Andrzej Cetnarski is an award-winning cyber governance, national security, and corporate strategist, named CEO of the Year by CEO Monthly Magazine. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Cyber Nation Central®, a global cybersecurity protocol and advisory firm for Boards and C-Suites, and Chairman of the CNCDO™ Network. A former U.S. Congressional staffer, Forbes Contributor, and Wall Street banker with over $7B in closed deals, he also serves on the Cyber Defense Advisory Council and the Global Tech Security Commission. Andrzej holds degrees from Harvard, Wharton, Penn, and the University of Chicago, and is the author of The CEO & Board Chair Cyber Manuscript, advancing executive-level cyber readiness worldwide.

In this episode, Steve and Andrzej discuss:

• How resilience and mindset shaped Andrzej’s path from immigrant to cybersecurity leader
• Why cybersecurity is more about culture and behavior than technology
• The fiduciary responsibility of boards and executives across physical, digital, and cyber domains
• The $5.8 trillion gap between cybercrime and security solutions and its impact on business
• Strategies for maintaining optimism and leadership in a high-stakes security world

Key Takeaways:

• Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT problem—it’s rooted in culture, behavior, and leadership. True protection begins when executives set the tone and drive a company-wide mindset of security.
• Boards and executives may not realize it, but they already hold fiduciary responsibility for cyber readiness. Ignoring this duty exposes both their organizations and their personal legacies to unnecessary risk.
• With cybercrime revenues projected to soar past defenses, companies cannot afford to be passive. Proactive deterrence and resilience must be treated as strategic priorities for survival.
• Thriving in today’s volatile world requires more than technical skill. Entrepreneurs and leaders need resilience, disciplined routines, and strong mindsets to lead effectively under constant pressure.
• The future of cybersecurity lies in sovereignty—whether for individuals, businesses, or entire nations. Achieving this digital self-defense is the only path to lasting protection in an interconnected world.

“Whether you're an investor, a board director, an entrepreneur, or simply an executive, in a venture or in a corporation, you have a fiduciary responsibility now already existing over three organizations, the physical, digital, and the cyber secure.” - Andrzej Cetnarski

Connect with Andrzej Cetnarski:

Website: https://cybernationcentral.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrzejcetnarski/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACetnarski

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Steve and Jason:

LinkedIn: Jason or Steve

Website: Rewire, Inc.: Transformed Thinking

Email: [email protected]

Show notes by: Angelo Paul Tagama

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.