When you hear the word “hacker,” what comes to mind? The term originally described computer enthusiasts exploring technology’s boundaries in the 1950s and 60s. Only in the 1980s did new laws and sensationalized representations in media and culture make it synonymous with cybercrime. But that was nearly half a century ago.
Enlightened governments and enterprises have now separated the act from the stigma, and benefit from the technical expertise and fresh perspective of ethical hackers. They are right to leverage them. When a teenager can find a vulnerability that could take down a multi-billion dollar company — and chooses to ethically report it — there are lessons to be learned.
The best hackers have mastered what I call the "hacker mindset." It is a relentless commitment to curiosity, vision, transparency and shaping the world — despite perceived boundaries. Many of the best leaders I’ve met in my career also embody these traits, which converge as a fearlessness to disrupt the status quo. Sometimes, the best leaders are hackers.
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