Stephen Dake is an experienced leader in Information Security, Cybersecurity, Operations, Architecture, Engineering, Risk, and Compliance... 

I’m based in the upper Midwest, and my journey in tech started back in 1998 when I landed a job as a service engineer with IBM, working at Caterpillar’s headquarters in Illinois. Since then, I’ve worn a lot of hats—ethical hacker, security engineer, and eventually team leader in areas like Security Operations, IAM, and Privacy Governance.

I stepped into leadership in 2007 and have been driving security programs across a range of industries ever since. I’ve worked as a consultant, VP, executive director, and CISO, always focused on keeping security practical, effective, and aligned with real business needs.

I’ve also run several small, successful businesses over the years, which speaks to my entrepreneurial streak and love for building things from the ground up—whether it's a team, a program, or an actual product. I enjoy solving complex problems and bringing structure to chaos, especially in fast-moving environments.

Outside of work, I’m big on learning and creative projects. I love mentoring others, running my own business, and diving into art, music, playing guitar, and building and repairing vintage tube amps. I’m also into cooking, reading, and personal development, and I try to spend as much time outside as possible—especially when the Sun is shining.