Building a Secure Future: Unlocking the Power of Collective Action at Mastercard’s RiskX and Beyond 

Are we prepared for a world where cyberattacks are fully automated? Where AI agents can identify vulnerabilities, write malicious code, and adapt their tactics in real time? This isn’t a scene from a science fiction movie but rather questions to ask yourself this Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The cybercrime industry, projected to cost the global economy nearly $15.6 trillion by 2029, is not just growing – it’s evolving at an unprecedented pace. 

I recently had a front-row seat at Mastercard’s RiskX conference in Rome, where the world’s leading minds in cybersecurity, AI, and geopolitics gathered to confront this new frontier. The message was clear: the game has changed. Geopolitical turbulence is blurring the lines between state-sponsored attacks and criminal activity, AI is scaling the capabilities of threat actors exponentially, and a booming black market is democratizing access to powerful cybercrime tools. 

For leaders in cybersecurity, the challenge is no longer just about building higher walls; it’s about out-thinking, out-manoeuvring, and out-collaborating an adversary that has a distinct advantage. Here are the key insights from Rome that will define how we lead and secure our digital future. 

The New Geopolitical Chessboard and the Power of AI 

The conference kicked off with a stark reminder from AI expert Nina Schick: “AI is going beyond innovation, it’s about control.” She argued that global power in the 21st century is defined by AI dominance, drawing a parallel to ancient Rome, whose fall teaches us that even the greatest civilisations can crumble if their ideas are not backed by power. Today, that power is technology. 

This isn’t just about faster computers. AI models are scaling at a rate that dwarfs Moore’s Law, and the cost of inference – the application of AI – is in freefall. AI is becoming a utility, as fundamental as electricity, and the nations that control it will shape the future. Schick highlighted the intense AI race between the USA and China, emphasizing that leadership requires dominance over the full stack, from the industrial base and chip manufacturing to the AI models themselves. With dependencies like Taiwan producing 92% of advanced chips and China processing 90% of rare earth minerals, the geopolitical fault lines are clear. 

This global power struggle directly fuels the cybersecurity battleground. The same AI that promises a renaissance in medicine and education is also being weaponized. This sentiment was echoed in a fireside chat between Johan Gerber, Mastercard’s Global Head of Security Solutions, and General Paul M.Nakasone, a, former commander at US National Cyber Command and OpenAI board member. Nakasone confirmed our worst fears are materializing: fully automated cyberattacks are here. AI agents can now autonomously discover vulnerabilities, write malicious code, and adapt their methods to breach defences. 

So, how do we fight back? The four-star general was unequivocal: we must adapt, adopt, or be avoided. His advice for leaders was direct: 

• • Be Prepared to Be Attacked: Identify your critical chokepoints and train your leaders to respond with agility. 

• • Think Critically: In a crisis, the first step is to correctly define the problem. Misidentification leads you down the wrong path.  

• • Deter and Disrupt: We must be active every single day, increasing defences, taking down adversary infrastructure, and enabling law enforcement. 

The core message from both Schick and Nakasone was that isolation is a death sentence. Threats are too big and too complex for any single organisation or nation to handle alone. 

This set the stage for Mastercard’s Chief Services Officer, Craig Vosburg, who unveiled a bold vision for the future anchored by a strategy of Partnerships, Principles, and Platforms (the Three Ps). 

• • “Always-on” cybersecurity will replace static defences, shifting to dynamic, persistent authentication—like moving from a one-time X-ray to a continuous body scan. 

• • AI-fuelled security must become transparent and proactive to outpace criminals. With cybercrime already the world’s third-largest economy by GDP and on track to exceed almost $15.6 trillion by 2029, we have no other choice. 

• • Collaboration across borders and sectors is the only way to build a resilient and trusted digital economy. 

The “Three Ps” provide a framework for action. Partnerships are essential in a fragmented world. Principles like “security by design” and “privacy by design” must be our North Star, ensuring our approach is sound even when the future is unpredictable. Platforms are the technological arsenal we build, like Mastercard’s own evolution from fraud detection to sophisticated threat intelligence and identity management. 

