Strategy Layer Live • Episode 3
How To CISO with Andy Ellis - Leadership Lessons for the Next-Gen Security Executive
July 2nd, 2025 / Cyber leadership is evolving — and the lines between CISO and CIO are quietly dissolving.
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In this episode of The Strategy Layer Live, we sit down with one of the most trusted and pragmatic voices in cybersecurity leadership today — Andy Ellis.
Andy is the former CSO of Akamai, a CISO Hall of Fame inductee, leadership coach, and the author of How To CISO 1.1 — a sharp, experience-driven guide for navigating the first 91 days and beyond as a security leader.
But this conversation isn’t just about onboarding. It’s about enduring.
Together, Steve and Andy unpack how the CISO role is evolving — not just in scope, but in identity — and what it takes to lead effectively when frameworks fall short, trust is fractured, and security teams are expected to protect systems they don’t fully control.
What we cover in this episode:
Andy’s vision behind How to CISO and why version 1.1 matters
The Zero Trust paradox and how it undermines human trust when misapplied
Why your “first 91 days” might be more telling than your title
The difference between control, clarity, and presence in the boardroom
What Andy sees coming next — and why the CIO may outlast the CISO
Whether you’re a first-time CISO or a seasoned operator, this episode will challenge how you think, lead, and speak inside the enterprise.
🎙️ Check out Andy’s work: https://www.howtociso.com
📘 Learn more about Steve’s book, The CISO On The Razor’s Edge: https://www.stevetout.com/book
🧠 Join the SPI 360 Executive Circle: https://www.identient.ai/slack
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