March 19, 2025

From Intern to CISO: Devin Rudnicki’s Cybersecurity Playbook for Executives

DEVIN (1)

In this insightful episode of CyberOXtales, host Neatsun Ziv, CEO of OX Security, sits down with Devin Rudnicki, CISO at Fitch Group, to explore her path from cybersecurity intern to a first-time CISO. Devin shares lessons learned, leadership insights, and strategies for building security programs that drive business outcomes.

This conversation highlights the evolution of the CISO role, the importance of communication in security leadership, and practical approaches for aligning security strategy with business goals. Whether you are a security leader or an aspiring CISO, Devin’s experience offers valuable takeaways for navigating the complexities of cybersecurity leadership.

 

About Our Guest:

Devin Rudnicki is the Chief Information Security Officer at Fitch Group, where she leads the company’s cybersecurity strategy and risk management programs. With a diverse background in GRC, application security, and identity management, Devin brings a unique perspective to her leadership role. She is passionate about mentorship and driving security initiatives that align with business outcomes.

Connect with Devin: LinkedIn

Key Takeaways:

  • Communication is 150% of the Job: Devin emphasizes that effective communication is critical for a CISO, especially when translating technical risks into business-relevant language for leadership.
  • The Importance of Self-Assessment: Reflecting on strengths, weaknesses, and values helps security leaders grow and succeed in executive roles.
  • The Power of Cross-Functional Collaboration: Building relationships with business units and forming security committees accelerates buy-in and program success.
  • Focus on Outcomes, Not Just Tools: A successful security strategy aligns with business outcomes and is communicated effectively to stakeholders.
  • 30-60-90 Day Plan for New CISOs: Devin outlines how to prioritize learning, stakeholder alignment, and strategy building in the first 90 days of a CISO role. 

Listen to this episode of CyberOXtales to gain practical strategies from Devin Rudnicki on building security programs, driving organizational alignment, and thriving as a first-time CISO.