Theresa Payton

One of the nation’s most prominent cybersecurity authorities, Theresa Payton shows audiences how to be future-ready and secure—especially as advancements in artificial intelligence are reshaping cybercrime as we know it.

An inventor and visionary in the digital world, a U.S. patent holder, and the first female White House CIO, a two-time company founder and CEO, Theresa Payton, was named one of the “Top 50 Women in Tech” by Award Magazine in 2021. She captivates audiences by drawing on her unmatched knowledge and expertise to help business, association and government audiences safely navigate a rapidly changing digital future.

In presentations that masterfully blend stories from the trenches with cutting-edge insights (and all the flare she was known for as co-star on the CBS hit series Hunted), Theresa helps audiences understand the current impact and future applications of AI, Quantum Computing, Blockchain, Web 3.0 / the Metaverse, the Internet of Things and Big Data for their business. A trusted advisor to companies and governments, Theresa helps organizations of every size balance the risks and the enormous promise of emerging technologies for business transformation and growth.

Before serving as White House CIO, Payton was a technology leader in the banking and finance sector. She went on to co-found Dark3, a company later acquired by Celerium. Today she is the founder and CEO at Fortalice Solutions, a world-class consulting firm recently named to the lists of “The Global Hot 150 Cybersecurity Companies,” by Cybersecurity Ventures, and “The Top 5 Most Innovative Cybersecurity Companies” in the Washington, D.C. area. Her work in the field of fighting crime earned her the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. Theresa is a member of the Cyber Defenders Council, a group of 50 preeminent leaders from the public and private sectors who promote cross-sector collaboration and proactive cyber deterrence, and she sits on several advisory boards for innovative global technology firms.

In 2020, Business Insider named her one of their “Top 50 Cybersecurity Leaders” and Security Magazine named her one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People in Security.” Past awards have included “One of the 100 Most Influential People in Cyber Security,” “Woman Cybersecurity Leader of the Year,” and “Cybersecurity Crusader of the Year.”

Payton is the author of three industry-leading books, including Manipulated: Inside the Cyberwar to Hijack Elections and Distort the Truth, which The Guardian included on their list of the “Top 10 Books About Cybercrime.” She frequently appears in the international news and media, helping viewers understand the latest technology trends and how to protect their privacy in today’s digital world.  

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