Cybersecurity Without Borders: Leadership in a Geopolitical World

Cybersecurity has always been about managing risk. Today, that risk extends far beyond technology. As organisations operate across multiple countries, navigate evolving regulations, and respond to an increasingly unpredictable geopolitical landscape, today’s CISOs must think like business leaders as much as security experts.

In this episode of CXO Secrets, David McClelland sits down with Reza Salari, Chief Information Security Officer at Pacific Life Re, to explore what it takes to lead cybersecurity across a truly global organisation. Responsible for protecting operations spanning multiple regions, Reza shares how his team balances complex regulatory requirements, adapts security strategies to different cultures, and helps the business navigate emerging geopolitical risks.

Reza explains why effective cybersecurity awareness goes beyond mandatory training, how tailoring security programmes to local cultures creates stronger engagement, and why every employee should be seen as part of an organisation’s “human sensor grid”. He also discusses the growing role of AI in developing future talent, why global awareness is becoming an essential leadership skill for technology executives, and how embracing honest feedback has shaped his own leadership journey.

Topics include:

• Leading cybersecurity across global teams, cultures and regulatory environments
• Navigating evolving data privacy and compliance requirements worldwide
• Why security awareness must be tailored to different cultures and markets
• Building a “human sensor grid” that strengthens organisational resilience
• How geopolitical events are reshaping cyber risk and business strategy
• The growing role of CISOs in advising boards beyond technology
• Why AI should empower employees rather than replace them
• Developing the next generation of cybersecurity talent in the age of AI
• Building strong partnerships across legal, privacy and risk teams
• Why embracing honest feedback is one of the most valuable leadership skills