Steve Soukup

According to Steve Soukup, the way to gain influence is to provide value to customers every day. “As long as we remain focused on that, influence and relevance follow,” he said.

As the CEO of DefenseStorm, he delivers that value.

DefenseStorm provides cybersecurity, cyber compliance and cyber fraud solutions specifically built for banking.The DefenseStorm GRID is the only co-managed, cloud-based and compliance-automatic solution of its kind, operating as a technology system and as a service supported by experts in FI security and compliance.

While Soukup has been the CEO of DefenseStorm since March 2020, he joined the company in 2017 as the chief revenue officer to help drive growth through his extensive experience serving the banking vertical. Soukup developed his learnings about scaling a company from his time leading sales at Austin, TX-based Q2.

Soukup has been instrumental in scaling DefenseStorm’s built for banking cybersecurity and cyber compliance offering to over 120 customers in 36 states in partnership and collaboration with the co-founder. As a result, the firm has earned two cybersecurity excellence awards, the Atlanta Business Chronicle Pacesetter Award and recognition as one of Inc’s 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America.

According to his colleagues, Soukup has been a thought leader and innovator in the financial services space for more than 30 years – helping companies of all sizes achieve success. “He serves as a strategist and mentor to many, helping define and develop the personal and professional goals of colleagues and subordinates alike,” they said. “Steve has introduced new ideas and concepts to build and maintain an inclusive culture at DefenseStorm.”

He focuses on continual improvement and ongoing education to foster his team. “Steve has maintained a humbleness and sincerity that is admired and respected by all,” said his team. “His open-door policy is well-known, and it is not uncommon to see him with his sleeves rolled up in the security operations center listening to customer calls and offering support to first, second and third shift employees.”

Employees at DefenseStorm are encouraged to try their hand at numerous things to see what skills and interests they may have outside of their day-to-day responsibilities, an approach Soukup has fostered to encourage loyalty and opportunities for advancement from within.

For his unending commitment to advancing others in the banking technology industry, Soukup has been named a Titan.