A100), a groundbreaking, merit-based recognition programme created to honour Chief Information Security Officers with less than five years in the role. Responding to industry demand, the A100 Awards will spotlight emerging leaders who are shaping the future of cybersecurity with innovative strategies based on diverse experiences and backgrounds.
This new award builds on CISOs Connect’s industry-esteemed CISOs Top 100 CISOs Awards (the C100) and is similarly distinguished by a process that is 100 per cent transparent and involves absolutely no pay-for-play. The Board of Judges comprises distinguished veteran CISOs, and the criteria are clear-cut. No fees are ever part of the process, ensuring that all nominees are evaluated solely on merit, underscoring the award’s commitment to integrity and accessibility.
The selection criteria focus on the candidates’ ability to balance business and technology strategy, and nimbly navigate the fast-paced cybersecurity landscape, marking them as emerging leaders demonstrating exceptional potential and drive.
Nominations open on June 14, 2024, and can be self-submitted or put forward by a third party, provided the nominee meets the specified criteria. This inclusive approach ensures the best and brightest up-and-coming CISOs are recognized.
Key benchmarks for consideration include:
*CISO or equivalent at an end-user enterprise or organization for less than five years
*Involvement and leadership roles in professional organizations
*Security-related volunteering and activism
*Mentoring, educating, and training future cybersecurity professionals across functions
To self-submit or nominate a peer, visit: https://www.research.net/r/A1002024Application
“This transparent, peer-to-peer evaluation ensures that the A100 Awards honor those rising security leaders who will spearhead the future of the fast-changing cybersecurity industry. Our judges, themselves once emerging leaders and now battle-hardened veterans, are uniquely positioned to identify the industry’s emerging elite,” SVP, CISO, UL Solutions Angela C. Williams.
The evaluation and selection process will be conducted by the following distinguished CISO judges:
- CISO, Elastic, Mandy Andress
- SVP, CISO, World Kinect, Shawn Bowen
- EVP & CSO, Wintrust Financial, Jack Burback
- SVP & CISO, Nordstrom, Nicole Darden Ford
- CISO, Levi Strauss & Co. Ngozi Eze
- Head of Security Driven Infrastructure, The TWC Group, Aaron Katz
- CISO and Chief Privacy Officer, World Vision USA, David Lackey
- CISO, Belk, Neda Pitt
- VP, CIO & CSO, Chime, Jeff Trudeau
- SVP, CISO, UL Solutions, Angela C. Williams
“One of CISOs Connect’s core missions is to elevate the CISO while fostering the professional development of its members by contributing to global security at a time when threats are rising day by day,” said CEO, CISOs Connect Angela C. Williams. “We have created the A100 Awards as part of our mission to help our members and the cybersecurity industry as a whole succeed and receive the recognition they deserve.”
“This award is designed to demonstrate to emerging leaders the importance of always raising the bar,” said President, CISOs Connect David Cass. “We look forward to paying tribute to the brightest of the newer generation of security leaders who are taking the reins at a time when the visibility and strategic importance of the CISO’s role is growing enormously.”
“The A100 Awards are a testament to recognizing and fostering the talents of emerging CISOs who bring fresh perspectives and innovative strategies to the cybersecurity landscape. As a former C100 Judge, it’s an honor to be part of the inaugural A100 Awards with CISOs Connect, an organization committed to our community and its advancement,” said SVP & CISO, Nordstrom Nicole Darden Ford,. “These awards, evaluated by clear and transparent criteria with a transparent board of my CISO peers, showcase the integrity of the process. CISOs Connect continuously raises the community through its elevated content and unwavering commitment to integrity.”
“SecurityPal is honoured to support the A100 Awards, designed to honour and empower Chief Information Security Officers who are passionate about shaping the future of an industry whose criticality grows with each passing year,” said SecurityPal founder and CEO Pukar Hamal. “The nurturing of a new, diverse generation of security leaders is essential to keeping pace with the multiplying security challenges organizations face.”
