[S1E6] Cyber Workforce in 2025: Humanity, Honesty, and Gratitude

In this special Thanksgiving edition of The Cyber Talent Matrix, we step away from dashboards and datasets to focus on what really drives cybersecurity: people.CEO Jeff Welgan, alongside co-hosts Sasha Vanterpool and Will Denman, takes a candid look at the cyber workforce narrative — and Jeff doesn’t hold back. In this episode, he calls “bullsh*t” on the long-standing myth of a cyber talent shortage, arguing that what we truly face is a strategy problem, not a supply problem.Together, the hosts explore:Why the “cyber workforce shortage” narrative is misleadingThe real reasons organizations struggle to hire and retain cyber talentHow early-career professionals are being overlooked despite high interest and capabilityWhy senior talent demands are misaligned with realityHow workforce intelligence and data-driven planning can reshape the future of cyber talentAnd, in the spirit of the season, what each host is grateful for this year — across the cyber community, their work, and the people behind every successWhether you’re a security leader, HR/L&D professional, cyber practitioner, or simply need a thoughtful break from turkey, family, or football — this episode offers honesty, insight, and a moment of gratitude for the people who keep cybersecurity moving forward.