud environments to integrating AI-driven threat intelligence, we’ll examine how leaders can future-proof their security strategies while enabling innovation. Learn how to shift from reactive defense to proactive resilience, ensuring your organization can not only withstand but thrive amid disruption.

1:50 PM-2:35 PM
Panel
The Human Side of Tech: Why Soft Skills Are the Real Superpower

In a world obsessed with digital transformation, AI, and automation, it’s easy to forget the power of human connection. But the truth is—technology doesn’t lead, people do. As roles evolve and teams become more cross-functional, the ability to listen, influence, adapt, and collaborate has become just as critical as technical expertise.

Today’s CIOs, CISOs, and tech leaders are expected not only to drive innovation, but to communicate across departments, manage diverse teams, and navigate uncertainty with empathy and clarity. Emotional intelligence, storytelling, active listening, and resilience are no longer “nice to have”—they’re essential for anyone leading in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment.

Nowhere is this leadership shift more relevant than in the US particularly in NYC, a city built on creativity, reinvention, and cultural diversity. Here, the ability to connect across perspectives isn’t just a professional skill—it’s a way of life. As tech and business worlds converge, NYC’s unique blend of innovation and human-centered thinking offers the perfect backdrop to explore how soft skills are reshaping the future of leadership.

This session dives into why the most successful executives are blending EQ with IQ to inspire trust, build alignment, and drive lasting impact.

Chair
Panelists
Katie Kirts
Katie Kirts

Global Director Technology

New York Life Investments

Amir Sternhell

Speaker

Amir Sternhell

CSO

Sertainty Corp

Amir Sternhell is the Chief Strategy Officer at Sertainty Corporation, driving corporate strategy, business development, and global adoption of the company’s Core UXP Technology and intelligent data solutions. With over 30 years in IT, corporate learning, and high-tech industries, he has guided Sertainty’s expansion into critical infrastructure, DoD, and enterprise markets. Amir previously served as Chief Learning Officer for a multinational IT firm representing Harvard Business Publishing, managed learning services for 250+ global clients, and held leadership roles in Israel’s high-tech ecosystem and the Israel Defense Forces. He serves on multiple advisory boards, including GuardDog AI and OLB.com, and holds degrees from Tel Aviv University, Columbia University, and EDHEC Business School.
Thomas Rizzo

Speaker

Thomas Rizzo

Chief Architect

Lazard

Thomas Rizzo is a seasoned IT professional with over 20 years of experience across various sectors and is currently serving as the Chief Architect at Lazard. His diverse background spans finance technology, digital services, utilities, social media, legal, and education sectors. Prior to joining Lazard, Thomas made significant contributions to companies like Zebra, where he helped shape their digital services and SaaS offerings, and Con Edison, where he drove technological advancements in the utilities sector. In his current role at Lazard, Thomas leads the design and architecture of technology solutions that drive the company's digital transformation journey. His strategic vision and ability to foster an engaging work environment have earned him the reputation of an 'IT Rock Star'. He is committed to driving business growth through digital transformation, and he does so by fostering a creative and enjoyable workplace atmosphere as part of his leadership approach.
2:35 PM-2:55 PM
Networking Break
2:55 PM-3:40 PM
Panel
Cybersecurity Leadership in the Era of AI and ML: Navigating Innovation and Responsibility

In the dynamic realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), CISOs play a pivotal role in leveraging these advancements for enhanced cybersecurity. Strategic integration of AI and ML is essential for bolstering security measures, optimizing decision-making, and driving innovation. CISOs must adopt a comprehensive approach, considering the entire lifecycle of these technologies to ensure both efficiency and ethical use. Establishing robust governance frameworks becomes paramount, addressing biases, ensuring transparency, and minimizing unintended consequences.

 

Looking ahead, as AI and ML continue to advance, CISOs face evolving challenges and regulatory considerations. Proactive engagement involves staying informed about changing regulations, particularly in areas such as data privacy and ethical AI practices. CISOs should strive for a tech-enabled understanding of AI and ML systems, encompassing deployment, impact, and security measures. This approach positions organizations to navigate the regulatory landscape effectively, ensuring responsible and competitive integration of AI and ML into cybersecurity strategies.

3:45 PM-4:20 PM
Fireside Chat
Securing the Rise of Agentic AI: Trust, Control, and Resilience in Autonomous Systems

As agentic AI systems evolve from experimental tools to enterprise-grade digital workers—capable of making decisions, taking actions, and adapting in real time—they introduce a new paradigm of both possibility and risk. Unlike traditional automation, agentic AI operates with greater autonomy, raising urgent questions for security leaders: How do we ensure control? How do we manage risk when systems learn, act, and adapt independently?

 

This panel will explore the security implications of deploying agentic AI across business operations—from data privacy and decision integrity to real-time threat mitigation and adversarial AI risks. We'll dive into the intersection of governance, identity management, and AI observability, and how CISOs can build frameworks that safeguard both the systems and the outcomes.

4:20 PM-4:30 PM
Closing Remarks & Raffle Giveaway
4:30 PM-5:30 PM
Cocktail Networking

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