The Cyber Security Recruiter Podcast

Gary Alterson on agentic SOCs, AI spend control, and building Sovereign AI Thomas chats with Gary Alterson on the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, covering Gary’s 30-year security career and why AI makes the current era especially impactful. Gary describes Armor’s AI-embracing approach, including an agentic SOC that automates roughly 80-90% of triage, while outlining customer challenges with AI adoption: data privacy/security, runaway token spend, and inconsistent output quality. He explains Armor’s Sovereign AI platform (sovai.com), which centralizes API keys, routes tasks across different models (including private models that avoid sending customer data to public models), enforces policies and budgets, improves prompts, provides prebuilt agent swarms and workflows, and shares development plans internally. They discuss hiring for curiosity and self-starting traits, career advice: say yes, prioritize ruthlessly, find mentors and time management. Gary’s recommendation: the Manager Tools and Career Tools podcasts. 00:00 Welcome and banter 00:36 Guest intro and background 01:43 30 years in security 03:24 AI in the SOC today 04:52 AI risks and costs 07:37 Model routing and controls 12:52 Talent still matters 16:22 What is sovereign AI 20:04 Customer success and support 24:48 Career advice for SOC 31:07 Time management tactics 34:08 Standing out to advance 39:29 Books and podcasts 41:07 Wrap up and thanks Nexo - Executive, GTM & Cybersecurity Recruitment https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspropen/

Protecting Student Data, Leading Security Teams, and Keeping Up With AI: Jeff Bailey on Security Leadership Thomas chats with Jeff Bailey on the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast about his career path from GameStop into security roles at Simmons Bank and now as Director of Security and IT at Apptegy, a K–12 communications platform focused on protecting sensitive student data across all 50 states’ regulations. They discuss how rapidly evolving AI models (including Fable and Opus) are changing security work, vendor risk/GRC reviews as SaaS apps add AI features, and how teams can build small internal tools instead of buying expensive products. Jeff shares leadership lessons on perception and trust: making security approachable (including his bright shirts), encouraging reporting, and empowering experts to challenge him, while managing workload to prevent burnout by aiming for 80% capacity. They also cover AI’s impact on learning, CTF competitions, and parenting in an AI-saturated world. Book recommendation: “Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman; Jeff also recommends Adam Grant’s work. 00:00 Welcome and Catch Up 00:52 Jeff Bailey Career Intro 01:36 ADHD and Security Culture 03:27 Director Role at Apptegy 04:42 Fable vs Opus AI Talk 07:57 Kids Growing Up With AI 09:36 Token Costs and IPO Pricing 11:06 Purpose Protecting Student Data 13:54 Leadership and Approachability 18:32 Empowering Experts on Your Team 20:03 Avoiding Burnout at 80% 21:22 AI Like the Cloud Shift 22:28 New AI Security Reviews 23:06 Vendor Acronyms and Confusion 23:56 Adapt or Get Left Behind 25:50 AI Slop in Customer Touch 28:45 Using AI for Real Gains 31:30 CTFs and AI Cheating 33:07 Learning Still Needs Struggle 35:56 Book Picks and Wrap Up For Executive, GTM, Cybersecurity searches, contact Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspropen/

Griffin Payne on relationships, AI-augmented pen testing, and trust in cyber hiring. Thomas chats with Griffin Payne on the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast about his career from help desk to senior security roles including IBM X-Force Red and Protiviti, and his current work as Principal Platform Engineer at Autonomous Cyber. Griffin describes startup life while working from home with three kids and explains Autonomous Cyber’s approach to AI-enabled offensive security as an augmented, collaborative tool that boosts testers rather than a “set-and-forget” automated pen test. They discuss how commoditized offensive AI tools create noise and risk, token/rate-limit and cost challenges, and how AI is impacting bug bounty quality, hiring (fake applicants, deepfakes), and workplace communication. Griffin emphasizes relationships and communication as key to career opportunities, alongside rigorous interviewing and skills. Book recommendations include Dan Brown’s “The Secret of Secrets” 00:30 Linkedin and social media habits 01:40 Griffin career highlights 03:02 Day in the life at home 05:11 Autonomous pentesting boom 08:53 How their tool works 11:28 Bug bounty AI slop 14:14 AI and hiring trust issues 17:32 Deepfakes and interview cheating 19:52 Honesty in interviews 20:44 Networking opens doors 23:47 Help desk to red team 26:08 Visualization and momentum 28:26 Trust beats cold applying 29:58 Building the platform 31:17 Token limits and costs 33:05 AI needs fundamentals 35:55 Speed of AI attacks 38:00 Books and final thoughts Nexo - Executive, GTM & Cybersecurity Recruitment https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspropen/

Michael Greenlaw on AI, DevSecOps, and FedRAMP Automation: Speed, Risks, and the Need for FundamentalsTom and Michael discuss Microsoft’s strategy and licensing shifts pulling organizations toward Windows and Azure, and the frustration of incompatible cloud service naming across AWS/Azure/GCP. Michael describes using Claude to learn and build with LLMs rapidly, calling it “fast Google,” but warns about hallucinations, compounded errors in chained tasks, human limits in reviewing massive AI-generated code, poor handling of branching strategies, and the need for humans to own architecture and fundamentals.They debate layoffs attributed to AI versus post-COVID overhiring and shareholder optics, and note AI’s growing impact on vulnerability discovery and exploitation.Book recommendations: “How to Win Friends and Influence People” (Dale Carnegie), “The Trusted Advisor,” and “Thinking in Bets.”00:00 Welcome and Intro00:39 Career Path Update01:25 Why Windows Again05:41 Cloud Naming Frustrations07:27 Keeping Up With Titles09:12 AI Learning Acceleration11:36 Curiosity in Hiring15:39 Market Whiplash Era19:11 FedRock and AI Experiments22:19 Automating Workflows With RPA24:31 AI Saving Lives Story25:44 AI Pitfalls and Guardrails31:09 Markets Overhyped AI33:02 AI Errors And Whiplash33:50 Why Juniors Still Matter35:34 Overhiring Blamed On AI38:11 Metrics Gaming And Talent40:32 Shareholders And Productivity42:28 AI Addiction And Frustration47:08 Learning Boosts And Security Risks51:58 Using AI With Responsibility55:16 Scale Problems In Big Orgs57:06 Books That Changed Everything01:02:19 Closing Thanks And Wrap UpNexo - Executive, GTM & Cybersecurity Recruitment https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspropen/

