Great CSOs:
It's Not Just People, Policies and Technologies — It's Leadership 
Mary Lou Heastings, President and Co–Founder
Executive Alliance
Presentation Abstract:
Great security is not just about policies and technologies; it’s all about great leadership. Great CSOs are by default, great leaders. They not only lead their own security organizations, they broadly lead across their enterprises.
Great CSOs drive great focus. While beneficial, CSOs all know that resources alone -- even rich levels of resources -- are never enough to drive security effectiveness. There are hundreds of things that “could” be done for security effectiveness: the leadership trick is to drive success first with the “must do’s” and then with whatever resources are remaining, drive success with a prioritized list of the “should do’s”.
Through Executive Alliance’s highly acclaimed Information Security Executive (ISE) of the Year Awards, Mary Lou has read over 500 applications and participated in judging sessions where CSOs are the judges. In addition, she has interviewed CSOs who are the award finalists and winners and also has gained insight from their senior managers.
Through this program, she understands where CSOs from companies such as Nike, Disney, Motorola, Warner Brothers, and other highly branded organizations focus their efforts and what their senior management deems important. In this session, Mary Lou will share her insight into what these leading CSOs from across the country are focusing on to be successful.
Bio:
As president of Executive Alliance, Mary Lou Heastings has responsibility for global operations as well as corporate development and strategic planning functions. Guiding the continued expansion of the Information Security Executive of the Year Awards Program Series™ across the U.S. and into Europe, and bringing to market new programs such as the Data Center Executive of the Year (DaCEY) National Awards, Ms. Heastings has significant experience in management, information technology, finance and operations.
Previous to Executive Alliance, Ms. Heastings had over 20 years of software experience in e-business and global reservations systems for the travel industry with responsibility for developing strategies and deploying enabling technologies in the business information environment. She directed a staff of 150+ technical professionals at Worldspan with responsibilities for implementing corporate business applications in the United States and 28 countries around the globe. In addition, Ms. Heastings has previous experience in strategic planning, business development, and software development with companies such as Delta Air Lines and Holiday Inn.
Ms. Heastings was co-recipient of the ATHENA Award for women business leaders having an impact on the workplace. She was recognized in “Who's Who in Technology" in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, in Georgia Trend Magazine as an executive leading change, and featured in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution for her leadership role in developing e-business strategies.
