Alias Expert Interviews

Roland Cloutier has spent nearly four decades working across military service, federal law enforcement, cybersecurity, and global corporate security.After beginning his career in the U.S. Air Force, Roland moved into federal law enforcement and eventually cybersecurity before serving as Chief Security Officer for organizations including EMC, ADP, TikTok, and ByteDance.Today, he advises organizations and security leaders through the Business Protection Group and is the author of Becoming a Global Chief Security Executive Officer.In Episode 11 of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins speaks with Roland about the evolution of corporate security and what it takes to become a trusted partner to the business.They discuss:• Transitioning from military and law enforcement into the corporate world• Investigating cyber threats and intellectual property theft early in his career• Bringing physical and cybersecurity together• Why modern security leaders need to understand the business• Demonstrating the value of security to executives and boards• Helping the business pursue opportunities rather than simply saying "no"• Managing the pressure of global security leadership• Why CISO tenure can be so short• Navigating geopolitical and internal security challenges• How AI is already changing security operations• The future of cyber and physical security• Developing the next generation of security leadersThroughout the conversation, Roland shares lessons from decades spent building and leading security organizations in rapidly changing environments.It's a conversation about trust, leadership, technology, and why the strongest security functions don't just protect the business. They help it move forward.

Ben Ostapuk's career has taken him from patent litigation at leading law firms to senior leadership at Intel and, today, the Chief Legal Officer role at Pegasystems.After more than a decade in Big Law, Ben joined Intel's in-house litigation team and spent the next 15 years developing into what he describes as "a business executive who happens to have a legal background."In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins speaks with Ben about that evolution and what modern corporate legal leadership requires.They discuss:• Moving from Big Law to an in-house legal team• How the CLO role has evolved beyond traditional legal advice• What boards and executives expect from senior legal leaders• Why great legal teams work shoulder to shoulder with the business• Managing risk without trying to eliminate it• Building long-term relationships with outside counsel• Leading global litigation across multiple jurisdictions• Responding to a $2 billion trial loss at Intel• Navigating disruption across semiconductors, software, and AI• Why preventing bad outcomes makes legal value difficult to demonstrate• Establishing an organization's risk tolerance• The importance of judgment, trust, and international experience• Why human expertise remains critical as AI changes legal workThroughout the conversation, Ben explains how each stage of his career required learning a different way to operate and why the skills that make someone an excellent lawyer are only part of what eventually makes someone an effective Chief Legal Officer.It's a conversation about judgment, adaptability, relationships, risk, and learning how to lead when the answers aren't black and white.

Andy Tosh has spent 40 years working in security across the military, public, and private sectors.After beginning his career in the British Army, Andy went on to work with the United Nations and on assignments connected to the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. His career has taken him into complex environments across Nigeria, Libya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond.Today, he serves as Vice President of Enterprise Security at Baker Hughes.In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins speaks with Andy about the evolution of corporate security, the transition from military to corporate environments, and what it takes to lead a global security function.They discuss:• Andy's path from the British Army to Baker Hughes• Lessons from working in high-risk environments around the world• Why soft skills became essential to his development as a security leader• Moving beyond the traditional "gates and guards" perception of corporate security• Building an intelligence-led, risk-based security function• Why military and law enforcement experience are no longer prerequisites for security careers• Using data to demonstrate the value of corporate security• Understanding the business before trying to manage its risks• The growing importance of geopolitical and physical risk• How AI and technology could change corporate security• Why human judgment remains essential• Building diverse teams and developing future security leadersThroughout the conversation, Andy reflects on four decades in security and how the profession has evolved from a primarily protective function into one increasingly focused on intelligence, risk, business continuity, and enabling organizations to operate safely around the world.It's a conversation about leadership, adaptability, judgment, and what modern corporate security can bring to the business.

