Winning the Boardroom: Helping Businesses Lead, Not Just Comply

Darren Argyle, former Group Chief Information Security Risk Officer at Standard Chartered Bank, shares his insights on how cyber security leaders can succeed in the boardroom by shifting from technical execution to strategic influence. Speaking at the conference after returning to Australia from a six-year stint in Singapore, Darren highlights the limitations of technical expertise when managing larger teams. As cyber leaders rise in seniority, he says, leadership skills such as influence, communication and alignment with business priorities become essential, particularly since cyber security teams often remain small compared to broader IT functions.

Using the concept of the flywheel effect from Good to Great by Jim Collins, Darren illustrates how building momentum in cyber security starts with small, consistent actions that eventually lead to significant impact. He emphasises that real success in cyber leadership lies in “winning the boardroom,” where aligning your security agenda with the business agenda becomes more…