---
title: "Spotlight on Cybersecurity Leaders: Bill Bowman"
description: SecureWorld highlights Bill Bowman, CISO & Data Privacy Officer at Emburse, and a speaker at our 2024 Boston conference.
---

[SecureWorld News ](https://www.secureworld.io/industry-news)

# [Spotlight on Cybersecurity Leaders: Bill Bowman](https://www.secureworld.io/industry-news/spotlight-cybersecurity-leaders-bill-bowman)

 Written by [SecureWorld News Team](https://www.secureworld.io/industry-news/author/secureworld-news-team) | Mon | Feb 26, 2024 | 9:51 PM Z

In the SecureWorld Spotlight Series, we learn about the speakers and Advisory Council members that make our events a success. In Q&A format, they share about their professional journeys, unique experiences, and hopes for the future of cybersecurity—along with some personal anecdotes.

Bill Bowman, CISSP, CIPM, is the Chief Information Security Officer & Data Privacy Officer at financial software company Emburse. He serves on the Advisory Council for SecureWorld Boston and has spoken on our conference agendas. He has been a first-hired CISO at five different companies. 

He is the father of five children and gives talks on helping families work through social media and technology challenges.

## **Get to know Bill Bowman**

Q: Why did you decide to pursue cybersecurity as a career path?  
A: When I was with Bright Horizons, many top-tier clients demanded InfoSec competence.  I learned from them. 

Q: What encouraged you to join your current organization (employer)?  
A: I started 16 quarters ago when the company needed its first CISO.

Q: How would you describe your feelings about cybersecurity in one sentence?  
A: We are in the golden age of cybersecurity.

Q: What has been your most memorable moment thus far working in cybersecurity?  
A: Bad actors building Zero Days for us.

Q: If you had to choose, what's the one cybersecurity practice people can adopt that would have the greatest impact?  
A: Eliminate passwords.

Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the cybersecurity profession?  
A: Not knowing the business; not believing in yourself; not able to assess risk; not able to measure the program; not communicating effectively.

Q: What are the biggest opportunities facing the profession?  
A: Moving the reporting line to risk (GC/CLO); using AI.

Q: When you tell people what you do for a living, what do you say?  
A: My mom thinks I wear a hoodie to work.

Q: What advice do you have for someone considering cybersecurity as a career and/or someone new to the field who is looking to move up the career ladder?  
A: Intern; get a mentor; work in different companies; network; ask questions; fail fast and learn.

Q: In honor of our 2024 conference theme, *[Legacies Untold: Revealing Cybersecurity's Hidden Figures](https://www.secureworld.io/industry-news/conference-theme-cyber-heroes),* who is someone that you consider to be a Cyber Hero?  
A: Phil Venables. When he was at Goldman Sachs, he brought me to New York City to learn from his team how to build our app stronger and safer. I then learned how to do TPRM [third-party risk management] through him and his team. Much of what I do today was from those early conversations.

Q: Lastly, what are you most looking forward to at your regional SecureWorld 2024 conference?  
A: I am bringing my global team together for the first time around this conference. I cannot wait to get everyone together.

To connect with Bill Bowman and cybersecurity leaders from the New England region, attend the 20th annual [SecureWorld Boston conference ](https://events.secureworld.io/details/boston-ma-2024/)on March 13-14, 2024. Bill will be presenting "Moving from CISO to CRO: A Journey into Risk."

Continue to follow our Spotlight Series for more highlights from industry experts.

[View full post](https://www.secureworld.io/industry-news/spotlight-cybersecurity-leaders-bill-bowman)

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