Mohamed Hamdi Ouardi: From Shy Student to Hacking the Hackers on a Global Stage

Connect with Carmen SederinoWebsite: illuminatedstory.com LinkedIn: Carmen Sederino YouTube: Illuminated Story Instagram: @illuminatedstory Free Masterclass: Beyond the Keynote MasterclassConnect with Mohamed Hamdi OuardiLinkedIn: Mohamed Hamdi Ouardi Instagram: @med_ouardi Podcast: The Cyber Corner YouTube: Mohamed Hamdi OuardiMohamed Hamdi Ouardi: From Shy Student to Hacking the Hackers on a Global StageEpisode Description Carmen Sederino sits down with Mohamed Hamdi Ouardi, a Tunisian cybersecurity engineer, TEDx speaker, and host of The Cyber Corner podcast, with a LinkedIn community nearing 150,000 built in two years. Mohamed shares how a university professor (later Tunisia's Minister of Technology) pulled him out of mechanical engineering and into IT, and how his first ethical hack during an internship turned into an obsession.The timing is fitting: the week of recording, Carmen herself was hacked. Mohamed unpacks AI-powered attacks, deepfakes that pass detection tools as real, and why your photo is no longer yours once it's uploaded to an AI model. He also breaks down what makes a great keynote in a technical field.Key MomentsThe hack on Carmen's email the week of recording, with redirects set up and one contact convinced the malicious link was realMohamed's first ethical hack during a university internship and why he calls the feeling an addictionCapture the Flag contests: paid cybersecurity competitions held online and on-site at conferences worldwideA LinkedIn message from a former NASA engineer Mohamed spent an hour verifying before realising it was a real InfraGard invitationStanding in front of 4,000 cybersecurity professionals in Tunisia and reading the crowd in real timeWhy Cloud's cybersecurity extension caused security provider stocks to drop within an hour of launchQuotes to Remember "When you found someone who inspired you, you have to pass that inspiration to the next student.""Don't rush things. Just build a good knowledge and be passionate about it. Step by step."Mohamed's Journey Raised in a coastal city in northern Tunisia by a supportive family, Mohamed studied mechanical and electrical subjects in high school with no interest in IT. A university professor sparked his passion, and an internship introduced him to ethical hacking. He moved from intern to information security administrator at the same company, delivered his "Hack the Hackers" TEDx talk, and now runs The Cyber Corner podcast.Advice for Speakers Build the keynote around headlines, not sentences you end up reading off the slides. Vary your voice, lean on gestures, drop in short videos showing what you're describing, and use jokes the audience can actually understand. Read the room as you go, and never reach for technical jargon to sound smart. The best speakers in any technical field take something complex and make it simple.Free Resource Beyond the Keynote MasterclassAbout the Host Carmen Sederino is the founder of Illuminated Story, transforming high-stakes presentations into unforgettable performances. With a background in theatre and corporate leadership, she helps leaders create impactful, memorable speaking experiences.Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and host, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Illuminated Story.