Kiersten Todt

Kiersten Todt is a distinguished cybersecurity leader who translates complex digital threats into actionable strategies for organisations navigating an increasingly connected world. As Senior Vice President at Mastercard, she oversees cybersecurity partnership and engagement, whilst advising venture capital firms and serving on the board of RunSafe Security. Her credentials include serving as former Chief of Staff at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, where she managed a $3 billion budget and over 3,000 personnel, and co-founding the Cyber Readiness Institute with CEOs from Mastercard, Microsoft, and IBM to democratise cybersecurity resources for small businesses worldwide. Through her keynotes and advisory work, she equips executives and boards with practical frameworks for cyber risk management, enabling organisations to build resilience and maintain stakeholder trust in the digital economy.

When Kiersten Todt co-drafted the legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security whilst serving on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, she helped shape the infrastructure that would define America's approach to national security for decades to come. That early work on Capitol Hill, where she focused on cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, and emergency preparedness for Senator Joseph Lieberman, established a career trajectory that would take her from policy development to operational leadership at the highest levels of government and industry. Her journey from the Office of the Vice President through the Senate to executive roles demonstrates a rare ability to translate policy vision into practical security outcomes, a skill she now applies as Senior Vice President of Cybersecurity Partnership and Engagement at Mastercard.

Kiersten's operational credentials were forged during her tenure as Chief of Staff at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, where she managed a nearly $3 billion budget and over 3,000 personnel whilst providing strategic direction to protect critical national infrastructure. Before joining CISA, she co-founded the Cyber Readiness Institute in 2017 alongside the CEOs of Mastercard, Microsoft, PSP Partners, and the retired CEO of IBM, creating free cybersecurity resources that democratised protection for small businesses worldwide. Her expertise spans both crisis response and prevention; as Executive Director of President Obama's bipartisan Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, she led twelve commissioners from industry, government, academia, and law enforcement to develop consensus recommendations for the incoming administration. She currently advises venture capital firms on emerging technologies including open source software and memory-safe language, serves on the board of RunSafe Security, and maintains her connection to federal cybersecurity as a Senior Counsellor to CISA's Director. Her commentary regularly features in outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN, whilst her academic foundation from Princeton University and Harvard's Kennedy School continues to inform her work.

Kiersten equips executives and boards with practical frameworks that transform cybersecurity from technical challenge to strategic advantage. Through keynote presentations and advisory engagements, she helps organisations understand how cyber risk intersects with business resilience, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder trust. Her approach emphasises actionable strategies over abstract theory, drawing on her experience managing real-world threats and building cross-sector partnerships. Audiences gain clarity on emerging risks, learn to communicate cyber challenges effectively across their organisations, and develop governance structures that enable informed decision-making. Whether addressing corporate leaders navigating digital transformation or government officials strengthening critical infrastructure, she delivers insights that organisations can implement immediately to enhance their security posture and maintain confidence in an increasingly connected economy.