
Chicago CISO Community
Inner Circle
February 21, 2024 | Prime & Provisions
February 21, 2024
Prime & Provisions
Collaborate with your peers
Join Chicago's top CISOs for an intimate networking dinner and facilitated discussion on key business challenges. Enjoy a relaxed evening of dinner and drinks with your peers to share best practices, make new connections and build professional relationships.
Join your peers to discuss the most critical issues impacting CISOs today:
Preparing For Cost Optimization In An Uncertain Future
Demonstrating Your Worth — Having A Clear Communication Strategy Across The Business
Chicago CISO Governing Body
The Governing Body Co-Chairs shape the discussion topics and agenda, ensuring that all content is driven By CISOs, For CISOs®.
Governing Body Co-Chairs

Waqas Akkawi
SIRVA Worldwide
VP, CISO

Michelle Ayala
The AZEK Company
CISO

JJ Markee
Danaher
Global Chief Information Security Officer

Paolo Vallotti
Tate & Lyle
CISO & VP of Operations

Angela Williams
UL Solutions
Global Chief Information Security Officer
Agenda
February 21, 2024
4:30pm - 5:30pm Executive Networking Reception
5:30pm - 6:45pm Discussion Topics
Turning Economic Headwinds into Opportunities

Mike Zachman
VP & Chief Security Officer
Zebra Technologies

Bruce Coffing
Chief Information Security Officer
City of Chicago

Jeff Deakins
Director, IT Security (CISO) and Infrastructure
The Marmon Group

Alex Dickson
CISO
GCM Grosvenor

John Janachowski
Vice President, IT Security and CISO
AAR

Shefali Mookencherry
Chief Information Security Officer and Privacy Officer
University of Illinois at Chicago
In the ever-evolving global economy, CISOs face even harsher challenges when defending cybersecurity budgets. Uncertainty persists as enterprises face global economic headwinds, new regulations, increasing technology spending, and an ever-increasing threat landscape. By connecting cybersecurity expenses to business outcomes and demonstrating the value of change spend, they can optimize technology investment and effectively communicate the value offered to retain key budgets.
CISOs must rise to the occasion and prepare for possible cost-optimization requests. By honing their communication and storytelling skills, they can effectively navigate the C-suite and win over stakeholders as security advocates, ultimately securing the budgets they need to defend against the ever-increasing threat landscape.
Preparing For Cost Optimization In An Uncertain Future
- How can we educate executive leadership on how cybersecurity supports and defends tangible business outcomes, such as revenue generation, cost savings, strategic initiatives, and brand protection?
- How can we formalize cybersecurity’s strategic planning to provide greater transparency to leadership on how resourcing decisions are made?
- What steps can we take to optimize our technology spend and maneuver the ever-increasing vendor market?
Demonstrating Your Worth — Having A Clear Communication Strategy Across The Business
- How can you connect cybersecurity spending to business outcomes and communicate the value of change spending to stakeholders?
- What storytelling techniques have been successful in bringing key stakeholders on board with cybersecurity spending?
- How can you effectively communicate the need for secure adoption of new technology to key stakeholders?
6:45pm - 7:15pm Networking Break
7:15pm - 8:30pm Summary Discussion & Dinner
8:30pm - 9:30pm Social Hour
Apply to Participate
Apply to participate in the Chicago CISO Community Inner Circle.
Gartner facilitates exclusive, C-level communities by personally qualifying and understanding the priorities, challenges and interests of each member.
Our selective approach maintains the high quality of the network and ensures top-level discussions with peers from the world’s leading organizations.
Each application will be reviewed, and once your participation is confirmed, you will have access to year-round community programs.
Location
Venue
Prime & ProvisionsMore Information
Valet Parking provided. Please be sure to mention that you are attending the Evanta event.
Community Program Manager
For inquiries related to this community, please reach out to your dedicated contact.