Shark Biologist turned IT and Information Security Executive

Mano Paul

Curriculum Vitae
Sharks, Security, and more…

Mano Paul is an shark biologist turned accomplished information security and technology professional with over 24 years of transformative leadership experience. Mano started his career as a Shark Research Biologist, in the Bahamas, and has held several high-profile roles, including CEO/IT Management and Cyber Consultant at PRISMAGuard LLC, CTO at Driven Brands, and Technical Fellow and Information Security Strategist at General Motors.

At PRISMAGuard, he provides strategic IT and cybersecurity advisory services, focusing on AI strategy and cybersecurity. As CTO at Driven Brands, he was instrumental in developing the company’s technology strategy, and led the IT Enterprise Architecture, Digital Transformation, M&A, and Service Desk, saving the company costs through infrastructure consolidation and reducing IT project readiness from months to days. At GM, he served as a Technical Fellow in the Enterprise Cybersecurity team and developed a cybersecurity strategy and framework for Autonomous Vehicles (working with Cruise), Blockchain applications,  and connected technologies, enhancing the company’s security posture and compliance with industry standards.

Earlier in his career, Mano founded SecuRisk Solutions, a successful security consulting and product development firm, and managed global security programs at Dell, Inc. His innovative contributions include developing the ISC2 Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP) certification and authoring several cybersecurity books and white papers.

He holds an Executive MBA from the University of Texas (McCombs School of Business, a Master of Biblical and Theological Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, a BBA in Management Information Systems from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Chennai.

Mano is a recognized industry leader, having received the Information Security Leadership Awards (ISLA) in 2011. He is also a keynote speaker and trainer at various international conferences and co-founder of the non-profit organization CyberShaolin, which educates and empowers individuals with cybersecurity knowledge. Mano enjoys martial arts, spending time with his family, traveling, and serving in a pastoral capacity at his local church.

Testimonials

“Mano’s balance of deep technical expertise and humor enriched the learning experience. Whether you are a CISSP looking for a foundational class in securing AI or a leader seeking help to secure AI systems, I highly recommend engaging Mano Paul.”

Karen Higgins-Carter
Chief Information Officer& Digital Officer, Gilbane

“Mano’s teaching on extending security principles into this misunderstood AI environment was very insightful. I learned how we should embrace its potential while commanding a seat at the table when it comes time to build the business use cases. Shift the AI conversation left, and you’ll find success!”

Patrick Henderson, 
AVP of Information Security, PRA Group

“Mano was AWESOME! Very knowledgeable & personable. Developing the course on a developing capability and covering it well is very tough — Mano was remarkable and well-read, well-researched, and well-versed on AI and cybersecurity.”

Gaurav Kapil
Divisional CISO, CapitalOne

“Mano’s presentation of the AI strategy and cybersecurity material and detailed knowledge of the subject matter made the learning experience enjoyable and engaging.”

Chris Lawrence
Enterprise Architect, AWS

“Mano is a great, energetic, and engaging speaker. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and he did a great job of relating to the AI and cybersecurity material in an engaging and relevant way.”

Samuel Athanassov
Service Desk Supervisor, Mississippi Army National Guard

CEO

PRISMAGuard, LLC

November 2023 – Present

At PRISMAGuard LLC, I provide strategic IT and cybersecurity advisory services as a fractional CTO/CISO. Focused also on developing AI cybersecurity content and workshops / educational programs to enhance security in AI technologies for senior management teams and the operational staff – from the Boardroom to the builder – delivering them globally.

CTO

Driven Brands, Inc.

July 2022 – October 2023

As the Chief Technology Officer for Driven Brands, I had executive management and fiscal responsibilities for the Information Technology office. Managed teams and the technology budget and was responsible for Technology Strategy and Innovation, Infrastructure & Cloud, Enterprise Architecture & Applications, IT Merger & Acquisitions (M&A), IT Service desk and Operations.

Technical Fellow, Cybersecurity Strategist

General Motors

Feb 2016 – July 2022

Mano worked for General Motors as Technical Fellow and Lead Information Security Strategist, where he was responsible for overseeing security strategy, programs, and projects to protect information and digital assets, manage autonomous vehicles cybersecurity, Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), application and DevOps security, data protection and privacy, and security innovation.

CEO

SecuRisk Solutions

July 2007 – Feb 2016

Founded and led a profitable security consulting and product development company. He managed business development, client engagements, and strategic partnerships, overseeing the delivery of comprehensive security assessments, compliance strategies, and industry-certified training programs, establishing a strong market presence and client base.

Global Security Program Manager

Dell, Inc.

Jan 2001 – July 2007

Held various roles including software developer, global security program manager, and IT strategist. Centralized software security practices, developed risk management templates, and collaborated with teams to implement security processes, enhancing Dell’s security posture and compliance readiness.

Shark Biologist

Bimini Biological Field Station (Bahamas)

1997 – 1998

Conducted  research on Lemon Shark homing behavior and DNA profiling, significantly contributing to the understanding of their breeding patterns and habitat preferences.