ISF Podcast4 Feb 2025

S32 Ep4: Sylvie de Giusto - The Power of Choice

In this episode, Steve sits down with author and leadership expert Sylvie di Giusto. Sylvie delineates five areas for everyone to consider in order to enhance their emotional intelligence. She and Steve also discuss how self-awareness and authenticity relate to situational awareness, and how improving in these areas can support career mobility.

Key Takeaways:

The subconscious takes up 95% of the brain – use that to your advantage to gain the trust of the people you interact with.
Situational awareness is more important than one-size-fits-all ideas of “always smiling” or “maintaining eye contact.
Your appearance, behavior, communication, digital footprint, and environment all matter for how people see you.

Tune in to hear more about:

How the meaning of emotional intelligence in business has changed over the years (01:48)
Sylvie di Giusto’s A.B.C.D.E. (Appearance, Behavior, Communication, Digital footprint, Environment) framework (07:50)
The four levels of visibility (20:05)

Standout Quotes:

“The subconscious mind of a human takes up 95% of your brain. And 95% of your brain is where emotions live, where feelings live, where your gut feelings live. And only 5% of our brain actually transmits data, facts, figures, information. That is where your contracts are, where your proposals are, where all the facts and figures are that you deliver to your clients. [...] So, I always say, why don't you use this to your advantage, that behavior, and actually use the 95% of the brain and instantly imprint that feeling of trust in them and use it to your advantage. And before they buy into your solution, into your technical solution, let them buy into you.” - Sylvie di Giusto
“You have to learn to read the moment, [...] and then adjust your behavior and make more intentional choices. I think one of the biggest challenges that we have nowadays, also driven by technology because we are constantly distracted by technology, is that we run on autopilot most of the day. Most of the day, we are so in our habits, in our patterns, that we do things, say things, that we are not even aware of, and they have a macro impact on our relationships. And we have to step back and sometimes turn that autopilot off, read the room, and be more intentional with the tools that we already have.” - Sylvie di Giusto
“I think that authenticity means that we all play a role, but different roles, and in those roles, we are true to ourselves. [...] And in all those roles, I promise you, I'm truly authentic. But if I would try to talk with my husband the way I talk with my clients, we wouldn't have made it to 23 years, I promise you. Or if I would treat my clients like I treat my children, or if I look at home like I would on stage, and vice versa. So, yes, we are all authentic in those roles, but I think we have to accept that you just do you, no matter the circumstances – which brings us back to situational awareness – I think it's a lie that this is possible.” - Sylvie di Giusto

Mentioned in this episode:

Dear InfoSec

Read the transcript of this episode
Subscribe to the ISF Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts
Connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter

From the Information Security Forum, the leading authority on cyber, information security, and risk management.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(353)

353: SUMMER LISTENING: Rest After Stress: The Psychology of High Performance

Today, Steve speaks with Lauren Farina, psychotherapist and founder of Invited Psychotherapy & Coaching. Lauren and Steve discuss how wellness is becoming a bigger part of the workplace and how we can...

18 Aug 26min

352: SUMMER LISTENING: Geoff White – Ransomware Is a Business and It's Competing Against You

In today’s episode, we welcome another ISF veteran: journalist Geoff White. The last time Geoff was a guest on the podcast, it was 2024 and he had just released a book about how the tech industry laun...

11 Aug 28min

351: SUMMER LISTENING: Steve Durbin – How Quantum and Geopolitics Are Redefining Resilience

Today, Steve returns to Business Matters with Juliette Foster. In this conversation, Steve recaps 2025 in cyber and shares what he sees as the biggest risks heading into 2026. The two also discuss res...

4 Aug 27min

350: SUMMER LISTENING: Alex Bovee – Identity in the Age of Agentic AI

In this episode, Steve speaks with Alex Bovee, co-founder and CEO of C1, a technology company focused on identity security online. Steve and Alex discuss why identity still often is an afterthought wh...

28 Juli 23min

349: Steve Durbin – When Governments Shift: Reimagining UK Cyber Strategy and Business Resilience

Today, Steve returns to Business Matters with Juliette Foster. The United Kingdom has a new Prime Minister: Andy Burnham, and Steve speaks with Juliette from a cyber and business perspective about wha...

21 Juli 29min

348: Geoff White – Ransomware Is a Business and It's Competing Against You

7 Juli 28min

347: Alex Bovee – Identity in the Age of Agentic AI

30 Juni 23min

346: James Wilkson - The Human Factor: Leadership, Risk and the AI Era

Today, Steve speaks with James Wilkson, managing partner at AEC Global Search Consultants, an executive search and advisory firm. James and Steve discuss why today’s leaders must be flexible and emoti...

23 Juni 21min