The Secret Life of a Growth Manager in Cybersecurity

OverviewIn this episode of Culturally Sound, Chandler Cutler sits down with Allan Richards, Growth Manager at EasyDMARC, to unpack the real-world challenges of email authentication, MSP enablement, and protecting digital trust in a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.Allan’s career spans nearly two decades in cybersecurity channel sales, from building MSP ecosystems at AppRiver to leading partner growth across North America at OpenText. Today, he helps MSPs and businesses operationalize DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to secure their domains, improve deliverability, and protect their brand reputation.This conversation blends technical insight with practical leadership. Allan shares how he went from the car industry to cybersecurity, why MSPs should treat DMARC as non-negotiable, and how his philosophy of “finding a way to say yes” helps partners turn security into growth.Guest BioAllan Richards is a seasoned cybersecurity channel sales expert with nearly twenty years of experience. He has a proven track record of driving partner growth and revenue, most recently as Channel Sales Manager at OpenText, where he oversaw the North American sales team and trained channel partners across its ecosystem.Before OpenText, Allan spent more than a decade at AppRiver, playing a key role in developing and executing successful channel sales strategies that shaped one of the industry’s strongest MSP communities.Now as Growth Manager at EasyDMARC, Allan leads a global team focused on helping managed service providers deliver best-in-class email authentication, DMARC compliance, and deliverability solutions that protect businesses from phishing, spoofing, and brand impersonation.Episode BreakdownFrom Cars to Cyber (00:00 – 03:25)How Allan’s early career in the automotive industry led to a head-turning leap into email security and channel sales.The DMARC Wake-Up Call (03:25 – 08:43)Demystifying DMARC, SPF, and DKIM — and why they’re essential for every business, not just enterprises.Protecting the Modern Inbox (08:43 – 16:26)Real-world examples of business email compromise and how unmanaged domains create hidden vulnerabilities.The MSP Advantage (16:26 – 30:48)Why MSPs should view DMARC as part of a layered cybersecurity stack — DNS, TLS, filtering, and continuous monitoring.From None to Reject (30:48 – 35:06)The right way to move from “none” to “reject” without breaking your email systems — and how EasyDMARC supports that journey.Leading with ‘Yes’ (36:12 – 45:27)Allan’s leadership philosophy, daily routines across time zones, and how empathy builds stronger global teams.Human Side of Cybersecurity (48:37 – 56:10)Why listening, respect, and emotional awareness matter just as much as technical skill in protecting digital trust.Final Takeaway (56:10 – 56:44)“Email is the bloodstream of your business. Protect it, and you protect your reputation.”SummaryAllan Richards bridges the gap between cybersecurity strategy and human connection. His approach to DMARC and channel growth reframes email security as a business enabler, not a burden — empowering MSPs to safeguard clients, build trust, and grow revenue through reliability and clarity.Relevant Links🔗 Learn more about EasyDMARC – <a...