00:00 Welcome and introductions 00:39 Lindsay career snapshot 01:41 Threat intel at Human 02:37 New book launch 03:33 Malware needs context 04:42 Spotting real people online 08:25 AI as attack amplifier 09:45 Phishing at scale 11:50 Democratized hacking risks 15:18 Path to VP leadership 20:00 AI proof risk communication 21:53 Time boxing MIT MBA grind 23:13 Writing a book discipline 23:49 Small wins and purpose 25:15 Book writing deepens mastery 26:39 Communication skills through practice 29:15 Behind the scenes struggles 32:02 Mentors versus sponsors 34:41 Security community collaboration 35:48 Whats next and book teaser 37:46 Boat go faster mantra 39:49 Final thanks and wrap up

Recruiting in cybersecurity & AI: Relationships, what great candidates do, and fixing broken hiring processes Thomas hosts the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast with Spencer Grant, lead recruiter at 7AI, discussing recruiting realities, relationship-driven hiring, and how top candidates stand out. Spencer describes his career path largely shaped by following a strong manager and emphasizes providing a “three-star Michelin” candidate experience. They outline traits of great candidates: depth of technical understanding (the “whys”), outcome-focused thinking tied to business ROI and honesty paired with curiosity. Spencer critiques broken application processes and advises proactive outreach after applying, strong interview preparation - company research, coding/system design readiness - and asking substantive questions. They discuss AI’s impact on jobs, valuing human touch over automated screening, and Spencer’s Meta layoff and contracting path back to full-time. Book recommendation: “The Mental Game: Winning the War Within Your Mind.” 00:00 Welcome and wins 00:47 Recruiter reality check 02:21 Spencer career intro 04:06 Relationships over tools 08:29 What makes candidates great 14:06 Curiosity and learning fast 19:03 Hiring process mistakes 23:37 Manual recruiting over AI 26:37 High touch candidate experience 27:43 AI expands security jobs 29:35 Layoffs and market cycles 31:52 Rebounding after Meta layoff 34:16 Contracting as a strategy 35:01 Office osmosis learning 39:04 Culture and knowledge sharing 42:04 Mindset book recommendation 46:54 Final thanks and wrap

Chad Fullerton on AI, Claude Code, and Staying Valuable in Cybersecurity Tom chats with Chad Fullerton, a former US Navy member and current VP of Information Security at ECI, about his career path, family life, and how AI is reshaping work. Chad emphasizes fundamentals like caring, continuous learning, and maintaining a positive mindset, noting he consumes about 120 audiobooks a year. He describes practical AI use cases such as using Claude to merge multiple pen test reports quickly, warns that deliverables and contracts will be reviewed by AI, and discusses token costs. He argues AI shifts value toward industry expertise, client-facing advisory skills, and automating small time savings at scale, not just coding, and advises professionals to adapt rather than fear disruption. Book recommendations include Uniquely Human (Barry Prizant), Good to Great, and CISSP 11th Hour, plus Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy books. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:45 Meet Chad Fullerton 02:01 Day in the Life 03:18 AI Revolution Pace 04:37 Fundamentals and Growth 05:41 Learning Habits That Compound 09:39 AI in Security Workflows 11:55 Claude Code and Automation 18:43 Adapting to Disruption 20:42 Positivity and Hiring Signals 26:10 Layoffs and Reputation 27:41 LinkedIn Is Not Therapy 31:43 Clicks at Scale 34:01 Stop Being Cost Center 36:37 Advisors Beat Hoodies 40:14 Work Backwards Roadmap 42:21 Daily Learning Mindset 43:29 Books That Shaped Chad 47:29 Sales Outreach Done Right 49:08 Social Media Reality Check 49:56 Wrap Up and Next Time Nexo - Executive, GTM & Cybersecurity Recruitment https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspropen/

Dixon Wright on career growth, leadership paths, and using AI without losing expertise Thomas chats with Dixon Wright about his career progression and what drives promotions, emphasizing hard work plus being in the right place at the right time. Dixon discusses playing the long game, building subject-matter expertise before leading, and the importance of choosing work you enjoy rather than chasing compensation. He highlights the value of early consulting for transferable skills, professionalism, and in-person learning, and warns remote work and AI can weaken development and enable shortcuts. They explore AI’s ROI, token costs, and how metric-driven cultures can reward low-value ‘activity’, arguing expertise is still essential to evaluate ideas and business impact. Book/podcast recommendations include How I Built This, Radical Candor, The Advantage, Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, Slow Productivity, and Unreasonable Hospitality. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:30 Life as a Remote Dad 02:57 Career Growth and Promotions 05:31 Play the Long Game 08:32 Choose Passion Over Pay 12:49 Superstars vs Rock Stars 16:14 Why Consulting Builds Skills 20:09 AI Remote Work and Learning 22:57 AI ROI and Hidden Costs 35:03 Books Habits and Wrap Up

Mythos, Autonomous Pen Testing, and the Future of Self-Securing Software, with Mike Wilkes, Enterprise CISO at Aikido Security. On the Cyber Security Recruiter podcast, Mike Wilkes discusses a busy week of CISO events at Google (Mythos/Glasswing gathering), the Harvard Club, and Meta’s OSAC cybersecurity committee, plus an NYSE TV interview about Aikido Security’s Series B and growth. He explains Mythos Preview’s implications, including rapid vulnerability discovery (citing Firefox fixing 271 issues vs 20–30 historically), Anthropic’s restrictions, and the need for prioritization (EPSS) rather than chasing raw CVE volume. Mike describes autonomous pen testing where a $7,000, two-week API test was replicated for $4 in 80 minutes, arguing the “harness” and orchestration matter most. He emphasizes soft skills, listening, and translating security into business impact for boards, warns about privacy erosion, token-cost waste, supply-chain/model risks, and advocates small local models for privacy and resilience.

AI-Native Cybersecurity, MSP Automation, and What Education Must Change Next - with Manal IskanderOn the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, the host speaks with Manal Iskander, founder of PCtronics , co-owner of Green Shack Marketplace, and Marketing Lead at Fugazi about how AI and cybersecurity are now inseparable and how she’s using an AI-native, agentic software stack (including SuperOps, NinjaOne, SentinelOne, Huntress, and SharePoint-based automation) to speed onboarding, triage tickets, and generate monthly security and operations reporting that drives recurring revenue plus project work. She describes using a human-centered “double diamond” approach (discover, define, design, deliver) with governance and accountability to decide what to automate vs. keep human-in-the-loop, giving examples like overriding blocked logins for a traveling CEO. She discusses private equity buying MSPs based on MRR, her goal to build toward a much larger exit, and her July 30 keynote in Sacramento for California higher-education CTOs on standardized AI adoption, governance, curriculum shifts toward critical thinking, and risks like Anthropic’s “Mythos” zero-day tool. Book recommendations mentioned: “Abundance,” “The Human Fork Encoded,” and “The 80-Year Theory.”00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:28 Keynote and AI Security01:51 Manel Background Story03:25 Restaurants and Balance04:47 Building an AI Native MSP07:25 PBS Show Origin Story09:47 Tech as Human Extension13:54 Human in the Loop Security15:19 Double Diamond Workflow19:58 Automated Reporting Engine23:20 Private Equity and Exit Plans24:41 Leaving Reporting Teams25:30 AI Tools For Operations25:52 AI Boom For Business26:57 Education Adapts To AI30:18 Governance For Universities31:30 Mythos Zero Day Fears32:48 AI Geopolitics And Money37:06 Human Fork And Cycles40:22 Future Work And UBI42:23 Keeping Up With Pace43:42 July Keynote Preview46:46 Adoption Divide And Wrap

Marketing, personal branding, and networking for cybersecurity careers with Gary PiperTom introduces a delayed Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast episode with Gary Piper, Marketing Director at Black Talon Security, and outlines Gary's career from graphic design and creative leadership into cybersecurity marketing.Gary discusses the growing need for clear cybersecurity marketing, emphasising the importance of understanding a company's story, purpose and differentiators, while learning technologies well enough to communicate them effectively.He also shares lessons from a layoff in 2018, including the importance of keeping your CV and portfolio updated, staying aware of market opportunities, and continually building relationships with recruiters and your network.For personal branding, Gary recommends understanding what motivates you, highlighting what makes you different, and being willing to experiment with new platforms and approaches. He also discusses the importance of emotional intelligence, mentorship, communication skills and face-to-face networking.Reading/learning recommendations from Gary:Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler which is a program focused on handling difficult conversations, conflict resolution, and communication.Situational Leadership by Ken Blanchard, a leadership course about adapting leadership styles to different people and situations. Co-Active coaching training developed by Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House, Phillip Sandahl, and Laura Whitworth focused on active listening and professional coaching skills 00:00 Late release intro 00:49 Meet Gary Piper 02:14 From design to cyber marketing 03:36 Explaining cyber to buyers 06:03 Breaking into security 07:12 Networking that pays off 09:20 Staying job market ready 12:42 Personal branding basics 17:39 Brand building takes time 25:10 Healthy conflict at work 26:54 Communication over tech 27:42 Scaling team leadership 29:25 Should you lead? 31:00 Managing personalities 33:10 Remote work reality 36:37 Active listening coaching 38:06 Finding great mentors 40:12 Industry community vibes 41:50 Events and cyber risk 45:19 Recruiting meets marketing 47:01 Security marketing pitfalls 48:19 Final wrap up

Craig Adams on Building Security Products: Why Me/Why Now, AI-Driven Remediation, and Extreme OwnershipTom chats with Craig Adams, Chief Product Officer at Rapid7 and Board Member at Peak Metrics.Adams describes himself as a builder, focused on driving revenue growth through technology by avoiding innovation that isn’t leveraged and by anchoring product strategy in “why me, why now,” plus strong execution.They discuss how AI has improved risk identification and verdicting (e.g., faster pen-test-like assessments) but has worsened alert volume, shifting cybersecurity’s center of gravity to remediation and response, including granular, agentic actions beyond traditional SOAR rules. Craig discusses how rapid industry change shortens roadmap planning to roughly nine-month increments, and he shares hiring priorities: attitude, work ethic (intensity), and intelligence defined as curiosity. They cover mission-driven teams, repetition in culture, EQ over IQ in leadership, and Craig recommends the book “Extreme Ownership,” emphasizing ownership paired with action and learning.00:00 Welcome and Friday Vibes01:06 Craig Adams Background01:51 Builder Mindset and Growth03:05 Why Me Why Now05:39 AI Finds Risk Faster07:19 From Detection to Remediation09:53 Completing the Workflow13:36 Roadmaps in Rapid Change15:52 Hiring for Curiosity20:24 Humans Still Do Analysis22:56 Disruption and Services Future25:41 Mission Driven Teams30:32 Repetition and Culture33:19 EQ Over IQ Leadership

AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity: SOC Automation, GRC Limits, and the Rise of Boutique AdvisoryTom welcomes cybersecurity veteran Dave Cronin, founder of Mission Security and vCISO/Head of Cyber Services with CyberTrust Massachusetts, who recounts his path from technical roles and teaching ethical hacking to senior leadership and nuclear compliance work across U.S. power plants. They discuss AI as a pivot point in cybersecurity, accelerating both defense and attacks, including uncovering long-standing vulnerabilities. Dave argues AI is rapidly replacing repetitive SOC/MDR Level 1 triage tasks, contributing to consolidation, while human judgment remains critical for response actions and for gray-area domains like GRC where politics and control tradeoffs matter. They cover market pressures from private equity, ROI scrutiny, workforce cuts, and CISO role changes, alongside increased demand for go-to-market, customer success, and relationship-driven services. Dave advises embracing AI, learning prompting, specializing skills, and he describes helping small organizations and municipalities with compliance needs such as CMMC.00:37 Dave Cronin Background02:10 Nuclear Compliance Stories04:51 Ethical Hacking Roots06:10 AI Finds Old Flaws06:31 SOC Automation Impact11:12 Human Relationships Matter13:23 GRC and AI Limits14:59 AI ROI and Cost Cuts17:37 CISO Role Shifts20:56 Future of MDR Vendors22:37 Anthropic and Legal Disruption23:28 AI for Legal Tasks24:51 Who AI Disrupts Next25:08 Future Proof Security Roles26:21 Go To Market Surge26:49 Human Service Comeback28:24 Career Advice Embrace AI29:36 Prompting and Learning Tools31:27 AI Clones and Trust33:54 Day Job Mission Security35:04 CMMC Compliance Reality38:42 Small Teams with AI40:15 Layoffs and AI Washing42:09 CISO Pay Compression Risks43:02 Closing Thoughts

In this Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast episode, Thomas chats with Dale Hoak, a former US Navy veteran who transitioned to the commercial sector and progressed from to senior director and now Chief Security Officer/CISO at RegScale.Dale explains that leaving the military is difficult because individuals must take ownership of healthcare, career planning, compensation negotiation, and resume-building, recommending an exit strategy starting two years before separation and seeking early help (including AI tools) while understanding one’s individual value.He credits his advancement to strong networks and mentors, hard work, and learning to understand business value and communicate cyber risk in non-technical terms to leaders and boards, using approaches like threat modeling and risk scoring. He discusses AI as a helpful but fallible tool requiring fact-checking, emphasizes continuous learning.Dale recommends as a starting point "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and then progressing on to 2 series of books by Gary Hayslip. He listens to lots of podcastsincluding New CISO and CISO Tradecraft.00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:36 Dale’s Career Snapshot02:08 Life as a CSO03:06 Leaving the Military05:00 Certs Resumes and Value07:31 First Civilian Break08:51 Networking as a Superpower10:05 How Promotions Happen13:20 Building Business Awareness17:03 Speaking Board Level Risk17:40 Books and Daily Routines18:26 AI Needs Human Communication19:51 Phone Calls and Real Talk21:18 Using AI Responsibly22:15 AI Resumes and Hiring Reality23:29 Culture Fit and Honesty25:06 Never Stop Learning27:11 Learning Resources and Creativity30:26 AI Accelerates Skill Gaps32:22 Leadership Lessons and Quotes33:21 Books Podcasts and Wrap Up

Chris Tjotjos on building businesses through crashes, advisory boards, and compounding growth Thomas chats with Chris Tjotjos on the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast about his career from sales to leading Logos Communications and later co-founding Promithia and Simvay Systems Chris describes early entrepreneurial “full throttle” focus, reinvesting profits for years, and the power of compounding, including examples using pennies and leveraged real estate and recurring revenue. He recounts major disruptions - post-1999 internet implosion after buying out his partner and the 2008 crisis, and how transparency, profit-sharing via an EBIT plan, and shifting customer concentration helped stabilize and grow. A key turning point was meeting entrepreneur Jack Kale, starting an advisory board, and using book-based learning to reshape culture. Chris explains being approached to sell Logos to Black Box, scaling the division, and critiques lack of synergy in acquisitions. Book recommendations mentioned include "Financial Freedom" Mark Harrelson, "The Vital Difference," and "Leading From The Heart," by Jack Kale, "Rockefeller: The Titan," and "The 38 Letters Rockefeller Wrote to His Son." 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:39 Meet Chris Tjotjos 01:58 Focus Then Scale 03:04 Early Entrepreneur Grind 04:34 Compounding Mindset 06:55 Leverage and OPM 09:27 Life After the Exit 13:22 Dotcom Crash Lessons 15:29 Open Books EBIT Plan 17:39 Jack Kale Book Club 22:26 Partnership Synergy 23:33 Faith Prayer Meditation 25:31 Perspective and Mortality 26:12 Greek Roots and Big Questions 27:20 Faith Over Wealth 27:50 Servant Leadership in Business 28:12 Why Logos Was Founded 32:26 Selling After the 2008 Storm 36:55 Acquisition Lessons and Synergy 38:54 Starting Again With Promethea 40:18 Advisory Boards That Scale 43:51 Building the Board and Jack Story 47:53 Closing Reflections and Thanks 48:27 AI as a Virtual Board 49:42 When to Form a Board

Shante Perrin on SOC Leadership, Communicating Risk, and Curiosity-Driven Career GrowthThomas chats with cybersecurity leader Shante Perrin, who progressed from web developer and help desk roles to SOC leadership and Director of Global Security Operations. Shante describes SOC and MSSP work focused on preventing repeat incidents through policies, procedures, customer advisement, and deploying new services and tools that improve analyst efficiency and investigation quality. They discuss the challenge of convincing customers to prioritize security before a breach, emphasizing tailored communication, active listening, documenting risk, and framing guidance around business impact and reputation. Shante highlights interview and hiring themes such as curiosity, understanding why tools are used (not just clicking), teamwork, and cultural fit, plus using brown-bag sessions to share investigative thinking. Career advice centers on taking leaps into unfamiliar work, seeking support, and accountability. Shante recommends David Goggins’ book "Can’t Hurt Me" and mentions journaling and self-care for sustainable performance.00:00 Welcome and Introductions01:09 Shante's Security Ops Role02:58 Convincing Customers to Act04:50 Communication in the SOC07:04 Incident Calls and Risk09:39 Security as Business Partner14:24 Career Growth Through Curiosity20:01 Interviewing Beyond Tools21:51 Curiosity Stands Out22:45 Hiring For Likability24:56 Humor Under Pressure25:49 Help Desk Foundations28:54 Learning Styles That Stick29:56 Audio Diet And Mindset31:38 Confidence And Speaking Up34:16 Setbacks And Self Care36:30 Book Pick David Goggins38:28 Journaling And Control39:38 Sustainable Work Rhythms41:20 Final Thanks And Wrap

From Security Executive to Startup Founder: Sales, Focus, and Raising a Pre-Seed RoundOn the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Tom chats with Tommy Donnelly, CTO, President, and co-founder of Amplifier Security. Tommy describes founder life as high-ambiguity work requiring constant energy, disciplined routines, and learning new skills - especially sales - framing it as “finding” the right customers with urgency and budget rather than persuading everyone. He explains the value of narrowing product scope, defining an ICP, and iterating cheaply to reach product-market fit before scaling. Donnelly shares hiring traits he prioritizes (ambiguity tolerance, vision alignment, data-driven iteration), discusses leadership progression from technical roles to cross-functional and external influence, outlines how Amplifer raised a $3.3M pre-seed using design partners, networked VC outreach, and standardized SAFE notes (e.g., via Clerky), recommends TK Kader founder training, and cites Patrick Lencioni’s book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.” 00:00 Welcome and Banter01:06 Entrepreneurship Reality Check01:56 Energy and Founder Routines03:20 Tommy’s Career Intro04:02 Founder Life and Learning Sales05:18 Listening and Networking Wins09:21 Executive Communication Shift12:33 Finding the Right Customers17:46 Hiring for Ambiguity21:44 From Startup to Scale Lessons24:04 Structure vs Chaos24:23 Climbing to VP Reality25:54 Leaving Bullhorn for BetterCloud27:14 Going All In as Founder28:30 Staying Focused and Niche30:50 How the Pre Seed Happened36:28 Money Is a Commodity40:44 Founder Sales Qualification44:28 Best Founder Training Resource45:49 Teamwork and Hard Conversations48:16 Wrap Up and Thanks

Casey Murphy on Boundaries, Deep Work, and Learning Fast in Startup Revenue MarketingHad a great chat with Casey Murphy, who shares his career path from the US Navy submarine/nuclear program to Accenture, an MBA internship at Secure AI Labs, Microsoft, and his current role at Phosphorus Cybersecurity as Director of Revenue Marketing. Casey describes his identity as a Christian and frames his “Forrest Gump” career as a series of making the next right decision rather than following a grand plan, viewing successes and failures through faith and resilience. They discuss prioritizing family, creating boundaries to avoid burnout, and the importance of deep work, especially in remote settings, using examples like an Admiral’s early-morning focus block and a CFO’s handwritten index card of top priorities. They also discuss using AI as a learning aid while still doing painful, hands-on practice, and how printing, handwriting, and journaling improve thinking and retention.00:00 Welcome and Catch Up01:15 Casey Career Intro01:52 Identity and Navy Lessons05:35 Resilience and Priorities07:49 Work Boundaries and Burnout10:34 Remote Work Deep Focus15:18 Simple To Do Systems18:06 Learning and Upskilling19:25 Using AI Wisely23:38 Analog Thinking and Strategy27:05 Wrap Up and Next Time

Andrew Kirch on Hacker Mindset, Insider Threats, and AI’s Impact on CybersecurityIn this Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast episode, Thomas chats with Andrew Kirch, Director of Technical Operations at Stoic Cybersecurity, who describes his wide-ranging background across IT, red and blue team work, tabletop exercises, and early experience running a major DNS blacklist that helped him understand how attackers think.Andrew argues hacker mindset is learnable through experience, stresses reputational and insider threats, and explains prioritizing vulnerabilities based on real exploitability. He shares stories involving Anonymous, Occupy Wall Street amplification, and law-enforcement work culminating in Operation Cyber Slam. The discussion covers increasing criminal organization, AI-driven risks (voice cloning, fake candidates, faster exploit development, and corporate secrets leaking via public AI), the need for continuous learning, and sources he follows such as YouTube, Ground News, CISA updates, and The Register.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:55 Andrew’s Background04:55 Hacker Mindset Tips06:51 Prioritizing Real Threats08:56 Anonymous Storytime12:00 Operation Cyber Slam15:24 Cybercrime As Business17:25 How To Level Up21:01 AI And IP Risks24:04 Generalist Security Skills24:41 AI Voice Fraud Threat26:17 Fake Candidates Remote Hiring27:39 AI Widens Attack Surface29:28 Breach Costs and Insurance31:01 Writing Reports With AI34:10 Tone and Social Engineering36:10 Cyber News Sources39:22 Geopolitics and Ransomware41:18 Utilities and SCADA Risks42:53 Zero Trust and Passkeys45:32 AI for SOC Defense47:25 Wrap Up and Farewell

Wiley Bayes on Red Teaming, Networking Fundamentals, and Breaking into CybersecurityThomas hosts Wiley Bayes on the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast to discuss Wiley’s career path from early Linux curiosity and the US Navy into networking, systems/cloud engineering, penetration testing, and his current role as Senior Principal Red Team Operator at Dark Wolf Solutions. Wiley explains day-to-day red teaming on DoD contracts, emphasizing long preparation cycles, payload testing against major security tools, patience, and tailoring phishing to the audience. He advises career changers to keep learning, focus on fundamentals (especially networking), troubleshooting, and scripting/programming, and to break into IT first rather than fixating on a dream cybersecurity role unless you’re exceptionally advanced. They discuss Dark Wolf’s custom CTF-based hiring, communication skills gained from executive briefings, concerns about shortcuts and AI, and Wiley recommends OpenBSD and Peter N.M. Hansteen’s book “The Book of PF,” plus home lab tinkering.00:00 Welcome and Golf Talk01:27 Career Journey Intro02:26 Early Curiosity and Navy Roots03:17 Why Networking Matters04:04 Red Team Day to Day06:35 Phishing and Security Hygiene08:09 Transitioning to Civilian Life09:50 Hiring with Custom CTFs11:31 Breaking In Is Harder Now14:45 Finding Your Path in Security17:55 Staying Relevant and Next Steps20:39 Pentest To Architect Shift21:25 Communication Under Pressure23:17 Fundamentals And Hiring Quality25:43 Stop Chasing Dream Roles27:57 Learning Resources And Practice28:57 Troubleshooting War Story32:31 AI Shortcuts Vs Real Skills34:36 Code And Scripting Matters36:04 Books And Home Labbing38:37 Wrap Up And Thanks

Barak Engel on Fractional CISO Life, Resilience, and Relationship-Driven Security Consulting Thomas chats with Barak Engel, founder/CEO of EAmmune and an advisor/board member across several security organizations, about his 23-year consulting journey, including creating the virtual/fractional CISO concept in 2003 and the realities of “feast or famine” work. Barak discusses rapid context switching (and hitting his limit while serving six CISOs at once), resilience through setbacks such as the 2008 crash and Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and how reputation and long-term relationships drive EAmmune’s referral-only growth through “concentric circles” as clients change jobs. He emphasizes transparency, accountability, avoiding short-term exploitation, delegating to strengths (including hiring a people manager), and focusing on minimizing damage rather than preventing all mistakes. Book recommendations include Anthony de Mello’s "Awareness," Malcolm Gladwell’s "Blink," and "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy," plus Barak’s book "The Crack in the Crystal" 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:31 Origin of EAmmune Name 02:39 Resilience and Career Overview 04:51 Fractional CISO and Context Switching 06:38 Jessica Burnout Story 08:39 Lightning Angel Name Meaning 09:10 Relationships Over Everything 11:58 Bankruptcy and Customer Lifeline 15:15 Bootstrapping and Early Hustle 17:38 Strengths Focus and Delegation 19:33 Leaving Corporate and Forced Independence 22:34 Referral Growth Philosophy 23:58 Radical Transparency 24:59 Accidental Career Path 25:56 Reputation Compounds 28:12 Resilience Over Perfection 30:53 Trust Beats Skill 32:43 Owning Mistakes 34:39 Pretty Little Princess 36:04 Practice Context Switching 39:11 Humility and Humanity 43:00 Books and Farewell

From Bartending to COO: Hospitality Skills, Remote Work, and Critical Thinking in CybersecurityThe host welcomes Alise Barron to the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast and introduces her career path from hospitality and internet marketing into recruiting leadership roles at Experis Finance, Cylance, and Blackberry, and then multiple promotions at Cyvatar to COO.Elise describes a typical remote-work day balancing family routines, early email catch-up due to time zones, constant meetings, and handling unexpected escalations in cybersecurity operations. They discuss why hospitality backgrounds can drive rapid advancement: strong work ethic, quick critical thinking, customer and stakeholder management, resilience, and learning to set boundaries without adopting a victim mindset. Elise connects these skills to project management, noting she later recognized she had been applying PMP-style practices.They also discuss productivity tradeoffs between remote and office work, the value of networking, and how incident response requires structure, patience, and calm communication.00:00 Welcome and Catch Up00:42 Small World in Security01:47 Elise Career Intro02:59 COO Daily Routine04:58 Remote Work Realities08:44 From Bartender to COO13:39 Hospitality Skills in Corporate18:02 Boundaries and Ownership19:24 Project Management Mindset25:12 Hiring Through Networking26:59 AI and Recruiting Filters29:20 Closing Thoughts and Wrap

Ray DeMeo on Cybersecurity Investing, AI Risk, and Building Resilient TeamsThomas chats with Ray, managing director at Pulse Drive Group with a background in senior roles across tech and venture advising, about current cybersecurity market dynamics and investing. Ray notes recent acquisitions focused on cyber AI and protecting AI applications and data, highlighting the need to reduce risk and address SOC alert overload. They discuss the Gartner Hype Cycle moving faster, hiring shifts toward broader, architecture-aware talent, and the possibility that top security individual contributors will become highly compensated as AI increases productivity. Ray contrasts slow government procurement with urgent geopolitical pressures, citing Ukraine’s drone-driven innovation. He shares career lessons from early customer-facing work, startup discipline, mentorship in large companies, and the responsibility of layoffs. Ray argues most security spending is post-deployment, urging stronger pre-deployment secure coding. Book recommendations include Nicole Perlroth’s “This Is How the World Ends,” plus “Team of Teams,” and Steve Martin’s “Born Standing Up.”00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:52 Ray’s Mission in Cybersecurity04:03 Market Pulse and Investor Sentiment04:25 AI Security and M&A Trends07:09 Hype Cycle and Skills Shift10:16 Government Pace and Ukraine Lessons12:34 Career Lessons and Early Hustle14:16 Startup Discipline and Customer Focus16:56 Founder High and Building Momentum18:23 Why Startups Hook You19:41 Client Facing Skills20:39 Caddying Lessons21:47 Building People Skills23:10 Big Company Mentors25:48 Hard Leadership Calls27:33 Secure Code Gap32:36 AI and Code Quality34:24 Books and Mindset36:28 Advisory Work Network37:51 Closing Thanks

CMMC Readiness, Compliance Consulting, and Career Lessons with Joe SchofieldIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Tom speaks with Joe Scholefield, a former sysadmin/network engineer and ex-Dell cybersecurity manager, now serving as Director of Compliance at Deafcert, about helping defense contractors meet CMMC (based on NIST requirements) and preparing for DoD third-party assessments. Joe explains CMMC readiness commonly takes 12–18 months, with faster progress driven by aligned stakeholders, minimal internal resistance, and strong cross-department project management. They discuss CMMC as both a cost and revenue differentiator, increasing supply-chain pressure from primes like Lockheed and RTX, and a looming assessor bottleneck given the number of companies needing certification versus C3PAOs. Joe shares career advice on knowing when to move roles, the impact of earning a bachelor’s degree over 17 years to avoid HR filtering, the importance of soft skills in consulting, and recommends the “CUI Center of Excellence” Discord community.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:03 What Joe Does Now02:52 Helping Clients Succeed03:36 Racing Through CMMC05:24 CMMC as Revenue Driver06:36 Supply Chain Pressure07:46 Bottleneck and Assessors08:50 Rollout Timeline Debate11:39 Why CMMC Exists13:08 Career Growth Lessons16:27 Hiring and Soft Skills19:19 Restaurant Skills for Consulting20:29 Career Growth and Timing Moves20:43 Finishing a Degree Late22:37 Degrees and HR Filters23:51 Certs and Hiring Signals24:34 Job Search Fatigue Tips26:31 Small Teams Hiring Stakes27:17 Finding Community Resources29:01 Mentors and Giving Back31:26 Making Time for Growth32:31 Work Life Balance Advice33:08 Golf and Disconnecting33:55 Wrap Up and Thanks

