Oliver Schneider is the expert who negotiates with extortionists. Cyber extortion, kidnappings, crises – and the lessons leaders can learn from these situations.
When a call comes in during the night, servers go offline, and a ransom demand appears on the screen, many companies face a nightmare. For Oliver Schneider, this marks the beginning of his work. A former officer of the German Special Forces Command (KSK) and an internationally recognized kidnap-for-ransom consultant, he is now one of the most in-demand specialists in cyber extortion and crisis management in German-speaking countries.
His professional background spans over twenty years in risk and crisis management, with operational deployments in Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, the Caucasus, South America, and Africa. Recently, he has managed more than 50 actual cyber extortion incidents. His academic credentials include a Master of Science in Risk, Crisis & Disaster Management from the University of Leicester, and his book “Der Wille entscheidet,” which shares true kidnapping and crisis stories, further highlights his outstanding expertise.
Oliver Schneider merges the realms of special forces, international crisis missions, and the reality of modern cyberattacks into a keynote presentation that delivers profound insights, suspense, and immediate applicability.
Oliver Schneider Keynote Topics
Cyber & Crisis
- Cyber extortion – a threat that can affect any company
- Negotiating in the Dark: A look inside a cyber extortion case
- Zero Hour: Critical decisions that determine a company’s survival
Leadership in Extreme Situations
- Leading through uncertainty and crisis
- The Kidnap Principle: Leadership lessons from negotiations with kidnappers
Training & Deep Dives
Upon request, Oliver Schneider offers in-depth workshops, seminars, and crisis simulation trainings – suitable for board retreats as well as entire crisis teams.
In his keynotes, he immerses the audience in the “Red Room” of a crisis. He presents authentic darknet chat logs and shares insights into the mindset and operations of cybercriminal groups. He explains how offenders strategize, apply pressure, and what it means to make high-stakes decisions under extreme stress – decisions that can cost millions. Simultaneously, he reveals how negotiations with extortionists unfold, which tactics and strategies are essential, and which errors must be avoided. The focus is on practical application: leaders learn what boards, C-level executives, and IT decision-makers can concretely take away from these intense scenarios. His presentations are not theoretical but provide a live behind-the-scenes perspective of an active crisis operation.
Oliver Schneider is an excellent choice for board retreats, C-level meetings, leadership conferences, as well as IT and cybersecurity events. Industry associations, chambers, insurers, banks, and client or partner events also gain from his unique mix of suspense, relevance, and seriousness. He speaks both German and English and captivates audiences from the very start.
Why should you book Oliver Schneider?
Because he is not just a “cyber explainer” – he is someone who has personally negotiated with kidnappers and cyber extortionists, transforming real crisis experience into clear, actionable guidance for companies. Numerous organizations owe their survival to him and his team. Each keynote is precisely tailored to the event and the specific industry – from small enterprises to multinational corporations.
And one thing is certain: no one will be checking their phone. Everyone will be eager to find out how the story concludes.
