I had the opportunity to participate in the Wall Street Journal CIO Network Conference. Leading technology and information executives convened for this third annual meeting in San Diego, California on February 2-3, 2015. These leading CIOs and CTOs came together to discuss and debate key action items to spur better decision-making, greater technology, and innovation in corporations. I was invited to participate as a subject matter expert in the area of cybersecurity and was assigned to the breakout session on "The National Agenda". 

I find that working with CIOs and industry leaders provides a valuable perspective on hard problems and helps ground our research. I had some very interesting and informative discussions with CIOs from organizations ranging from a global consulting company to technologists from cybersecurity start-up companies.

Keynote speakers included:

• J. Craig Venter, Ph.D.
  Co-founder, Executive Chairman and CEO
  Human Longevity, Inc.

• John T. Chambers
  Chairman and CEO
  Cisco

• Maarten Sierhuis, Ph.D.
  Director, Nissan Research Center Silicon Valley
  Nissan North America

• Howard A. Schmidt, Ph.D.
  Co-Founder, Ridge-Schmidt Cyber, LLC
  Cybersecurity Coordinator and Special Assistant to President Obama (2009-2012)
  Cybersecurity Advisor to President Bush (2001-2003)