About Anthony Martin

Who I am

I’m Anthony Martin — I teach ethical persuasion and influence to cybersecurity and privacy leaders. I’m a Cialdini Institute–certified practitioner and former Fortune-50 operator: led cybersecurity for WALMART INTERNATIONAL, served as Chief Privacy Officer at GAP, and taught Information Privacy & Data Security as a law professor. My current research explores influence, trust, negotiation, and influence — practical ways to help technical professionals be heard by boards and executives.

What I do

I coach and consult with CISOs, cybersecurity leaders, and HR partners on the science and practice of ethical persuasion for technical work. I build focused team programs that deliver measurably better communication and trust scores in 90 days—using board-ready risk narratives, stakeholder mapping, and rehearsal-based playbooks. I also write, research, and speak about the human side of technical leadership—where influence, ethics, and decision quality meet.

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How I work

My approach is evidence-based and ethical: blend the science of persuasion with the practice of trust. I draw on Cialdini’s research, Covey’s trust principles, and years in high-pressure roles to keep the focus on clarity, credibility, and respect for constraints. In practice, that looks like shared language, simple structures that carry complex ideas, and rehearsal over theory—so the right message lands the first time.

What I value

Character and competence in equal measure. Curiosity, humility, and clear thinking under pressure. Confidentiality and integrity as non-negotiables. I care about building durable relationships, leaving teams stronger than I found them, and measuring impact by adoption, alignment, and real outcomes—not by slide count.

What I’m building now

Ethical influence in modern technical environments: how AI changes persuasion, how to defend against manipulative tactics, and how to quantify trust and communication quality inside security and privacy teams. Current threads include practical negotiation for technical leaders and risk storytelling that travels cleanly from the SOC to the boardroom. My goal is to make trust-building a repeatable, teachable capability for people whose work carries real stakes

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Where I’ve been

WALMART (Head of Cybersecurity for International & M&A; New Ventures Security/CyberX and Chief Privacy & Security Counsel), THE GAP (Chief Privacy Officer), ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW (Professor, Information Privacy & Data Security), and founder/advisor roles in many security ventures and start0ups. I’ve supported leaders and teams across 20+ countries, partnering with executives, boards, and regulators to align security, trust, and business outcomes.

How to connect

Email: Anthony@AnthonyMartin.ME • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amtrust • Website: anthonymartin.me. I welcome thoughtful conversations—whether you’re exploring an idea, researching a topic, or looking to compare notes on what builds trust where it matters most.

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Who I Work With

CISOs and senior security executives navigating high-stakes influence situations

Aspiring CISOs preparing for executive roles where influence determines success

Security professionals whose roles have expanded beyond technical boundaries, especially business client-facing (BISOs)

HR and Learning & Development leaders developing influence capabilities for cybersecurity teams

What unites my clients is commitment to measurable improvement. We set specific influence goals, track progress systematically, and achieve concrete outcomes in board presentations, stakeholder negotiations, and team leadership.