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Theresa Payton

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Book Theresa Payton

As a visionary in the digital world, who famously made history as the first female to serve as White House Chief Information Officer and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most respected authorities on cybersecurity, Theresa Payton is a highly sought-after keynote speaker. She captivates audiences by drawing from her experience as a veteran cybercrime fighter and entrepreneur, masterfully blending memorable anecdotes with cutting-edge insights. 

 

A celebrated, patented inventor of new security designs, Payton identifies emerging trends and techniques to help businesses – and audiences –  combat cyber threats, from the impact of the Internet of Things to securing Big Data. She’s the cybersecurity expert organizations in both the public and private sectors turn to protect their most valuable resources, improve their IT systems and strategies, and discreetly guide them through data breaches.

 

Managing cybersecurity risk is what Payton knows and does best. Before overseeing IT operations as CIO for President George W. Bush and his administration, she held executive roles in banking technology for two of the country’s top financial institutions. After serving in the White House, she went on to co-found Dark3, a cybersecurity product company, and Fortalice Solutions, a world-class cybersecurity consulting firm ranked a “Top 5 Most Innovative Cybersecurity Company” in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC.  

 

Because of her ability to explain complex security issues and help non-tech-savvy people understand how to protect their privacy, Payton has been a frequent guest on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox Business, and Fox News and has been featured on CBS News, CNN, NBC News, and MSNBC, as well as Canadian and Irish news outlets. She also starred in the reality TV series Hunted, where highly trained investigators (including Payton) “hunted” to catch people attempting to hide throughout the world.

 

She is the author of multiple industry-leading books on IT strategy and cyber security, including Manipulated: Inside the Cyberwar to Hijack Elections and Distort the Truth, which The Guardian included on their list of the “Top 10 Books About Cybercrime.”

Speaking Topics

AI And The Future Of Us: Navigating The Promise And Perils Of Artificial Intelligence

Few technological developments of the last century have fueled as much curiosity, misinformation, and fear as AI. In this highly engaging, jargon-free presentation, Theresa unpacks AI's transformative power while exposing its looming risks, then demonstrates how our businesses, security, and individual daily lives are being impacted by them. With anonymized stories from law enforcement's front lines and stunning live demonstrations that reveal the tradecraft of modern cybercriminals, Theresa will equip you with practical actions to harness AI's vast potential while protecting yourself, your clients, and your organization. 

Secured Digital Transformation: Innovating Without Compromising Trust

Balancing innovation and security in a rapidly evolving digital world requires know-how, sensitivity, and constant vigilance. From streamlining operations to enhancing customer experiences, Theresa shares strategies for driving transformation while safeguarding your organization's critical assets. With compelling case studies and easily-understood, actionable takeaways, Theresa will show you how to future-proof your organization and lead confidently in the age of relentless cyber threats. 

From The White House To Your House: Leadership & Life Lessons

Theresa shares her amazing journey of resilience and determination as a business professional, wife and mom of three that led her to the most visible position in the tech world, White House CIO. And that's before she became a CEO, one of the world’s leading media voices on technology and cybersecurity and star of the hit CBS TV series, Hunted.  Drawing from her experiences leading in high-stakes environments, she reveals how family and purpose have been her guiding lights in balancing home life, career, and service. Theresa’s uplifting message will inspire you to lead boldly, embrace challenges with grace, and thrive in every role you’re called to fulfill.

Theresa Payton's Experiences

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Testimonials

“Thank you so SO much for joining us this week for the Banking Summit. Your presentation was a crowd favorite (currently ranked #1 in our feedback survey) and the perfect addition to our event.”

“Theresa is very engaging and has so many amazing and relevant stories from her career. It's nice to hear all the real world situations she has dealt with. I wished her presentation was longer. Theresa made a lot of good points that are important to our industry. Consider having her back next year please!”

“Theresa’s talk, ‘Unmasking Cybercriminals and the Triple Threat Facing Business and You’ was a wake-up call on how cybercriminals leverage AI and emerging technologies. Her expertise in risk mitigation, digital security, and real world cyber threats made this session incredibly insightful.”

"Thank you for your brilliant presentation this morning at Great Audit Minds (GAM). Very informative, eye-opening, and dare I say, alarming. I ordered the last (!!) hardcover copy of your book from Amazon and am excited to read it."

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