The day concluded with a panel on digital trust, where the consensus was clear: data must flow. As Caroline Louveaux, Mastercard’s Chief Privacy and AI Officer, emphasised, we must engage with policymakers to explain that sharing data across industries isn’t a risk to be avoided but a necessity to stay ahead of criminals. Christopher Ahlberg, Co-founder of Recorded Future, underscored that AI is already being used to “hack humans” rather than systems—powering phishing, disinformation, and scams that exploit human behaviour. The bigger question, he suggested, is whether we move fast or slow with AI and what role regulation should play in managing its digital downsides. Adding to this, Rigo Van den Broeck, Mastercard’s EVP of Cybersecurity, noted that scammers are no longer just lone actors but increasingly nation-states and hacktivist groups collaborating and sharing intelligence. Our defence, the panel concluded, must be equally collaborative. 

Moving from Defence to Offense with Agentic AI 

If Day 1 was about understanding the scale of the threat, Day 2 was about architecting our response. Futurist Professor Brian David Johnson challenged us to look toward “Ubermorgen” – the day after tomorrow – and change the story of the future by rewarding bold ideas now. 

This forward-looking mindset is critical as we enter what Greg Ulrich, Mastercard’s Chief AI & Data Officer, called “the year of agents.” AI is evolving from simple chatbots to reasoning models that can use tools and collaborate on our behalf. This shift introduces new vulnerabilities – if an AI agent is making purchases for you, how do we verify its identity and intent? 

The criminals are already exploiting this. Laura Quevedo, Head of Fraud & Decisioning Solutions at Mastercard, moderated a panel that urged a move to the offensive. Scammers are relentlessly targeting people. While education is important, we must also deploy generative AI for defence at speed. “Be less risk-averse,” the panel urged. “Adopt faster. The criminals already are.”  Mastercard’s documentary series Anatomy of a Scam will explore this in detail.

This is where leadership becomes paramount. We can no longer afford to be paralysed by the hype or the fear surrounding AI. As Greg Ulrich noted, while many organisations are struggling to extract value from AI, some up to 95%,the potential for tangible payback is immense. Success requires data readiness, organizational buy-in, and a clear vision. 

A Call to Action for Every Leader: Lock Shields and Lead the Charge 

I was struck by a powerful sense of urgency and opportunity. The threats are immense, but our capacity for innovation and collaboration is greater. The insights from RiskX distil into a clear mandate for every cybersecurity leader.  

• • Embrace Radical Collaboration: Your strongest defence lies beyond your own walls. It’s people, so forge partnerships with industry peers, government agencies, and academia. As General Nakasone recounted, sharing unclassified intelligence with the private sector can create an “antidote” to threats at scale and speed. 

• • Lead with Technical Fluency: Leaders can no longer afford to be disconnected from the technology. You must understand the implications of AI, quantum computing, and agentic commerce to make informed decisions and steer your teams effectively. 

• • Go on the Offensive: Shift your mindset from reactive defence to proactive threat hunting and disruption. Use AI to find and patch your own vulnerabilities before adversaries do. As General Nakasone advised, ask yourself, “What are my breathtaking initiatives?” 

• • Champion Principles, Not Just Policies: Anchor your strategy in enduring principles like “security by design” and “privacy by design.” This ensures your organisation builds resilient, trustworthy systems, regardless of how technology evolves. 

• • Empower Your People: The ultimate choke point is talent. Invest in training, foster a culture of critical thinking, and empower your teams to innovate. The human element—our ingenuity and judgment—remains our most valuable asset. 

The battle for our digital future is being fought right now. As Johan Gerber urged, we must “lock the shields,” stand with small businesses—the backbone of our economies—and work together with industrial strength. We have the talent and the technology. The only question is whether we have the collective will to lead. It’s time to get out there and build a more secure future, together. 

Now I Want to Hear from You 

What do you believe is the most pressing challenge we face in building a secure digital future, and how can we work together to overcome it? What commitments are you willing to make this Cybersecurity Awareness Month? Share your thoughts and ideas with me on LinkedIn, in the comments! 

Finally, in the spirit of full disclosure, please be aware that this blog was written in partnership with Mastercard, for which I have received payment. Because your success is important to me, I only align myself with brands I believe in, and Mastercard is one of them. 

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Discover More About Mastercard’s Security Solutions 

At Mastercard, they’re committed to safeguarding their shared digital future with cutting-edge technology and a proactive approach to staying ahead of emerging threats. To learn more about how their innovative security solutions can empower your business and protect what matters most, visit Mastercard’s Security Solutions. Together, we can build a safer, more resilient digital world.