Jim Miller on Talent Acquisition: Career Growth, Remote Hiring, and Today’s Employer MarketOn the Cyber Security Recruiter podcast, Thomas chats with Jim Miller, a talent acquisition leader with 25 years’ experience, including early recruitment at Allegis, a decade at Google (rising to global head of inbound talent), VP of Talent Acquisition at FullStory, and now VP of People and Talent at Ashby, where the company is fully remote across 27 countries.Jim shares career lessons: teach and share expertise, explicitly ask for roles you want, and prioritize quality over quantity. They discuss today’s market dynamics: layoffs, heavy competition for remote roles, niche hard-to-fill roles, and intentional application “friction”,plus concerns about overusing AI in applications. Jim advises tailoring CVs to show what you did, how, and the impact and magnitude of your actions, and recommends Ashby’s “Offer Accepted” podcast.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:51 Life and Remote Work03:04 Team Retreats and Remote Culture04:07 Career Growth Lessons08:13 Quality Over Quantity10:06 Intentional Applications12:19 Hiring Market Imbalance16:47 AI Use and Integrity19:33 Resume Impact and Magnitude22:40 Resume Bullet Formula22:53 ATS Myths And Evidence24:05 AI Criteria Matching25:26 Speed And Transparency25:41 High Volume Review Hacks26:37 Accent Banter Break27:08 Handling Setbacks Adaptably29:23 Inbound Versus Sourcing32:33 Early Google Scaling Story34:41 Choosing Product Market Fit36:28 Building Google's ATS39:50 Offer Accepted Podcast41:03 Learning From Coworkers43:03 Closing Thoughts

Andrew Wildrix on Transitioning from the Army, Building Networks, and Standing Out in Cybersecurity HiringOn the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Tom interviews Andrew Wildrix, a former US Army major and current VP of Business Development at Intrusion, about his career path from military service into cybersecurity and sales/technical leadership.Andrew describes his day-to-day work spanning emails and sales calls, product and engineering feedback loops, budgeting for a public company, and raising Intrusion’s profile as it expands from long-term US government work into commercial markets. He contrasts government vs MSP messaging, emphasizes planning before leaving the military, and advises building networks through local professional groups and optimizing LinkedIn while avoiding divisive topics.They discuss ATS-driven hiring challenges, the value of soft skills and translating technical concepts without condescension, creative job-search tactics to “not be a number,” and interview red flags like victim mentality. Andrew recommends reading The Phoenix Project and a Star Wars “Book of the Sith” on power and leadership.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:11 Day in the Life at Intrusion02:38 Branding vs Cold Outreach03:20 Customer Feedback to Product04:06 Army Background and Influence Ops04:48 Transitioning Out of Military06:28 ATS and Hiring Reality Check08:14 Building a Network and LinkedIn11:19 Staying Professional Online13:51 Sales and Technical Career Loop14:56 Communication and Culture Lessons21:06 Toxicity and SMB Team Fit22:09 Standing Out in Job Hunting26:17 Resilience and Victim Mindset30:58 Books That Shaped Andrew32:57 Wrap Up and Thanks

Navigating a Cybersecurity Career and Business Leadership with Dave AndersonIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, our host converses with Dave Anderson about his fascinating career journey in cybersecurity. They discuss Dave's consistent online presence, bolstered by a specialist assisting him with LinkedIn content, which is pivotal for staying visible in the cybersecurity field.Dave shares insightful details about his traditional career progression, from tech support to high-level security roles at prominent companies like Greenhouse, and his eventual transition to founding TSC Security. Dave takes us through the unique steps of moving from being an employee to an employer, including an intriguing personal story of moving to a boat in New Jersey and eventually to Florida, while developing his consultancy business.The conversation covers the challenges of scaling a business, hiring dynamic and flexible personnel, and the importance of certifications and continual learning in the cybersecurity field. Dave also emphasizes the value of referrals,and shares his thoughts on the impactful book 'The Phoenix Project' for understanding effective project management in a business context.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:30 Dave's Content Strategy and Consistency01:56 Career Journey and Achievements02:43 Starting TSC Security04:30 Life on a Boat and Transition to Entrepreneurship06:28 Growth and Challenges of Running a Business09:56 Importance of Referrals and Networking13:36 Lessons from Startup Experience18:33 Building a Strong Network19:04 Scaling Challenges and Company Growth21:44 Hiring the Right People25:14 The Impact of AI on Business29:29 The Value of Certifications32:25 Recommended Resources for Success35:37 Final Thoughts and Reflection

Leading Managed Security Services: Growth, Hiring Advice, and Playing to Your Strengths with April JenkinsThomas chats with April Jenkins, Senior Director of Managed Services/Service Desk at Elite Ops, about her career path, and how she prioritizes both customer outcomes and team growth, balance, and psychological safety. April explains her organization’s expansion from 9 to 42 people through new hiring and team consolidation, and discusses current market conditions: high candidate volume, employer decisions about remote vs. office, and the importance of responsiveness, accurately matching job requirements, and adding short notes with resumes.She shares career guidance on focusing on strengths, staying authentic, reading the room, building relationships through problem-solving, and sustaining momentum via small daily wins and protected thinking time. Recommendation: a strengths-focused book (described as “maximizing your strengths”) and the “do unto others” golden rule from a Dr Pepper Museum exhibit.00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:26 April’s Career Origins02:45 Life Running 24/7 Support05:03 Team Culture and Mindset06:31 Scaling from 9 to 4207:13 Hiring in a Tough Market11:10 Standing Out as a Candidate14:39 Internships and Career Switchers15:12 Advice for Career Growth17:19 Strengths and Relationship Building20:15 Finding Your Niche in Security21:29 Find Your Strengths22:20 Define Your Core24:12 Write It Down Daily25:24 Protect Thinking Time26:29 Start Small Habits28:40 Momentum From Small Wins29:51 Ignore Social Media Timelines32:15 Relationships As Deposits34:33 Authenticity And Feedback37:36 Golden Rule Leadership40:00 Wrap Up And Thanks

