Stefan Leipold

Stefan Leipold (born 12 June 1974) is an American serial entrepreneur, cyber-security expert, keynote speaker, consultant and philanthropist. Leipold is best known for offering IT security consulting, packaging design, and cyber-security services. He is a highly acclaimed cybersecurity specialist with over 20 years of experience and has successfully completed numerous projects for IT security and infrastructure. He is the founder of three companies, ProSysCo LLC, Leipold GmbH, and STARK™ LLC. ProSysCo LLC is an IT support company based in Germany/USA, Leipold GmbH is a real estate investment firm, and STARK LLC offers high end accessories and holds the patents for Magnetic Privacy Screen designed/licensed for Apple and Microsoft products and devices.
Leipold is considered as one of the leading IT experts, who holds over 70 professional certifications from CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco, Nokia, Linux, and EC-Council. He is also a Forbes Business Council member, and an ally of Habitat of Humanity, Red Cross, Leukemia Lymphoma Society LLS and the Good Dog Foundation and several other non-profit organizations.
As a keynote speaker, Leipold speaks at conferences and industry events on the topics of cybersecurity, IT infrastructure and product design. During his career, he has received a number of awards from Forbes Business Council, Microsoft, Sophos, Avast and Cisco.
==Early life and education==
Stefan was born and brought up in Hanover, Germany. He spent his early life living with his grandparents and foster parents in Hanover. Leipold completed his highschool in Hanover and graduated as an VW automotive Technician. 
Leipold pursued his higher education at the University of Hannover in Germany and acquired his MBA degree in Systems Engineering. Leipold also holds over 70 professional certifications from CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco, Nokia, Linux, and EC-Council.
==Career==
Leipold joined the army in 1996 and served for two years. In 1998, Leipold started his first entrepreneurial venture by founding ProSysCo IT Support. This company specializes in solving technical issues and provides several IT and cybersecurity solutions. ProSysCo is a silver and gold Certified Microsoft, Avira, Avast, DeLL, Sophos Cisco, and ioSafe partner. Under Leipold’s leadership, ProSysCo expanded its operations in three countries, Germany, the USA, and Switzerland, and has become a leading IT support company.
In 2003 Leipold joined a Microsoft/New Horizons mentored learning project called "WalkIn concept". Leipold successfully implemented this solution in Europe and New York and presented Microsoft learning solutions in the CEBIT exhibition for two years in a row that took place in Hanover 2004 and 2005. In 2007, Leipold started another business venture by Leipold GmbH, a company that invests in the real estate market. 
In 2013 Leipold founded STARK LLC, a technology company that manufactured the very first patented magnetic privacy screen. STARK LLC designs high-end electronics and consumer products that are technologically advanced and infused with modern function. STARK LLC sourced OEM branded products to the USA from Swiss and German resellers. In 2016 STARK partnered with two Asian companies and introduced the world's first Magnetic Privacy Screen design for Apple and Microsoft products. Leipold developed STARK’s global business partnerships and introduced its products in the global markets like the US, EU, UAE, and Asia.
In 2017 STARK, under the leadership of Leipold further developed and marketed the product as STARK only and created the very first privacy screen with a built-in Camera-shutter. In 2020 STARK also developed the world's first reusable Color changing privacy screen designed for Apple iPhones.
Leipold was elected as a Forbes Council Member in 2020, Nominated into the Hall of Fame with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of America (LLS.org) and aims at sharing his vast experience of over 30 years in IT and cybersecurity with the budding entrepreneurs.
==Certifications==
* 03/1997 Microsoft Office Security
* 06/2004 Microsoft IT Security
* 07/2004 Microsoft Implementing Internet Security Acceleration Server 2004 
* 07/2004 Microsoft Certified System Engineer
* 08/2004 Linux Professional Institute
* 10/2004 Microsoft Internet Security
* 10/2005 Certified Ethical Hacker
* 04/2006 Microsoft Certified Professional
* 06/2006 Computer Associate CA eTrust Secure Content Manager
* 02/2007 Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator
* 04/2007 Computer Associate CA eTrust Integrated Threat Management
* 07/2007 Cisco Certified Network Associate
* 05/2007 Microsoft Installing and Configuring Windows Vista
* 04/2008 Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist Server 2008 (1-4)
* 06/2008 New Horizons WalkIn Concept
* 04/2011 Microsoft Portals and Collaboration
* 07/2006-2010 Microsoft Mobile Security Training Specialist
* 08/2016 Microsoft Windows Server 2016
* 01/2019 Microsoft Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10
==Personal life==
Leipold currently lives with his family in the USA. Leipold is fluent in English, German and Spanish, beginner in Chinese, .
==In the media==
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==References==
==External links==
* Personal Website
* STARK LLC
* ProSysCo LLC
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Category:American entrepreneurs
Category:American consultants
Category:American philanthropists
Category:American motivational speakers