Schelstraete Delacourt’s Post

Boards acknowledge the gaps in digital expertise, cyber risk oversight, and succession planning. At Schelstraete Delacourt, we help close these gaps through structured board audits, targeted director searches and sustainable succession planning.

31% of boards admit they lack an adequate succession strategy. At Schelstraete Delacourt, we work with boards to strengthen leadership continuity and future-proof governance.

The Unspoken Rules of Persuasion In leadership meetings, it’s not the facts that decide — it’s the framing. The unspoken rules of persuasion make the difference between ignored slides and decisive action: 🔹 Stories & intuition spark engagement where data alone falls flat. 🔹 Loss framing creates urgency by showing the cost of not acting. 🔹 Benchmarks & relativity reset what “value” means in context. 🔹 Decision costs highlight how inaction is more expensive than change. 🔹 Scarcity & credibility build urgency and trust from the first impression. For cyber leaders, this means moving from: ❌ endless information → ✅ actionable offers ❌ abstract risk talk → ✅ concrete business impact At Cyber Circle, we work on these persuasion levers so security is no longer a background concern — but a strategic driver in the boardroom. Thanks for the Insights: DER ENTSCHEIDUNGSARCHITEKT, Verena Z., #Lukas At Cyber Circle, we see every hurdle as a chance to reframe the dialogue – and move leaders from passive listeners to active decision makers. Special thanks to our sponsors: CrowdStrike (Ingo Spranz ), Kudelski Security (Daniel Schudel), and Zscaler (Dominique Heusser).

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲: Day one of the CISL Module on Strategy and Organization. A huge thanks to Kopenhagen Konsulting for hosting CISL and to Lise Mortensen, Laura Kocksch for contributing with their different perspectives on how to approach organizational challenges in cybersecurity. From the Board perspective, Lise reminded us that cybersecurity leaders are knocking on an open door - but also that impact is not created in the boardroom itself - the real work happens around it – creating sponsorship, and shaping a context that everyone can buy into. With her research into the topic itself, Laura showed how social sciences can help us understand cybersecurity challenges better —and the strong influence of behavioral norms and organizational structures. Introducing a “dilemma game,” she demonstrated how exploring practical and ethical dilemmas fosters dialogue and collaboration. Instead of giving commands, we get further by seeking understanding. CISL Program Manager, Jens Rasmussen, tied cybersecurity to the strategic drivers of the business, showing that true impact comes when security is linked to value creation. As "digital is power", understanding the company’s strategy and connecting to its digital backbone—the structures and services that drive the business—is essential. By identifying where cybersecurity can strengthen the path toward key goals, leaders can secure real investment and alignment, turning security from a technical safeguard into a strategic #enabler at the core of the organization’s future. The day underscored that true #resilience is built when boards, executives, and teams share a common context, connecting strategy, organization, and digitalization. This is exactly what CISL is designed to achieve. #CISL #cybersecurity #organization #sponsorship #businessstrategy #board #digitalization #leadership

Resilience Under Constraints: I came across a recent BCG article on reducing cyber risk under tight budgets, and it resonated with me. It reminded me how much of our work in cybersecurity is really about leadership under constraints. Budgets are flat. Teams are stretched. Expectations keep rising. Yet the need for resilience has never been greater. What struck me is that technical controls alone don’t solve this paradox. What’s needed is programmatic leadership — the kind that aligns governance with execution and keeps people motivated when resources are thin. In my experience, the leaders who succeed in these environments do a few things consistently: - Communicate clearly so everyone understands the “why” - Prioritize relentlessly so limited resources go where risk is highest - Build transparency into governance so leadership has confidence in progress - Use AI responsibly as an accelerator — not as a buzzword, but as a practical tool to speed up prioritization and decision-making At the end of the day, resilience isn’t a technical checklist. It’s a leadership discipline — one that thrives under constraints. #leadership #AI #Resilience #Governance #Cybersecurity #DecisionMaking

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 As the main theme of the CISL Module on Strategy and Digital Innovation, Michel Leth from Kopenhagen Konsulting broke down what digitalization is really about. Highlighting the clear differences between IT strategy and digital strategy, he reminded that digital strategy is about leveraging possibilities of technology to fuel growth, whereas IT strategy focuses on how we use and operate technology efficiently. To explore the process of innovation further, participants worked hands-on with the challenge of turning user insights into a growth strategy: understanding what drives user choices, frustrations, and which digital components are critical to enabling growth. This perspective is essential for cyber leaders who want to engage organizational stakeholders at the right level—and to know when cybersecurity should be part of the conversation. Thanks to Viktor V. for supervising the exercise. Adding to this, CISO Anne Sofie Roed Rasmussen shared candid reflections from her own journey in a highly innovative, fast-moving organization. Her story painted a vivid picture of working “behind the scenes” of a global CEO on a branding and expansion journey—where chaos is constant, stability is an illusion, and the CISO’s role is to make things work despite it all. Jens Rasmussen provided valuable insight into the interplay between business strategy, digital strategy, IT strategy — and ultimately how this alignment shapes the cyber strategy. Topics of digital innovation, growth, leadership under uncertainty, and the integration of cybersecurity into business transformation set the stage for the next module. #CISL #Innovation #Digitalization #DigitalStrategy #Cybersecurity #DigitalTransformation #Growth #CyberLeadership

