Getting your IT or cybersecurity project approved shouldn’t feel like storming a fortress. In this episode of Leaders and Their Stories, host Richard Lowe sits down with veteran tech executive Matt Walker to unpack why so many tech proposals fail—and how to fix it. Drawing on decades of experience from cybersecurity to desktop support (including NASA and Kennedy Space Center), Matt breaks down the psychological and strategic steps to win executive buy-in. 

You’ll learn: 

• Why "speaking IT" gets you thrown out of the boardroom
• How to build long-term trust with decision-makers
• Why security training needs to become personal
• The power of "pre-suasion" and how to use it
• Why deepfakes and AI have changed the security game for good

Matt also shares his favorite books for mastering influence and how emotional intelligence beats technical brilliance when it comes to getting results.
 
Bonus: A hilarious (and terrifying) true story about a multi-million dollar deepfake scam in Hong Kong.
 
📚 Mentioned Books:

• Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini
• Influence by Robert Cialdini

🎯 Ideal for: IT leaders, cybersecurity professionals, CIOs, and anyone trying to get budget or approval for tech initiatives in today's AI-powered world.