How To Think Of Cybersecurity, Risk Management And Ethics As Strategic Enablers
Heller, Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
In this excerpt from Beyond the Algorithm, Lead What Machines Can't: Becoming an Indispensable Leader When Technology Thinks Too, executive coach Joe Topinka explains how to turn strong risk management practices into a strategic asset that fosters collaboration and innovation.
Study after study, from the World Economic Forum's 'Global Risks Report' to studies and papers from IBM, McKinsey, and PwC, show that boards and executive teams overwhelmingly see cyber as a core business issue, not just an IT concern. Yet many organizations still treat these areas narrowly. They see them as compliance hurdles or purely defensive measures. This mindset is outdated and dangerous. Trust has become a primary driver of customer loyalty, brand reputation, and even market valuation. Without clear leadership on security, privacy, and ethical technology use, companies undercut the very trust they need to grow.