Emerging Leaders Under 40: Hao-Wei Chen, former director, information security, Audible (an Amazon company)

YARMOUTH, Maine—Hao-Wei Chen, 38, is the former director of information security for Audible (an Amazon company), based out of Washington, D.C. Find out what his roles and responsibilities were, what being an Emerging Leader Under 40 means to him, what attracts him to the security industry as a young leader, and more. 

SSN: In 100 words or less, summarize your current role, outlining responsibilities and length of service.

CHEN: My decade-long tenure at Amazon demonstrated expertise in diverse security domains. As a founding member of core functions under Amazon's Information-Security-Organization, I shaped defensive and offensive security capabilities and programs at scale, with ongoing global impact. I was sponsored by Amazon's Retail CEO to launch the company's inaugural public bug-bounty-program that effectively improved product security across all online marketplaces and digital devices, leading to a cultural shift within the company. I also acted as the response commander during the global layoff events, safeguarding the company and customer trust from insider threats.

At Audible, I oversaw functional areas encompassing incident-response/application-security/red-teaming/penetration-testing/third-party-risk-management/insider-threat/threat-intelligence. Beyond corporate realms, I lead nonprofits, advise public-sector top leaders, and foster security talent, demonstrating a vast impact on security and academic communities worldwide.

SSN: In 100 words or less, share what attracts you to the security industry as a young leader.

CHEN: The security industry presents a dynamic landscape where my contributions directly impact global cyber resilience. As a leader of multiple 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, the founder of the Taiwanese American CISO Club, and an advisor to military and national security agencies, I firmly believe in the power of collaboration and partnership – by integrating resources and embracing diversity, we can jointly combat cyber threats across private sectors, public sectors, and nonprofits/NGOs.

Since establishing Hacker.org.tw in 2003, my passion has centered on fostering talent, driving long-term initiatives, supporting future security leaders, connecting communities for broader impact, and educating the general public about security awareness. With the goal of creating a safer cyberspace alongside global leaders, my commitment to giving back and building a sustainable community network remains a top priority throughout my career.

SSN: In 100 words or less, describe the significance of being recognized as an SSN Emerging Leader Under 40 winner.

CHEN: Being honored as an Emerging Leader Under 40 amplifies the dedication and empowerment to leaders who are contributing to the security industry and its community. From my view, this recognition extends beyond acknowledging their professional work; it provides encouragement to young security professionals inspiring them to take leadership roles, fostering their positive changes that can benefit both community and industry in the long term. The award also creates diverse role models in the security industry, where I aim to expand my contribution as a humble example for the next generation, supporting and guiding future leaders to empower their meaningful work.