The Cyber Readiness Institute is led by prominent business leaders and experts in cybersecurity. These leaders collaborate with small businesses to ensure our tools are current and respond to the needs of small businesses.
Samuel J. Palmisano is Chairman of the Center for Global Enterprise. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of IBM until January 2012. He also served as Chairman of the company until October 2012. Under his leadership, IBM achieved record financial performance, becoming a globally integrated enterprise.
Co-Chair Emeritus
Penny Pritzker served as the 38th U.S. Secretary of Commerce from June 26, 2013 until January 20, 2017. She is a civic and business leader with more than 25 years of experience in real estate, hospitality, senior living, and financial services.
Tim Murphy is Chief Administrative Officer for Mastercard, overseeing the company’s Law, Franchise and Integrity activities, as well as its People and Capabilities function. He is also a member of the company’s Management Committee.
Megan Lenigk is Apple’s Head of Supplier Trust. She established Supplier Trust from the ground up and built it into an industry leading initiative. She is an attorney with a Master’s of Public Health and has over 15 years of experience in the privacy and security field.
Tom is the Corporate Vice President of Customer Security & Trust at Microsoft, leading a cross-disciplinary team that works to improve customer trust in the safety and security of the digital ecosystem by advocating for global cybersecurity policy, partnering with public agencies and private enterprises to disrupt nation-state cyberattacks and support deterrence efforts, and combatting cybercrime.
Karen Evans is Managing Director of the Cyber Readiness Institute. For over 20 years, Karen has been at the forefront of cybersecurity policy with Congressional- and Presidential-appointed positions at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Ira is Director of Communications for the Cyber Readiness Institute and Vice President, Global Learning Initiatives for the Center for Global Enterprise. He has over three decades of editorial experience, including several senior editorial roles in 21 years with BusinessWeek and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Chris is President of the Center for Global Enterprise. He is also President & CEO of Mercator XXI, LLC, a professional services firm helping clients engage the global economy. He has over 40 years of public policy and international management experience.
Craig is a Director of the Cyber Readiness Institute and Executive Vice President of Ethisphere. He has extensive experience working with global value chain companies to better manage risks and improve compliance.
Vivek is the Director of Analytics & Research at the Cyber Readiness Institute. He has earned his Master’s degree from Lebow College of Business at Drexel University, with a major in Business Analytics, and previously worked as a data analyst for an electric utility company. He has wide-ranging experience working with different stakeholders for global companies managing research and analytics programs to streamline the work processes and improve delivery time.
Lessie is Global Director of Outreach and Partner Engagement for the Cyber Readiness Institute. Most recently, she worked for a cybersecurity start-up, Nisos, as Chief of Staff and interim Director of Marketing. She also brings experience in working with new and emerging technology and cybersecurity companies from her previous role with an early stage venture capital firm.
Kinsey is the Director of Operations and Partner Relations for the Cyber Readiness Institute. She has previously worked as a Research Assistant for the Institute of Economics and Peace. She also brings an international perspective on human behavior in managing internal and external Institute operations.
Matias is the Director of Data and Infrastructure Design at the Cyber Readiness Institute. He has earned his Master’s of Science from the University of South Florida School of Information in Cybersecurity Intelligence and Information Security. He previously worked as a Graduate Assistant to Cyber-Florida and to the USF College of Arts and Sciences. He brings experience teaching cyber policy and safety to young adults.
Jessica, Director of Program and Project Management at the Cyber Readiness Institute, holds a master’s degree in Business Cybersecurity Management from West Virginia University. With an extensive background in emergency management, emergency medicine, and cybersecurity consulting, she brings a wealth of experience in crisis response, operational coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
Keenan is the Strategic Director of SLED Alliances and Engagement for the Cyber Readiness Institute. A graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Economics, he began working in the Fintech and Edtech sectors before transitioning into Politics. With an extensive background in State and Local Governments, he brings experience in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and fostering strategic partnerships.
