We went to Asheville with a vision for a community. We came home with people who had begun to make it real.
CISO Ascent has completed its inaugural retreat, bringing cybersecurity leaders together October 15-18, 2025, in Asheville, North Carolina, and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It was the first opportunity to put our mission into practice: connect, collaborate, and recharge through shared experiences, with care for the community hosting us.
A First Gathering in the Blue Ridge
The fall landscape gave us a remarkable place to begin. Forest trails, waterfalls, and autumn color created a setting that felt far removed from the calendars and responsibilities waiting back home.
Members spent time walking together, getting to know one another, and enjoying the kind of unhurried conversation that can be difficult to fit into an executive's day.
Time together on the trail during CISO Ascent's first retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Beginning of Real Friendships
What stood out was how quickly the experience became personal. Security leaders were getting to know the people behind the job titles, with time to talk, laugh, and share the day.
There was a little of the feeling of summer camp: a shared adventure, a new group of people, and the realization that the time together mattered. Except this time, everyone understood the responsibilities of cybersecurity leadership.
That was the experience we hoped to create. A retreat where you could take a breath and begin building relationships that would still matter after the trip.
Showing Up for Asheville
Choosing Asheville also meant spending time in a region continuing its recovery. Supporting that community was part of why we wanted to be there.
Our gathering brought members to local lodging, dining, and the surrounding mountain landscape. We wanted to enjoy the region while remembering that it is home to people and businesses working toward recovery.
For CISO Ascent, giving back is part of the vision. This first retreat reinforced the importance of being thoughtful guests and keeping the host community in view as we plan future gatherings.
Thank You for Helping Us Begin
To the members who joined our first retreat, our board, the crew, and the partners who supported it: thank you for taking a chance on something new.
The first gathering sets a tone. Asheville gave us a beginning built around time outdoors, genuine friendships, and a shared sense that this community was worth building.
The gathering put the vision behind the introduction of CISO Ascent into practice.
Explore the inaugural Asheville retreat
Be Part of the Next Chapter
Membership is completely free. If you lead cybersecurity for your organization, apply to become a member. Once your application is approved, we will send you a retreat invitation.
Connect. Collaborate. Recharge.
Photography & credits
Photographs from the CISO Ascent Asheville retreat collection.