Work
AI, cyber risk, and resilience work for institutions operating under pressure.
Michael Thiessmeier works across emerging technology, cyber risk, institutional strategy, and critical infrastructure security. His work helps leaders understand and navigate the risks, opportunities, and governance challenges created by artificial intelligence and a rapidly changing threat environment.
Executive Focus
Michael's work sits between technical change and institutional decision-making. He focuses on how organizations, governments, and infrastructure leaders can prepare for the security, governance, and strategic consequences of artificial intelligence, cyber conflict, and systemic digital risk.
Rather than treating AI and cybersecurity as separate disciplines, his work examines how they converge across enterprise operations, public-sector resilience, geopolitical risk, and executive leadership.
Core Areas Of Work
AI Strategy & Governance
Advising on the strategic, operational, and governance implications of artificial intelligence, including risk management, executive adoption, and responsible deployment.
Cybersecurity Leadership
Helping senior leaders understand cyber risk as a business, operational, and national-security issue rather than a purely technical function.
Critical Infrastructure Resilience
Focusing on the security and continuity of systems that support essential services, public trust, and national resilience.
Executive & Board Advisory
Supporting decision-makers who need clear judgment on technology risk, security strategy, governance, and institutional exposure.
Public-Private Collaboration
Working across the space where private-sector capability, public-sector responsibility, and national-security priorities intersect.
AI-Enabled Threats
Analyzing how artificial intelligence changes the speed, scale, and complexity of cyber operations, influence, fraud, and institutional risk.
Selective Startup Advisory
vCISO and vCIO advisory for high-potential startups.
Michael works with select founders and leadership teams to put security, technology governance, and operating foundations in place early, before scale, enterprise customers, investors, or regulators make weak foundations expensive to repair.
Getting security and technology decisions right from the beginning.
The work is practical and executive-facing: early security strategy, technology operating model, compliance readiness, vendor and cloud risk, customer diligence, board communication, and the habits that let a startup move fast without building avoidable institutional risk into the company.
Discuss Startup AdvisoryInformed by more than a decade in Silicon Valley and experience with high-growth companies including Oportun, Enjoy Technology, and Gravity Team.
Designed for startups that need senior security and technology judgment before they are ready for a full-time executive function.
Directly connected to work with Denmark's National Defence Technology Centre and DIREC's Next Generation Cybersecurity initiative, assessing dual-use startups, primarily cybersecurity companies, pursuing grants.
At the Latvian Dual-Use Export Forum 2025, Michael highlighted the potential for U.S.-Latvian cooperation in cybersecurity, AI, and dual-use technology. View the LIAA report
How The Work Shows Up
Executive and board-level briefings on AI, cybersecurity, national resilience, and strategic technology risk.
Strategic advisory work with organizations navigating digital exposure, operating risk, and emerging technology adoption.
Public-sector and private-sector collaboration where resilience, security, and leadership accountability intersect.
Media, speaking, and expert analysis on AI-enabled threats, cyber diplomacy, and the evolving security environment.
For advisory, speaking, media, or institutional inquiries.
For conversations related to AI strategy, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, national resilience, or executive briefings, use the contact page to reach Michael directly.