Rethinking Cybersecurity Hiring with Naomi Buckwalter

Is cybersecurity gatekeeping holding back the industry? Naomi Buckwalter, Senior Director of Product Security at Contrast Security and Founder of the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation, argues that fresh talent and open doors are crucial for industry growth. In this episode, Naomi challenges why industry hiring norms fall short, shares candid stories of her own missteps, and explains why humility and learning are just as important as technical skills in cybersecurity.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 – Introduction 03:15 – Building a genuine presence on LinkedIn 07:40 – Founding the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation 12:00 – Why hiring juniors is a win for cybersecurity 17:58 – Relationship building in cybersecurity 25:27 – Lessons from layoffs and overcoming failure 35:45 – Setting goals and attracting opportunities Links: Connect with our guest, Naomi Buckwalter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-buckwalter/ Learn more about the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation: https://www.cybersecuritygatebreakers.org/   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/