Oliver Schneider is the man who negotiates with extortionists. Cyber extortion, kidnapping, crises – and what leaders can learn from them.
When the phone rings in the middle of the night, servers shut down and a ransom note flashes on the screen, the nightmare begins for many companies. For Oliver Schneider, this is the moment his work starts. The former officer of the German Special Forces Command (KSK) and internationally active kidnap-for-ransom consultant is now one of the most sought-after experts on cyber extortion and crisis management in the German-speaking world.
His career brings together more than two decades of experience in risk and crisis management, with operational missions in Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, the Caucasus, South America and Africa. In recent years, he has handled more than 50 real cyber extortion cases. His academic background – a Master of Science in Risk, Crisis & Disaster Management from the University of Leicester – and his book “Der Wille entscheidet” , in which he recounts real kidnapping and crisis cases, further underline his exceptional expertise.
Oliver Schneider combines the world of special forces, international crisis operations and the reality of modern cyberattacks into a keynote format that offers deep insight, suspense and immediate relevance.
Oliver Schneider Keynote Topics
Cyber & Crisis
- “Cyber extortion – it can happen to any company”
- Negotiating in the Dark: Inside a Cyber Extortion Case
- Zero Hour: When the survival of a company depends on just a few decisions
Leadership in Extreme Situations
- “Leading in Uncertainty and Crisis”
- “The Kidnap Principle: What Negotiations with Kidnappers Teach Leaders”
Training & Deep Dives
On request, Oliver Schneider deepens these topics in workshops, seminars and crisis simulation trainings – from board retreats to full crisis teams.
In his keynotes, he takes the audience straight into the “Red Room” of a crisis. He shows real chat logs from the darknet and provides insights into how cyber gangs think and operate. He explains how perpetrators plan, how they apply pressure and what it means to make decisions under extreme stress – decisions that can cost millions. At the same time, he reveals how negotiations with extortionists work, which tactics and strategies are vital and which mistakes must be avoided. The practical transfer is key: leaders learn what boards, C-level executives and IT decision-makers can concretely draw from these extreme scenarios. His talks are not theoretical knowledge but a live behind-the-scenes look at an active crisis operation.
Oliver Schneider is ideal 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 benefit from his unique blend of suspense, relevance and seriousness. He speaks both German and English and captivates audiences from the very first moment.
Why should you book Oliver Schneider? Because he is not a “cyber explainer” – he is someone who has negotiated with kidnappers and cyber extortionists, turning real crisis experience into clear, actionable insights for companies. Several organisations owe their continued existence to him and his team. Every keynote is tailored with precision to the occasion and to the specific industry – from small businesses to global corporations.
And one thing is guaranteed: nobody looks at their phone. Everyone wants to know how the story ends.