If a CEO’s primary role is navigating risk and opportunity, then they must have a risk, resilience, and security team who is prepared to be at the table.

To be prepared, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and their team must understand the unique value of their role in supporting the mission and vision of the company. Then they must organize around the interconnected relationships of others who are attempting to create outcomes that matter to the business. And they must find a way to leverage intelligence locally and globally that provides them insights that support the contextual application of risk for the leaders of their company. This is also where the core values of the culture will be engendered and supported.

I find this to be rare.

Because of this, I was absolutely engaged when Debbie Maples, the Vice President of Global Safety & Security: Security Operations, Investigations & Protection at Salesforce, sat down with me in a great conversation around the heart, mind, discipline, and tools of the leadership of the risk, safety, and security leadership of her company.

Just as her company, Salesforce, is in the pursuit of being the premier cloud-based software designed to help businesses find more prospects, close more deals, and wow customers with amazing service, their safety and security team seeks to be premier in risk intelligence, investigations, travel safety and security. Their mindset: the foundation of finding great people, keeping them engaged in the business, and supporting their felt needs, takes a unique blend of leadership, business process, data aggregation platforms, and a passion for service within risk, resilience, safety, and security.

This was truly a great conversation. Enjoy!