As I step into Carnegie Mellon’s CISO program, I’m asking myself a simple but heavy question: Why become a CISO in 2026—when the role has never been harder or more important?

What happens when you give your cybersecurity team $3,500, a box of donuts, and permission to experiment with AI?

You get innovation, laughter, and a team that learns by doing. Here’s how “Donuts & Demos” turned curiosity into collaboration and why positive incentives beat mandates every time.