February 18th 2026
“It is what it is.” That is what people said in the rough neighborhood where Cye CEO & Founder Reuven Aronashvili grew up. It was a place where poverty was the norm and slipping into the criminal world was the easy way out.
One evening, debt collectors burst into his home and took the family TV while he was watching it. In that moment of silence, Reuven made a vow.
He would not just survive. He would rewrite his fate. In this electrifying talk, Reuven shares how he channeled that hunger to establish Israel’s first military “Red Team” and founded a global cybersecurity empire.
His message is a powerful formula for anyone who feels stuck. Be hungry, break the norms, and learn to fail forward. Reuven (Rubi) Aronashvili founded CYE after establishing the Israeli army’s Red Team and pioneering cyber defense approaches, transforming from growing up in Akko’s toughest neighborhood to becoming a global cybersecurity leader.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx