Bestselling Author | International
Keynote | CEO: Cyber Leadership Institute
Inspire your team to shatter self imposed mental limitations
Bestselling Author | International
Keynote | CEO: Cyber Leadership Institute
The Gift of Obstacles: A Journey of Grit, Grace & Gratitude
Zongo got his first pair of shoes at 12 and moved out to rent at 14. The dilapidated structure had no electricity, no running water, no windows, and had a makeshift unlockable door. Two of the township's toughest prostitutes occupied the two adjoining rooms. Most Friday nights, he ran back home, 23 kilometers away, and ran back to school on Monday mornings.
In 1994, on the cusp of dropping out of school because he could not afford the fees, a benevolent German took a bet on him. She gave him one of life’s greatest gifts – a chance to pursue his boundless potential. Despite countless obstacles, Zongo never entertained self-pity. He topped his class and became the first to graduate from university in his family.
Zongo migrated to Australia in 2007, armed with $300 and boundless ambition. But the deep-rooted belief that his odds of succeeding here, as a young African man, were wafer-thin – proved all too crushing. In 2011, he resigned from his role, terminated his lease, and sold everything. He flew back to Zimbabwe with no intentions of coming back to Australia.
But a strange twist of fate forced Zongo to return to Australia in 2012. A mindset revamp ignited a whirlwind run of success. He published a bestselling book, won multiple global awards, co-founded the Cyber Leadership Institute, and keynoted events alongside the former Head of FBI cyber-crime division.
This poignant, hilarious & impeccably written memoir - spanning Savannah grasslands, Harare ghettos, Australia and beyond - proves the remarkable power of grit to defeat poverty and despair.
Ignite Your Conference / Event Through Extraordinary Stories
Phil is a voice in-demand on pressing global issues and has keynoted several high-profile events. He unleashes powerful story telling strategies to inspire delegates to act beyond their mental perceived limitations, boost cyber resilience and accelerate careers to the top. Here are some events he has covered in the past:
- Delivered global keynote addresses at the 2022 ITWeb conferences in Johannesburg and Capetown (South Africa).
- Facilitated dozens of cyber crisis simulations with executive / boards of reputable organisations.
- Hired by global cyber security firms to deliver cyber strategy, influencing and leadership masterclasses to their CISO clients.
- Given interviews with journalists from NZ Business Herald, IT Wire & CSO Online.
- Presented at the 2023 AISA cyber security conference, the largest cyber security conference in the southern hemisphere.
- Featured in the 2019 Australian Cloudsec Conference CISO Keynote Panel – one of the leading cyber and cloud security event in Asia Pacific.
- Keynoted multiple executive events alongside the former head of the FBI Cyber Crime Division.
- Distinguished speaker at several other international events, including the ISACA International CACS Melbourne 2018 conference, Australian Financial Crime summit, Clariden Global Sydney conference.
- Hired by several organisations to inspire their teams through lived experiences.
Other SeRVICES
Executive / Board Level Cyber Security Training
Executive / Board Level Cyber Security Training
Executive / Board Level Cyber Security Training
I have facilitated dozens of highly engaging training sessions to help senior executives tie cyber risk to their business value chains and confidently engage in cyber strategy formulation and oversight.
Executive Level Cyber Crisis Simulations
Executive / Board Level Cyber Security Training
Executive / Board Level Cyber Security Training
I have facilitated dozens of highly contextualised, engaging and sharp cyber crisis simulations with executives and boards - sharpening their key decision making during major crisis and boosting muscle memory.
Cyber Strategy Consulting
Executive / Board Level Cyber Security Training
Cyber Strategy Consulting
Through our highly successful VCISO offering, we help companies across any vertical quickly uncover their most significant risks and execute high-impact strategies to accelerate cyber transformation. Please visit our Cyber Resilience website for more.
Awards and Recognitions
Zongo has received numerous accolades for exemplary Leadership. Here are some of them:
- Named one of the 2023 Top 7 Global Cyber Leaders by the Security Magazine and ISACA for driving change and innovation.
- Official member of Forbes Business Council, an Invitation-Only Global Community for Successful Business Owners and Leaders.
- Author of The Five Anchors of Cyber Resilience, named top five best cyber security books at the 2021 UK National Book Awards
- Author of The Gift of Adversity, a poignant, hilarious and impeccably written memoir that proves the remarkable power of education and grit to defeat poverty and despair.
- 2017 winner of ISACA International’s Best Article Award, which recognizes major contributions to publications in cybersecurity and IT governance.
- 2020 Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD - New York). MIPAD identifies high achievers of African descent globally in support of the International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly.
- 2019 Semifinalist - The Wharton Executive Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program Business Plan Competition.
JOIN 5000+ GLOBAL Leaders at the cyber leadership institute
Five years ago i joined up with two other distinguished cyber leaders to cofound the Cyber Leadership Institute. Boost your cyber security career with our highly acclaimed courses, coaching, and mentorship. Our programs are tailored to help you climb the career ladder and increase your earning potential.
FEATURED Forbes ARTICLES
10 Strategies Chief Information Security Officers Can Use To Improve Board Cyber Risk Reports
10 Strategies Chief Information Security Officers Can Use To Improve Board Cyber Risk Reports
10 Strategies Chief Information Security Officers Can Use To Improve Board Cyber Risk Reports
Three Common Ways Cybersecurity Teams Waste Money—And What To Do Instead
10 Strategies Chief Information Security Officers Can Use To Improve Board Cyber Risk Reports
10 Strategies Chief Information Security Officers Can Use To Improve Board Cyber Risk Reports
Three Key Considerations For Executives To Embrace Generative AI
10 Strategies Chief Information Security Officers Can Use To Improve Board Cyber Risk Reports
Three Key Considerations For Executives To Embrace Generative AI