This is the handout version of the opening keynote I presented at the 2015 Evanta CISO Summit in Minneapolis. I was asked to share my work on how to earn respect as a security leader. These slides introduce the Remarkable IT Leadership Framework™ - including the 5 foundational elements, 9 competencies, and 5 essential habits. The session description: Your challenge isn’t technology. Your opportunity is outstanding IT leadership. Michael Santarcangelo believes the pathway from individual contributor to IT security leader includes understanding five foundational elements and demonstrating nine competencies of remarkable IT leadership. Santarcangelo reveals the benefits of a competency-based approach and explains how to assess where you are currently. He shares insights on how to demonstrate your value, earn your place in the executive suite, and be heard by your board and other leaders. Galvanize your personal pathway to exceptional IT security leadership with this invigorating keynote.

1. Cracking the Code:
How security leaders earn respect
Michael Santarcangelo
Security Catalyst
@catalyst #ITLeader
© 2015 Security Catalyst
Evanta CISO Summit
Minneapolis, MN
June 2, 2015
HANDOUT
VERSION

2. A leadership conversation
2 © 2015 Security Catalyst
This is a slightly modified version of the slides used during the
presentation. Comments and content added where appropriate.
Carry on the conversation with me on Twitter (@catalyst),
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/securitycatalyst), or shoot
me an email (michael@securitycatalyst.com)

3. I believe that until you
recognize your own value
as a leader,
you won’t be able to
realize value in others.
3 © 2015 Security Catalyst

4. When you see
your own value as a leader
others will see it too.
4 © 2015 Security Catalyst

5. 5
Situations
& Conditions
what we hear,
in your words
© 2015 Security Catalyst
These are some of the challenges I help leaders assess,
understand, and solve. See how many are familiar to you.

6. 6
“I don’t have the time, energy, or
resources to get it all done —
or know where to start.”
© 2015 Security Catalyst

7. 7
“I should measure my programs,
but it’s hard, I don’t know how,
and have no time to figure it out.”
© 2015 Security Catalyst

8. 8
“How do I get people to understand
and change their behaviors?”
© 2015 Security Catalyst

9. The challenge is not
technology.
The opportunity is
IT leadership.
9 © 2015 Security Catalyst

10. How much pressure do you feel
to perform as a leader?
10 © 2015 Security Catalyst
This is where we explored the “layers of leadership” —
individual, organizational, and industry. While we face
challenges, each presents powerful opportunities.

11. Are you valued as much as an
IT leader as you are an IT expert?
11 © 2015 Security Catalyst

12. Have you ceded your leadership?
12 © 2015 Security Catalyst

13. What does it mean
to be a security leader?
13 © 2015 Security Catalyst

14. Remarkable IT Leadership Framework
5 Foundational
Elements
5 Essential
Habits
9 Competencies
14 © 2015 Security Catalyst
Remarkable IT Leadership is based on a framework of
foundational elements, essential habits, and competencies.
This framework is practitioner focused. Built on experience, this is the code that
represents what it takes to develop into a remarkable leader that earns respect.

15. Foundational
Elements
Essential
Habits
Competencies
15 © 2015 Security Catalyst
I added this slide to provide more detail; I’m working on a
resource to introduce the entire framework. Contact me if
you’d like a copy to review and offer constructive feedback.
Essential habits represent the discipline that leaders incorporate into their
thinking and actions. The right habits deepen understanding of the
foundational elements and guide proper improvement of the competencies.
Foundational elements are the building blocks to develop competencies
and establish good habits. They also provide key insights into the
environment and current situation, guiding the right actions.
Developed from the foundational elements, competencies are the specific
capabilities necessary for successful and remarkable leadership. The key to a
competency is the ability to (teach) learn, demonstrate, and measure it.
Remarkable IT
Leadership Framework

16. 16
Foundational Elements
Value
Overcome Friction
Measurement
Communication
Transformation
© 2015 Security Catalyst
We didn’t have time to cover these during the keynote. The five foundational elements are the
cornerstones of remarkable leadership. These impact you, your team, and define the environment. The
deeper your understanding and ability with each, the more remarkable your potential.

