ISACA Conference Keynoters Deliver Calls to Action

ISACA Conference North America 2021 united business IT professionals in many roles and disciplines. One commonality in attendees’ careers is the desire to bring more passion, leadership and bravery to both their work and personal lives. The conference’s three keynote presenters brought their compelling personal stories to life for attendees, inspiring new ideas to embrace change and growth.

Sebastian Terry, author, TV host and founder of the philanthropic movement 100 Things, shared that he decided to fix his unhappy life by distilling his values and goals into a list of 100 things to do before he died – from silly (crash a red carpet at Cannes) to surreal (marry a stranger in Vegas), he worked through his checklist. What he eventually discovered was that he redefined what was important in life by the impact that he could have on others. “Passion inspires passion,” he shared in his opening keynote. He found his most meaningful checkmarks to his list came when he was connecting, and being of service, to others. He encouraged attendees to always check in with their lists, as values change. “Action is key,” he said. “Creating a list is crucial, but without action it’s nothing.”

Astronaut Leroy Chiao, PhD, shared the lessons he learned as a highly trained pilot and leader in his aerospace and business careers. “Don’t forget to fly the airplane,” he said, reminding leaders not to be distracted by issues that aren’t as critical as managing your work. “Work what kills you first, and reprioritize as importance shifts.” Sharing photos and stories from the International Space Station and from his more than 229 days in space over his 15-year NASA career, he said that operational leadership means relying on your instincts and training to get you through a hard situation. “Stay calm and work the problem,” he said. “You’re always going to be surprised. No one prepares more than NASA, and I have been in situations that I had to rely on my training and operational leadership to get through.”

Closing keynote speaker Michelle Poler is known for her Hello Fears philanthropic movement. She underwent a 100-day personal challenge where she did one thing each day that scared her: skydiving, holding a tarantula, public speaking, and other nail-biting scenarios. She recorded her adventures and gained an online following as she learned more about herself and uncovered her bravery. “Fear is an opportunity,” she told ISACA Con attendees, “it leads us to uncover our next big thing.” She noted that there is a difference between fearless and brave: that overcoming challenges builds bravery, which makes you stronger than if you didn’t have fears to face. Even strong leaders can show their vulnerabilities and authenticity to inspire others. “It’s OK to embrace your fears and show your team you’re brave enough to overcome them.”