CSO Executive Sessions ASEAN: The Human Firewall-Retention, AI Readiness, and Women in Cybersecurity
Overview
In this first CSO Executive Session ASEAN of 2026, I sat down with Mandy Andress, CISO of Elastic, about the realities facing cybersecurity leaders today, which include analyst burnout, persistent skills gaps and the pressure to adopt AI responsibly under tight budgets.
Mandy shared how cyber resilience is less about chasing every new threat and more about building a strong security core that can adapt as conditions change. She explained how SOC burnout is often driven by repetitive work and disengagement, and how AI-enabled workflows, behavioural analytics, and automation can shift analysts toward higher-value, critical-thinking roles. This philosophy underpins a “SOC-less monitoring” model that removes rigid tiering in favour of context-rich and automated triage.
Beyond technology, our discussion focused on people - we discussed how redesigning entry-level roles, creating generalist pathways, and investing in mentorship and rotational programs can build sustainable talent pipelines. Mandy addressed my question about gender diversity gaps in technical leadership, stressing that progress requires deliberate action, accountability, and cultural change.
The takeaway for CISOs is clear, resilience comes from aligning security with business outcomes, empowering people, and focusing on fundamentals, even as AI and threats continue to evolve.
Hosts
Editorial Director CIO and CSO ASEANFoundryAs Editorial Director, CIO and CSO ASEAN, Estelle covers the business-IT leadership and C-suites of 10 diverse and unique markets. Estelle addresses the top dilemmas faced by these leaders including digital transformation, adoption of innovative technology, alignment of IT with business strategies, data privacy and sovereignty, attaining optimal outcomes from technology investments, talent scarcity etc. Estelle’s coverage draws on her deep expertise in digital transformation, business model innovation, technology analysis-offering CIO and CSO subscribers a front-row view into how ASEAN organizations are navigating the evolving technology landscape. She brings a critical lens to the intersection of cloud, AI, Generative AI, automation, cybersecurity and risk management. Estelle unpacks the real-world impact of emerging technologies on business agility, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage-translating complex trends into actionable insights for the region’s technology leadership and communities. She is a trusted advisor, speaker and moderator to technology buyer and vendor organizations in this region.
