This event was curated by and for the Chicago Leadership Board, a group of local leaders committed to the idea that national security and critical infrastructure resiliency is strengthened through peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, diversity, and leadership development.
Their collective insights and recommendations influence every aspect of this program including speakers, topics, and technology partner participation.
Technology is evolving at unprecedented speed, especially with the rapid adoption of AI, automation, and hyper-connected digital ecosystems. For CISOs, this moment demands more than protecting the enterprise. It requires shaping how innovation happens, guiding ethical and secure adoption, and ensuring trust keeps pace with transformation.
In 2026, responsibility becomes a design principle, not a reactive function. CISOs are expected to embed security into every layer of modernization: from cloud and identity to data governance, third-party risk, and AI systems. By aligning security with business intent, strengthening accountability across the organization, and championing secure innovation, cybersecurity leaders can reduce risk while accelerating growth and confidence.
At the 2026 Chicago Leadership Exchange, trusted CISOs will reveal how they are operationalizing responsible security leadership in an AI-driven era. Through keynote presentations, CISO-only boardroom discussions, and interactive breakouts created by the community, current and emerging cybersecurity executives will experience a peer-driven exchange of ideas while forging long-lasting relationships they can rely on when stakes are highest.
Community-Led Executive Learning Will Include:
Practical approaches for embedding security into AI, automation, and digital transformation.
Real-world case studies on governing risk while enabling innovation.
Techniques for strengthening board alignment, trust, and business communication.
Strategies for building accountable security cultures across the enterprise.
Deep-dive insights via intimate CISO-only boardroom discussions on leadership, decision-making, and emerging threats.