Elisa Garcia's career has taken her from international energy policy to the highest levels of corporate legal leadership.Over more than three decades, Elisa served as the first General Counsel of Domino's Pizza, helped prepare the company for its IPO, and later held senior legal leadership roles at Office Depot and Macy's. Her career has included M&A, SEC investigations, shareholder activism, corporate governance, regulatory matters, and advising executives and boards through periods of significant change.In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins sits down with Elisa to discuss what it means to move beyond being the lawyer in the room and become a true business partner.They discuss:• Becoming Domino's first General Counsel• Learning how the business actually makes money• Preparing Domino's for its IPO• Why legal teams shouldn't become the "department of no"• The evolution from General Counsel to Chief Legal Officer• Advising CEOs, boards, and shareholders• Navigating SEC investigations, M&A, and activist investors• Measuring and communicating the value of a legal department• Why listening remains one of the most important leadership skills• Building relationships across the C-suite• The role of luck, risk tolerance, and support systems in building a career• How AI could reshape corporate legal departmentsThroughout the conversation, Elisa shares lessons from decades spent helping major organizations navigate complex decisions while keeping the legal function connected to the business.Her philosophy is simple: understand what the business is trying to accomplish, understand how it makes money, and help find a responsible path forward.

Dan Murphy's career has taken him from the streets of New York City to leading corporate security for some of America's largest organizations.After beginning his career with the NYPD, Dan worked across narcotics, fugitive investigations, organized crime, kidnappings, gangs, technical surveillance, and counterterrorism. He later brought that experience into the private sector, eventually serving as Chief Security Officer at U.S. Bank and holding senior security and investigations roles with organizations including Albertsons, Supervalu, Optum, and UnitedHealth Group.In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, host Michael Collins sits down with Dan to discuss the lessons behind that transition and how the role of corporate security has evolved.They discuss:• The mindset shift from law enforcement to corporate security• Why security leaders need to understand the business they're protecting• Managing threats without letting emotion drive decisions• Recovering millions of dollars following a major fraud incident• Why proactive intelligence matters when nothing appears to be wrong• The changing executive protection environment• Building trust with executives and their families• How security leaders can demonstrate value before an incident occursDan also shares stories from undercover work in Hong Kong, his experience following 9/11, and decades spent investigating and managing high-stakes situations.It's a conversation about judgment, leadership, intelligence, and what it means to protect an organization when the risks are constantly changing.

What makes intellectual property a competitive advantage instead of simply a legal exercise?Trevor Copeland has spent more than twenty years helping startups, inventors, and global organizations protect innovation through patents and intellectual property strategy.In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, Trevor explains why IP should be viewed as a business decision, how investors use patent activity as market intelligence, why many companies misunderstand patent protection, and how artificial intelligence is changing legal practice.We discuss:• When patent protection makes business sense• Why patents exist to encourage innovation• Common misconceptions surrounding intellectual property• How venture capital firms monitor emerging technologies• Global patent strategy and enforcement• AI's impact on intellectual property law• Real stories from inventors who successfully commercialized their ideasWhether you're building a startup, evaluating investments, or leading innovation inside an established company, this conversation offers practical insights into protecting and maximizing the value of intellectual property

What makes a great corporate security leader?After decades leading security organizations at Raytheon, Iron Mountain, Novartis, and Hologic, Dick Parry has seen the role of corporate security evolve far beyond gates and guards to encompass compliance and more.In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, Dick shares lessons from a career spent protecting global organizations, managing high-stakes investigations, responding to international crises, and helping businesses make informed decisions in uncertain environments.We discuss:Why security should enable business, not prevent itThe evolution of corporate security into a strategic business functionLeading through crises and managing organizational riskBuilding trust across legal, HR, IT, and executive leadershipWhy relationships matter more than technologyLessons from fraud investigations and counterfeit product casesThe mindset required to lead under pressureWhether you're a security professional, executive, investor, or business leader, this conversation offers practical insights into leadership, risk management, and building organizations that can confidently navigate uncertainty.

What separates great legal leaders from great business leaders?In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, Michael Collins sits down with Matt Fawcett, Chief Legal Officer at DXC Technology and former General Counsel at NetApp and JDSU.Matt shares lessons from leading legal organizations at publicly traded companies, advising boards and CEOs, building high-performing teams, balancing risk with business growth, and preparing organizations for the future. The conversation explores executive leadership, corporate strategy, succession planning, company culture, measuring the performance of legal departments, and how AI is transforming the modern legal function.Whether you're an executive, legal professional, entrepreneur, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights into leadership, judgment, and decision-making at the highest levels of business.About Alias Expert InterviewsAlias Expert Interviews features conversations with leaders who have shaped industries, guided organizations through complex challenges, and made high-stakes decisions throughout their careers.Hosted by Michael Collins, the series explores the experiences, insights, and lessons learned from executives, investors, legal professionals, security leaders, and subject matter experts across a range of industries.Learn more about Alias Intelligence:https://www.aliasintelligence.com

