Ivanka Gajecky
CISO and Director, Information Security & Privacy
Volkswagen Financial Services
Ivanka Gajecky, is a 25+ year seasoned cybersecurity professional, who began in IT and audit. She advanced through IT compliance and found her passion in information security. She is currently CISO at Volkswagen Financial Services in US & Canada.
A fun fact about Ivanka, she traveled to four continents and lived and worked on three.
Learn more about the Chicago CISO community here.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Taking care of and innovating the fundamentals and basics, even in a small way, even if no one is watching, is a superpower.
What is the greatest challenge CISOs face today, and how are you addressing it?
Maintaining the importance of compliance / preventing issues versus reacting to them. Continuously teaching management and employees of the importance and omnipresent information security threats without causing overreaction and panic.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CISO?
Bring your fresh perspective in the organization and lean in to your strengths.
How do you measure success as a leader?
Identify or establish a North Star and progress towards it.
What is the value of being a member of Gartner C-level Communities?
It is a safe zone for collaboration and asking any question without judgment – a support group for CISOs.
Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
By CISOs, For CISOs®
Find your local community and explore the benefits of becoming a member.