Your North Star: Fluff or the Secret to Cybersecurity Success?

In cybersecurity, comfort is a dangerous place. Threats evolve daily, competition moves at light speed, and innovation is the name of the game. CEOs are relentlessly pressured to align teams, inspire action, and achieve meaningful outcomes. That’s where the North Star comes in—not as a buzzword or lofty ideal but as a guiding principle that can drive real change.

Five successful cybersecurity leaders share how they’ve used their North Star to stay ahead in one of the most dynamic industries.

The Vision that Pushes Boundaries

Eli Wachs, CEO of Footprint, doesn’t settle for maintaining the status quo. For him, the North Star is about pushing boundaries, setting ambitious goals, and staying a step ahead of the market.

“What are we not doing that we could? What does being more successful look like?”

These questions push his teams to think beyond immediate wins and focus on what’s possible. Under Wachs’ leadership, the North Star becomes a catalyst for innovation, helping Footprint tackle the threats of tomorrow while delivering solutions today.

Human-Centered Cybersecurity

Sherri Davidoff, Founder & Chief Innovator of LMG Security, believes the North Star should do more than guide—it should connect. Her vision is deeply rooted in making cybersecurity accessible to everyone and bridging the technical with the human.

“I often think of myself as an organizational therapist.”

By addressing organizational alignment alongside technical challenges, Davidoff ensures her North Star resonates with both clients and employees. This approach builds trust and creates stronger, more cohesive teams that are better equipped to handle the unpredictable nature of cybersecurity.

Operationalizing the Vision

Matt Farry, SciFlare’s Chief Product Officer, sees the North Star not as a distant ideal but as a tool for action. He focuses on weaving it into the fabric of daily operations so that every team member is aligned.

“The outcome you’re trying to accomplish should be seen as the North Star amongst all of those people… allowing them to execute in their lanes to the best of their possible ability.”

Farry’s leadership shows that a strong North Star isn’t static—it evolves as the company grows, ensuring relevance and clarity. By embedding this guiding principle into operations, SciFlare’s teams work with purpose, delivering measurable results even in the face of rapid change.

Navigating Change with Confidence

Jorge Myszne, Chief Product Officer of Niobia Microsystems, knows that rigid strategies rarely survive the dynamic world of cybersecurity. For him, the North Star is about adaptability.

“Reality is always better, more powerful than any strategy.”

Myszne’s leadership emphasizes the importance of adjusting plans while staying true to the overarching vision. This flexibility allows his teams to stay focused, even when the path to success takes unexpected turns.

Creating Buy-In and Building Momentum

Christian Hyatt, founder of Risk360, understands that a North Star only works if it’s shared. His approach is to pair the vision with a clear roadmap that ensures alignment across the organization.

“What’s the journey to that future state? What’s the four-step process to get there?”

Hyatt turns his North Star into a unifying force by fostering collaboration and engaging diverse perspectives. Teams aren’t just aligned—they’re inspired, driving results that reflect a collective commitment to the vision.

Sneer Rozenfeld, CEO of Cyber 2.0, takes this even further, ensuring his teams feel deeply connected to their purpose. Celebrating achievements, involving employees’ families, and fostering community create a sense of pride and ownership that keeps the North Star alive.

Why It Matters

In cybersecurity, where the stakes are high and the pace is unrelenting, the North Star provides much-needed clarity and focus. It challenges teams to think bigger, act bolder, and stay resilient despite uncertainty.

As Eli Wachs aptly put it:

“Startups should feel uncomfortable. You should say, ‘Oh my, we have to hit this goal.’”

That discomfort, coupled with purpose-driven leadership, drives innovation, strengthens teams, and delivers outcomes that shape the future of cybersecurity.

What’s Your North Star?

If you’re a cybersecurity leader, the question isn’t whether you need a North Star—it’s whether yours is working as hard as you are.

• Does it align with your teams and strategies?
• Is it actionable and evolving with your organization?
• Most importantly, is it driving real-world results?

The leaders profiled here prove that the North Star isn’t just a concept; it’s a business driver. With the right focus, it can transform challenges into opportunities and position your organization as a true leader in the field.

Now’s the time to ask yourself: What’s guiding your next move?