Theresa Payton, a trailblazer in the field of technology, holds a prestigious list of accolades. However, her most notable achievement is her historic role as the first woman to serve as the White House Chief Information Officer (CIO). Payton spearheaded IT operations for President George W. Bush from 2006 to 2008. Despite her impressive background in banking technology at Bank of America and Wells Fargo, Payton initially expressed disbelief when she received the position. She recounted to the Huffington Post, “I had just returned from maternity leave, and my assistant informed me that I needed to return a call to the White House. They were interested in including me in a list of candidates for the CIO position. Given my limited connections to the White House, I initially assumed this was a social engineering attempt.” After some persuasion, Payton contacted them again and stated, “I understand that President Bush is seeking a CIO, and somehow, I ended up on the list despite my limited connections there. I would appreciate it if you could validate the legitimacy of this position.” To her surprise, the job was indeed hers. This outcome shouldn’t have been unexpected, considering her previous executive roles. Payton’s expertise in banking technology, acquired through her positions at Bank of America and Wells Fargo, has proven invaluable to government and private sector organizations. As the founder, president, and CEO of Fortalice Solutions, Payton leverages her knowledge to provide essential services to these organizations. As a former CIO, Payton is acutely aware of the challenges associated with the role and the strategies to overcome them.
Payton shared her insights with infosec island, stating, “From my experience in banking, and it remains relevant today, providing information to customers was paramount—uninterrupted, 24/7/365. As a CIO, within any organization, leveraging technology is only one of the multifaceted challenges. You must be mindful of your communication style and adopt business terminology; technical jargon should be avoided.” Payton, a security expert, offered an insightful example by drawing parallels between the communication styles of adults and that of Charlie Brown. She highlighted that adults often use repetitive phrases without conveying clear meaning. In conclusion, Payton emphasizes the significance of engaging in genuine conversations with executive management teams. This involves transcending technical jargon and PowerPoint presentations. To establish a comfortable rapport, it’s crucial to be respectful of the individuals you’re communicating with and their time.
Payton also shared her strong opinions on the CISO versus CIO debate. She expressed her aspiration that if successful, organizations should hire both a CIO and a CISO, ensuring they don’t report to different departments. Their roles should complement each other rather than compete.
Furthermore, Payton expressed concerns about the current approach to security management. She believes that we’re mismanaging security and doing a disservice to the organization by not treating it as an enabler that enhances the customer experience and revenue.
To overcome these challenges, Payton advises CISOs and security leaders to learn from industry luminaries who have mastered the art of effectively communicating technical concepts to executives. By doing so, they can secure the necessary funding and resources for their organizations.
Payton also has some experience in the entertainment industry. She served as the head of intelligence on the CBS television show “Hunted.” Her success can be attributed to her passion for her work. Payton shared her thoughts with the Huffington Post, stating, “I genuinely believe that this career was chosen for me.”