What does it take to lead security for one of the world's largest and most complex organizations?In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, Michael Collins sits down with Dave Komendat, former Vice President and Chief Security Officer at Boeing, to discuss a career spent leading global security operations, navigating crisis, and helping organizations manage risk at scale.Dave shares lessons from decades of executive leadership, including how security leaders build trust across an organization, communicate value to the C-suite, prepare for emerging threats, and develop high-performing teams. The conversation also explores the evolution of corporate security, the growing convergence of physical and digital security, the impact of AI, and why people remain an organization's greatest asset.Whether you're an executive, security professional, investor, or business leader, this conversation offers practical insight into leadership, enterprise risk, and decision-making in today's increasingly complex environment.Topics discussed include Dave's journey to becoming Boeing's Chief Security Officer, leading security during global crises, measuring the business value of security investments, communicating risk to executive leadership, the future of corporate security, AI's impact on enterprise security, leadership development, and lessons learned from protecting one of the world's largest organizations.About Alias Expert InterviewsAlias Expert Interviews features conversations with leaders who have shaped industries, guided organizations through complex challenges, and made high-stakes decisions throughout their careers.Hosted by Michael Collins, the series explores the experiences, insights, and lessons learned from executives, investors, legal professionals, security leaders, and subject matter experts across a range of industries.Learn more about Alias Intelligence: https://www.aliasintelligence.com

What does it take to protect some of the world's most influential technology companies?In this episode of Alias Expert Interviews, Michael Collins sits down with Joe Sullivan, former security leader at Facebook, Uber, Cloudflare, eBay, and PayPal, to discuss a career spent navigating cyber threats, executive protection, and enterprise risk at global scale.Joe reflects on his journey from the U.S. Department of Justice to Silicon Valley, where he became one of the leading voices in cybersecurity and corporate security. The conversation explores the convergence of physical and digital security, how organizations evaluate and manage risk, the evolving role of AI in security operations, and why today's security leaders must think beyond technology alone.From protecting high-profile executives to building security organizations at some of the fastest-growing technology companies in the world, Joe shares practical lessons on leadership, decision-making, and preparing for risks before they become crises.The discussion covers Joe's career from the Department of Justice to Silicon Valley, leading security at Facebook, Uber, Cloudflare, eBay, and PayPal, executive protection and high-profile risk, the intersection of physical and digital security, building security teams in rapidly growing organizations, the role of AI in modern cybersecurity, communicating risk to executives and boards, and lessons learned from protecting some of the world's largest technology companies.About Alias Expert InterviewsAlias Expert Interviews features conversations with leaders who have shaped industries, guided organizations through complex challenges, and made high-stakes decisions throughout their careers.Hosted by Michael Collins, the series explores the experiences, insights, and lessons learned from executives, investors, legal professionals, security leaders, and subject matter experts across a range of industries.Learn more about Alias Intelligence: https://www.aliasintelligence.com

In this episode, Michael Collins sits down with Dan Webb, Co-Executive Chairman of Winston & Strawn and one of the most accomplished trial lawyers in the United States.Over a career spanning more than six decades, Dan has tried more than 100 jury cases, served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, prosecuted high-profile public corruption matters, and represented some of the world's largest organizations in complex litigation.Dan shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, the mentors who changed his life, and the lessons he has learned from decades spent performing under pressure. The conversation explores preparation, leadership, communication, courtroom strategy, the role of artificial intelligence in modern litigation, and what it takes to remain competitive at the highest level for an entire career.Dan also reflects on cross-examining President Ronald Reagan, the decision to decline representing President Donald Trump, and why he believes ego is the enemy of success.Whether you're a business leader, investor, attorney, operator, or anyone interested in decision-making when the stakes are high, this conversation offers a rare look inside the mindset of one of America's premier trial lawyers.Topics discussed:• Building a career through mentorship and opportunity• The mindset behind 100+ jury trials• Why preparation remains the ultimate competitive advantage• Trial lawyers as communicators and salespeople• The role of AI in modern litigation• Cross-examining President Ronald Reagan• Leadership, longevity, and staying competitive at 80 years old