Outsourcing Thought: AI, Ethics & the Future of Human Leadership with Elliott Dellys

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Elliott Dellys — founder and CEO of Phronesis, Australia’s first B Corp-certified cybersecurity firm. A former intelligence officer turned entrepreneur, Elliott is leading a very different kind of security conversation — one grounded not just in technology, but in ethics, leadership, and culture.

Elliott believes cybersecurity is ultimately a people problem — and that the biggest risks we face aren’t just digital, they’re deeply human. From the rise of AI-powered cybercrime to the flawed systems that leave organisations vulnerable, this conversation goes far beyond firewalls.

We explore:

• Why groupthink is one of the most dangerous threats inside modern organisations

• How fear, conformity, and poor leadership compromise security and innovation

• The myth of “hacking” — and what most businesses get wrong about risk

• What it means to build a values-driven company in an industry obsessed with fear

• His bold take on why Australia won’t meet its 2030 cybersecurity goals — and what real progress would look like

Elliott also shares why he donates 10% of profits to social impact, why he built Phronesis around the Greek word for “practical wisdom,” and how philosophy remains his greatest leadership tool.

This is a conversation about courage, systems thinking, and the urgent need for leaders who can think beyond compliance — and lead with conscience.

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