As we wrapped up the 2025 CISO Village Summit in the Florida Keys, news broke of a war between Israel and Iran. Many of us were far from home, trying to process the gravity of what was unfolding while surrounded by peers, friends, and teammates. It was a painful moment. One that made every conversation about resilience, leadership, and responsibility feel even more real. We didn’t ignore what was happening. We carried it with us. And it reminded us why this work matters so much.
Even before that moment, this year’s summit already felt different. We brought together over 100 CISOs, founders, and security leaders for three days of open, thoughtful, and sometimes vulnerable conversations. Half the room were first-time villagers, the other half had been with us before. That balance created something powerful. Not just a community, but a shared sense of purpose, to help each other lead through uncertainty, and to keep building toward a safer future.