Protecting People, Not Just Data with Rich Rhodes of Choice Bank

On this episode, hosts Aaron Linz and Tim York talk to Rich Rhodes, Chief Information Security Officer of Choice Bank. Rich shares how his people-first philosophy shapes the way he leads security programs, especially during high-stress moments like bank mergers, regulatory pressure and pandemic-era team isolation. Drawing from years in financial services and community work, Rich explains why fundamentals matter, how humor builds trust and why he believes security is 90% people.Key Takeaways:(04:30) Volunteer work revealed the real-world consequences of identity loss.(07:56) Cybersecurity leadership must center the human experience, not just controls.(09:33) Managing conflict in security teams requires empathy and intentional restraint.(16:09) Employee well-being and development are critical responsibilities of CISOs.(18:25) Regular communication and transparency help unify distributed teams.(27:04) Large-scale IAM implementations demand urgency and cross-functional alignment.(30:55) Creative morale boosters can protect team mental health during crises.Resources Mentioned:Rich Rhodeshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-rhodes-cissp-pcip-1b35755/Choice Bank | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/choicebank/Choice Bank | Websitehttps://bankwithchoice.com/Meals on Wheels | Websitehttps://meals-on-wheels.com/Thank you for listening to “Authenticate This!: The Cybersecurity Leadership Podcast.” Be sure to leave us a review and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. For more information, visit https://ic-consult.com.#Cybersecurity #IdentityManagement #InformationSecurity #IAM #IdentityAccessManagement