Leadership & Executive Communication
,
Training & Security Leadership
,
Video
Sonesta’s Former Security Director on Proactive Security and Servant Leadership
Michael Woodson’s tenure at Sonesta International Hotels as the director of information security and privacy focused on transforming cybersecurity from a siloed function into an organization-wide priority. His approach underscored data-centric security and privacy protection, particularly crucial in the hospitality industry where major breaches have highlighted the need for enhanced security measures.
See Also: Effective Communication Is Key to Successful Cybersecurity
“We’ve become more proactive,” Woodson said. Organizations are increasingly focusing on investments in “people process, technology and culture change,” and from an awareness standpoint, they are making sure everybody understands proactive approaches. People are assets for any organization, he said, reflecting the industry’s evolution.
Before joining Sonesta, Woodson made a pivotal career transition from law enforcement to cybersecurity, including roles in computer forensics and private practice at Deloitte. This diverse background shaped his comprehensive view of security leadership, emphasizing the need to stay connected to front-line operations.
“Become a servant leader… Don’t be selfish. Collaborate, listen, write, articulate and also get better at saying less. Do the math,” he said. For Woodson, being in the trenches of security means continuous learning and observation. “You got to go out and listen all the time and learn. This is life learning. You’re never going to get stale.”
In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at the Financial Services Cybersecurity Summit, conducted as part of the CyberEdBoard’s ongoing Profiles in Leadership series, Woodson also discussed:
- The unique data security challenges in the hospitality sector;
- Strategies for managing AI governance and privacy challenges;
- Woodson’s approach to self-assessment and career pivots.
With more than 25 years in information security and privacy, Woodson specializes in data privacy, network security, fraud management and regulatory compliance. His expertise spans hospitality security, transportation systems protection and financial services. He is a member of the CyberEdBoard.
CyberEdBoard is ISMG’s premier members-only community of senior-most executives and thought leaders in the fields of security, risk, privacy and IT. CyberEdBoard provides executives with a powerful, peer-driven collaborative ecosystem, private meetings and a library of resources to address complex challenges shared by thousands of CISOs and senior security leaders located in 65 different countries worldwide.
Join the Community – CyberEdBoard.io.
Apply for membership
About the Author
Novinson is responsible for covering the vendor and technology landscape. Prior to joining ISMG, he spent four and a half years covering all the major cybersecurity vendors at CRN, with a focus on their programs and offerings for IT service providers. He was recognized for his breaking news coverage of the August 2019 coordinated ransomware attack against local governments in Texas as well as for his continued reporting around the SolarWinds hack in late 2020 and early 2021.
You might also be interested in …
link