Great to be part of the Cyber Information Security Leader (CISL) Certification Module on Strategy & Digital Innovation! It was inspiring to see participants dive in with curiosity, openness, and a true willingness to challenge what “digital” really means. We explored how digitalization goes beyond buzzwords - it’s about using technology to fuel growth, create value, and enable smarter, faster, and more adaptive organizations. A big theme throughout was that innovation isn’t just about implementing new ideas or technology - it’s about people, process, and momentum. These principles also shaped the three main takeaways for the groups to bring home: 1️⃣ People drive innovation: Technology doesn’t create change, people do. Collaboration, perspective, and openness unlock real value. 2️⃣ Frameworks guide clarity: Structure isn’t bureaucracy; it’s what turns ideas into action and makes adoption stick. 3️⃣ Momentum beats perfection: Innovation thrives on movement. Start, learn, adapt - and keep going. If you’re curious about how to bring digital innovation to life - in hours or days, not months - feel free to reach out. Always happy to exchange ideas and experiences! #CISL #DigitalStrategy #InnovationLeadership #DigitalTransformation

Earlier last week, I had the privilege of joining an Inspired Business Media panel discussion on “From AI to Cyber Resilience: Leadership Priorities for Ireland's Next Chapter.” Thank you to my fellow panellists Graham Kenny, Dr. John McCarthy, Francis McConnell, and Dean Garvey-North for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation. As technology leaders, our mandate is clear: 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. Some key insights we explored: 🔹 Strengthening GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) frameworks and implementing balanced guardrails to mitigate enterprise risk 🔹 Upskilling talent for responsible AI adoption, ensuring role augmentation drives ROI (Return on Investment), ROE (Return on Employee) and ROF (Return on Future) 🔹 Prioritising AI use cases through a structured process and leveraging the right talent ecosystem to scale effectively #GenAI #AI #AgenticAI #CyberResilience #TalentDevelopment #DigitalTransformation #GRC #Innovation #InspiredBusinessMedia #CyberSecurity

Can Cybersecurity enable competitive advantage for a business? As I began to wrap up another two weeks visiting our business units in the USA and Brazil, I reflected on the conversations I've had with key stakeholders across different functions and geographies. What struck me most wasn't the technical challenges they raised… it was how often they described feeling caught between ambitious growth strategies and the practical realities of integration, compliance, and risk management. Whether discussing our stabilisation efforts, exploring inorganic growth opportunities, or planning for operational excellence across multiple jurisdictions, the same theme emerged; technology and cybersecurity aren't just protective measures, they're strategic enablers. The most successful initiatives I've witnessed aren't where cyber and tech are bolted on afterward, but where they're woven into the business strategy from the start. When done right, robust security frameworks actually accelerate decision-making, enable faster market entry, and create competitive moats that are incredibly difficult for competitors to replicate. My role isn't to be the person with all the answers, it's to be the sherpa, helping teams navigate the complex terrain between business ambition and technical reality. Facilitating conversations that bridge operational needs with strategic vision. Translating regulatory requirements into business opportunities. For leaders managing growth, integration, or transformation initiatives: How are you leveraging your cyber and tech capabilities as competitive advantages rather than just compliance boxes to tick? I'd love to hear your experiences, both successes and challenges (if you’re willing to share of course!) #StrategicLeadership #CyberStrategy #BusinessTransformation #CompetitiveAdvantage #TechLeadership #BusinessIntegration #RiskAsStrategy #ExecutiveLeadership

Are you a cyber-resilient CEO? According to research by Accenture, 96% of CEOs agree that cybersecurity is a key enabler for organizational growth and stability, and a massive 74% are concerned about their organization’s ability to avert or minimize damage from a cyberattack. Did you know it impacts the bottom line? Cyber-resilient CEOs financially outperform their peers, achieving 16% higher incremental revenue growth. Watch this video to explore the five critical actions required to become a Cyber-Resilient CEO and join the 5% leading the way in confidence and performance. Thanks to the following for the tremendous research: Paolo Dal Cin Valerie Abend Rachel Barton Yusof Seedat Source: https://lnkd.in/eQ4snjgS