17. 17
9 Competencies
Prioritizes
Measures
Communicates
Executes
Creates Value
© 2015 Security Catalyst
Holds Accountable
Influences
Accelerates Change
Drives Improvement
We didn’t have time to cover these during the keynote. The competencies are built on the
foundational elements and are used by leaders and their teams to drive remarkable results.

18. 18
Essential Habits
Routinely evaluates where to invest time, energy, and resources into the efforts and
assets that create the most value for themselves and the people around them
Actively seeks out, understands, and reduces friction to improve performance
and conserve energy; recaptured energy is reinvested to maximize value creation
Gathers and evaluates measurements and evidence-based insights in
context to demonstrate value, make decisions and drive improvement
Communicates with intention, gathers feedback, and takes responsibility to navigate to
understanding; Invests time to match structure, substance, and style to the audience
Assesses and influences the appetite, capacity, and accelerates change by
making the necessary adjustments to process and structure
© 2015 Security Catalyst
We didn’t have time to cover these during the keynote. The essential habits
drive the mindset for growth, work to deepen our understanding of the
foundational elements and guide improvement of the competencies.

19. Are you remarkable?
19 © 2015 Security Catalyst
A remarkable IT leader possesses a grasp of the 5 foundational elements,
exhibit proficiency across the 9 competencies, and demonstrates
habits that deepen their understanding of the entire framework.
Remarkable IT Leadership is an experience.
Remarkable IT leaders get results
and consistently create value.
Remarkable IT leaders use this framework to develop themselves, their
teams, and craft experiences that benefit those around them.

20. Remarkable security leaders
are respected
20 © 2015 Security Catalyst

21. Where are you on your
security leadership journey?
21 © 2015 Security Catalyst

22. 22 © 2015 Security Catalyst
What are the best actions
you can take to
boost your performance
and elevate your team?

23. 23 © 2015 Security Catalyst
Are you ready to find out?

24. Start with a complimentary assessment. This brief
exercise helps you see your value and gain insight
on your current situation and conditions.
Then we schedule a review (by phone or
video conference) to explore your findings
and recommendations.
Assess where you are
in your IT Leadership journey
24 © 2015 Security Catalyst
This is the offer I made during the keynote. No charge, no obligation. If you are have an
appetite for personal improvement, want to be remarkable (and respected), and realize that
you and your team are struggling with parts of the framework, we should talk.

25. 25 © 2015 Security Catalyst
Stop reacting.
Start creating value.

26. 26
Additional Resources
© 2015 Security Catalyst
This is a partial listing of resources developed or in
development to support and enhance your journey.
Translating Security Value [link]- a column
on leadership at CSO Magazine Online
Writing & Visual Resources
Leading Security Change - a new program
at CSO Magazine Online where security
leaders share solutions to current challenges
Security Catalyst [link]- your home base for
original articles, links to resources, newsletter,
and new opportunities launching in 2015 Webinar Series
Cracking the Code [link]- a free, multipart
series that dives deeper into the Remarkable
IT Leadership Framework™ to offer actionable
solutions to technical teams looking to
demonstrate results and improve security

27. 27
Audio Resources
© 2015 Security Catalyst
Remarkable IT Leadership- a personal look at
remarkable leadership with interviews, analysis, and
insights that amplify the good™
Catch me on these podcastsSpeaking About Security - joined by two
remarkable colleagues, we evaluate and offer
solutions on how to get your point across every time
Forest and Trees Security - taking on top issues
in security with a focus on understanding problems
and opportunities to advance solutions
Get ready for 3 leadership focused podcasts
After pausing one of the first security podcasts to launch, I’m ready to
climb back behind the mic and offer insights and analysis you need;
look for these shows starting over the summer at securitycatalyst.com
Down the Security Rabbithole [link] - the
podcast for enterprise security leaders and
business-minded professionals
Security Weekly [link]- a longstanding
show addressing the technology of security,
along with my focus on developing
remarkable leaders and advancing our
industry
This is a partial listing of resources developed or in
development to support and enhance your journey.

28. Let’s Connect
securitycatalyst.com
@catalyst
linkedin.com/in/securitycatalyst
© 2015 Security Catalyst28
#ITleader
Michael Santarcangelo
michael@securitycatalyst.com
The catalyst to develop remarkable IT Leaders
and high performance teams