Why Every CEO Needs a CISO or CIO on the Board and How to Get a Board Seat if You Are One

Why CEOs need a CISO and CIO on their board to translate tech expertise into boardroom strategy

As AI risk and new regulations reshape the economy, boards need technical insight more than ever, yet cybersecurity and technology leaders remain underrepresented on boards.

In a recent SecurityScorecard fireside chat, SecurityScorecard Co-Founder and CEO Aleksandr Yampolskiy and Trewstar Corporate Board Services Founder and CEO Beth Stewart discussed how boards can no longer afford to operate without cybersecurity and technology expertise and how CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers) and CIOs (Chief Information Officers) can translate their expertise into boardroom impact.

Together, they covered bridging the communication gap between technical and non-technical leaders, avoiding common missteps of technical leaders seeking board seats, and how building strategic credibility can help technology executives earn a seat at the table.

The Translation Gap Between Tech Leaders and Boards

Stewart highlighted that language is one of the most persistent barriers for technologists.

“You really have to cut the jargon,” she said. “If you’re the CIO and you come in after lunch and you start talking in acronyms, you really do run the risk of pushing them over the edge into an afternoon nap. That’s not helping the director with their fiduciary duties.”

Most directors don’t speak the language of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks or tactics, techniques, and procedures of attackers (TTPs), Stewart noted. To be effective, technical leaders must reframe cybersecurity concepts in business terms, such as risk, growth, and revenue.

Dr. Yampolskiy added that boardrooms find these technical words useless. “Those are words that are common in technology circles, but they’re often meaningless in a boardroom,” he said. “This translation gap is a real challenge:”

Instead of saying “attack surface reduction,” Stewart advised describing it as “reducing the ways attackers can reach customers.”

The goal is to build credibility and trust through clear, accessible communication. Boards think about growth and they think about revenue,” she added. “You need to be able to talk in those business terms.”

Listen to the audio here, or watch the full webinar on-demand here:

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The Evolution of the CISO Role

Referencing Dr. Yampolskiy’s Forbes article, “The End of a Traditional CISO,” Stewart agreed that security leaders must evolve beyond technical defense into business strategy.

Boards increasingly want leaders who connect technology to business outcomes, not just details on threats on technical mitigations. Stewart recommended that CISOs and CIOs deepen relationships with Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) to better understand company strategy, financial pressures, and operational goals.

“It’s about translating the very, very important things that the CIO does into the language of those of your peers in the C-suite,” Stewart said.

Why CEOs Need Tech Leaders on the Board

From AI innovation to cybersecurity resilience, boards face decisions that hinge on technical literacy. Cybersecurity is a pillar of business resilience. 

“How can you not have someone in the room who understands that?” Stewart asked.

But the key to being indispensable is deepening your expertise beyond that, as effective board members bridge risk with innovation.

“It can’t always be about risk,” Stewart added, noting that board meetings often center around CEO performance and other strategic issues, not just cybersecurity risks or threats. “You want to have the technology background, but you have to be able to apply it to broadly to the business so that you can participate in that conversation.”

How CISOs and CIOs Can Position Themselves for a Board Seat

Stewart was candid about what not to do when seeking a board seat.

“It’s never about you,” she said. Candidates who frame board service as a personal or professional development opportunity risk losing credibility. “It’s a job. It’s not an extracurricular.”

Stewart recommended focusing on how your experience adds value. Practical steps include:

• Build visibility: Speak at events, publish thought leadership articles, or speak on a podcast.
• Network wisely: Connect with sitting directors and engage with search firms.
• Update your resume and career narrative: Dust off your resume and update the way you talk about your career with others.
• Seek exposure: Ask to attend your company’s own board meetings to understand dynamics firsthand.

The Future of Board Leadership

The next generation of board leadership requires cybersecurity and technology fluency, but that expertise must be delivered in business language.

The modern boardroom is changing, and cybersecurity leaders have a pivotal role to play. Stewart and Dr. Yampolskiy agreed that as AI and digital risks converge with innovation, CISOs and CIOs have the chance to shape both corporate security and corporate direction itself. 

Trewstar Corporate Board Services works to place outstanding candidates on boards. They began with a focus on female candidates and board searches, but have expanded to other services, such as C-Suite level placements, and include all genders, races, and ethnicities. Their clients range from Fortune 50 companies to venture and private equity-backed companies operating in all industries.

Watch the full webinar on BrightTALK to learn how CISOs and CIOs can bridge the boardroom gap and become indispensable strategic leaders.