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Theresa Payton

First Female White House Chief Information Officer

AI Strategist | Business and Personal Security Expert | Privacy Visionary

Theresa Payton is a trailblazer in technology and cybersecurity, making history as the first female White House Chief Information Officer under President George W. Bush. Known as one of the nation’s top advisors on secured digital transformation, she works with Fortune 500 Boards, CEOs, and technology executives to safeguard critical assets and navigate complex digital challenges.

Theresa is a:

  • Banking Tech Visionary: With 16 years driving global tech breakthroughs at top banks, she’s reshaped the industry—ready to unveil how cutting-edge innovation can redefine financial services for the digital era.

 

  • White House Pioneer: As the first female CIO under President George W. Bush (2006-2008), she wired the West Wing with next-gen tech—now she’ll show how that bold vision can turbocharge banking’s future.

 

  • AI Innovation Dynamo: She’s lived AI from banking to the White House to now—decoding how it can revolutionize operations, personalize customer journeys, and sharpen risk strategies with a practical, forward-thinking edge.

 

  • Customer Experience Champion: Leading Fortalice Solutions, she advises U.S. and global banks on delighting clients—think seamless apps, smart tech, and trust-building solutions—delivering playbooks to win loyalty in a digital world.

 

  • Security Strategist: With decades outsmarting fraud rings and cybercrime syndicates, she turns vulnerabilities into strengths—offering savvy tactics to lock down data and stay ahead of risks, without missing the innovation beat.

 

  • Actionable & Inspiring: Your audience walks away with “use it now” AI, tech, and customer experience insights—straight from her global banking wins—blending big ideas with hands-on know-how.
  • AI and the Future of Us: Navigating the Promise and Perils of Artificial Intelligence
  • Secured Digital Transformation: Innovating Without Compromising Trust
  • From the White House to Your House: Leadership & Life Lessons

“Theresa was great! She brought the same presence we saw at FS-ISAC and did a terrific job of tailoring to our audience technical and non-technical associates.”
Raymond James Financial

“Wow Theresa! You make our job easy. Thank you so much for not only being an incredible professional with relevant and important information to share, but also for being a true joy to work with. Our survey results have started to come in and our audience LOVED you and took away actions they plan to implement in their businesses immediately. Your handout was an essential resource.”
AssetMark, Inc.  

“Theresa did a great job presenting for our group during our Annual Conference. Our bankers loved her session!”
Western Bankers Association 

Theresa Payton has delivered keynote speeches and provided consulting services to a diverse array of organizations across both the public and private sectors. Her engagements span:​

  • Government Agencies: Including her role as the first female White House Chief Information Officer, where she managed IT operations for the Executive Office of the President.  ​

  • Financial Institutions: Such as Bank of America and Wachovia, where she held executive positions prior to her tenure at the White House.

  • Private Sector Clients: Through her company, Fortalice Solutions, she has advised various organizations on cybersecurity, risk, and fraud prevention strategies.

Travels From:  North Carolina
City: Charlotte
$20,001 to $30,000

Biography

As a visionary in the digital world, who famously made history as the first female to serve as White House Chief Information Officer and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most respected authorities on cybersecurity, Theresa Payton is a highly sought-after keynote speaker. She captivates audiences by drawing from her experience as a veteran cybercrime fighter and entrepreneur, masterfully blending memorable anecdotes with cutting-edge insights. 

A celebrated, patented inventor of new security designs, Payton identifies emerging trends and techniques to help businesses – and audiences –  combat cyber threats, from the impact of the Internet of Things to securing Big Data. She’s the cybersecurity expert organizations in both the public and private sectors turn to protect their most valuable resources, improve their IT systems and strategies and to discreetly guide them through data breaches.

Managing cybersecurity risk is what Payton knows and does best. Before overseeing IT operations as CIO for President George W. Bush and his administration, she held executive roles in banking technology for two of the country’s top financial institutions. After serving in the White House, she went on to co-found Dark3, a cybersecurity product company, and Fortalice Solutions, a world-class cybersecurity consulting firm ranked a “Top 5 Most Innovative Cybersecurity Company” in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC.  

Because of her ability to explain complex security issues and help non-tech-savvy people understand how to protect their privacy, Payton has been a frequent guest on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox Business, and Fox News and has been featured on CBS News, CNN, NBC News, and MSNBC, as well as Canadian and Irish news outlets. She also starred on the reality TV series “Hunted”, where highly trained investigators (including Payton) “hunted” to catch people attempting to hide throughout the world.

She is the author of multiple industry-leading books on IT strategy and cyber security, including “Manipulated: Inside the Cyberwar to Hijack Elections and Distort the Truth,” which The Guardian included on their list of the “Top 10 Books About Cybercrime.”

Presentations

Few technological developments of the last century have fueled as much curiosity, misinformation and fear as AI. In this highly-engaging, jargon-free presentation, Theresa unpacks AI’s transformative power while exposing its looming risks, then demonstrates how our businesses, security and individual daily lives are being impacted by them. With anonymized stories from law enforcement’s front lines and stunning live demonstrations that reveal the tradecraft of modern cybercriminals, Theresa will equip you with practical actions to harness AI’s vast potential while protecting yourself, your clients and your organization. 

Balancing innovation and security in a rapidly evolving digital world requires know-how, sensitivity and constant vigilance. From streamlining operations to enhancing customer experiences, Theresa shares strategies for driving transformation while safeguarding your organization’s critical assets. With compelling case studies and easily-understood, actionable takeaways, Theresa will show you how to future-proof your organization and lead confidently in the age of relentless cyber threats. 

Theresa shares her amazing journey of resilience and determination as a business professional, wife and mom of three that led her to the most visible position in the tech world, White House CIO. And that’s before she became a CEO, one of the world’s leading media voices on technology and cybersecurity and star of the hit CBS TV series, “Hunted.”  Drawing from her experiences leading in high-stakes environments, she reveals how family and purpose have been her guiding lights in balancing home life, career, and service. Theresa’s uplifting message will inspire you to lead boldly, embrace challenges with grace, and thrive in every role you’re called to fulfill.

Areas of expertise

  • AI
  • Cybersecurity
  • Digital Transformation

Related Speaking Topics

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