The Four Cs: Why a Schoolteacher Makes a Great CISO

Manuel Ressel

Manuel Ressel is Group Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of SAUTER, former educator, and thought leader in cyber resilience and organizational security. Based in Basel, he supports and leads the international members of the SAUTER GROUP in building security strategies that go beyond technology—focusing on people, culture, and leadership as the true foundations of resilience.

Manuel began his professional career as a teacher and school leader, educating and mentoring students in mathematics, computer science, and the natural sciences. This early experience continues to shape his approach to cybersecurity today: translating complexity into clarity, fostering awareness, and enabling people to make better decisions under pressure. His background in education gives him a unique ability to connect with diverse audiences—from boards and executives to technical teams—making security tangible, understandable, and actionable.

Over the past decade, Manuel has held senior roles in cybersecurity consulting, business continuity, and IT service continuity management, advising organizations across critical infrastructure, regulated industries, and international enterprises. As Group CISO, he focuses on cyber resilience, crisis preparedness, and regulatory frameworks such as NIST, NIS2, ISG, always with a pragmatic, business-oriented mindset.

A frequent keynote speaker and panelist, Manuel is known for his visionary yet grounded perspective on cybersecurity: security as a leadership discipline, resilience as a strategic advantage, and education as the most powerful security control. His talks challenge organizations to rethink security not as a technical problem, but as a shared responsibility embedded in culture, governance, and everyday decision-making.