Recruiter Insights for a Tough Market: Resumes, Interviews, Follow-Ups, and ProfessionalismOn the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Tom chats with Barb Adrian, Chief People Officer at Procellis Technology. about how candidates can stand out in a competitive, layoff-impacted market.Barb stresses a well-constructed, proof-read resume (errors like misspellings or mismatched dates are deal-breakers), showcasing community involvement, and limiting work history to relevant recent years. For interviews, she advises researching the company, being prepared for recruiter calls, asking thoughtful questions (including culture and what the interviewer loves about the job), practicing communication, and being comfortable with silence rather than babbling.She welcomes proactive outreach via LinkedIn or email and emphasizes follow-up and professionalism on virtual interviews (clean space, appropriate attire, minimal oversharing). Barb notes AI filtering can miss great candidates, so she manually reviewed 430 applicants, and she finds referrals especially effective.00:56 Meet Barb Career Journey02:01 Resume Must Haves03:21 Interview Prep and Flow05:57 Smart Questions to Ask07:05 Relaxed Communication Tips09:41 Reaching Out and Standing Out10:30 AI Screening and Follow Up14:35 Worst Phone Interview Story16:30 Virtual Interview Professionalism17:21 Oversharing Red Flags18:06 Stay Professional until Offer18:51 Dress For Success19:36 Market Shift Reality Check20:24 Community Interview Support23:51 AI Screening Pitfalls25:07 Referrals Beat Algorithms25:46 LinkedIn Noise And Etiquette28:07 Hiring Needs And Candidate Energy30:52 Human Touch And Mental Health33:04 Learning Through Your Network34:23 Episode Wrap Up

Navigating Cybersecurity Careers and Communication with Jake EverettIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Thomas welcomes Jake Everett, VP of Offensive Security at Rule4. They discuss technical challenges, the impact of AI, and Jake's career journey from the Marine Corps to the commercial world. Jake shares his daily responsibilities, the importance of communication and responsiveness, and educational resources that have been pivotal for his career. They also explore the role of honesty and detailed problem-solving in successful cybersecurity careers. Jake recommends the book 'Sandworm' and highlights valuable online resources like Hack the Box, Try Hack Me, and YouTube videos for continued learning.00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches 00:20 AI in Podcasting and Everyday Life 01:03 Jake Everett's Career Journey 02:02 A Day in the Life of a VP of Offensive Security 02:38 The Four-Day Work Week 04:31 Preparing for OSCP and Continuous Learning 08:25 Physical Pen Testing and Lock Picking 09:35 Transitioning from the Marine Corps to Tech 10:27 The Importance of Practical Application in Learning 12:37 Communication Skills in Cybersecurity 14:37 Honesty and Integrity in Job Applications 16:36 Building Trust in Cybersecurity 17:45 The Power of Word of Mouth 18:31 Effective Communication Tips 22:23 Career Progression to VP Level 24:27 The Role of AI in Recruitment 28:01 The Value of Continuous Learning 29:03 The Impact of Cyber Warfare 32:08 The Importance of a Positive Algorithm Diet 33:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Unlocking the Secrets of Talent Acquisition with John HerrickIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Thomas interviews John Herrick, a seasoned professional in the recruitment industry. They discuss John's career trajectory from a boutique agency in 2012 to his current role as a Global Talent Acquisition Manager. John shares insights on the effectiveness of ice baths, the benefits of over-communicating, and the importance of networking for finding passive candidates. He also shares personal growth tips, emphasizing the need for proactive outreach and heavy note-taking. The conversation is enriched with anecdotes about hiring across different cultures and the importance of aligning with hiring managers. For book lovers, John recommends survival books focused on edible plants, and for podcast enthusiasts, he enjoys 'The Joe Rogan Experience.00:00 Introduction and Ice Bath Discussion 01:07 John Herrick's Career Journey 01:42 Agency vs In-House Recruitment 02:49 The Importance of Professionalism in Recruitment 06:33 Challenges in the Current Job Market 11:45 Effective Communication with Hiring Managers 15:04 John's Promotion Journey and Key Learnings 21:49 Qualifying Roles and Passive Talent 22:48 Effective Communication with Hiring Managers 23:23 Cultural Differences in Hiring Practices 25:19 Proactive Stakeholder Engagement 26:05 Importance of Personality in Hiring 30:22 Learning from Candidates and Research 35:18 Personal Growth and Recommendations 35:47 Networking and Referrals 40:42 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Building Relationships and Navigating Cybersecurity Recruitment with Mariah HaagIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, host Thomas is joined by Mariah Haag, a Security Project and Talent Manager at Stratum Security, which has recently merged with Cyber Advisors. They discuss the organized chaos of managing client demands, Mariah’s career progression from retail management to cybersecurity recruitment, and the vital role of building relationships within the industry.Mariah emphasizes the importance of setting SMART goals, getting out of one's comfort zone, and maintaining work-life balance. She also shares insights on the law of attraction and recommends reading 'The Secret' and Top Biller, by Steve Guest, a recruitment book that offers practical advice from one of the top recruiters in the world.Throughout the episode, they highlight the benefits and challenges of remote work, the value of in-office experiences, especially for newcomers, and how to leverage every interaction for personal and professional growth.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:04 Mariah's Career Journey02:40 Building Relationships in Recruitment06:30 The Importance of Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone12:02 Practical Tips for Relationship Building15:02 The Power of Positive Thinking and Goal Setting20:21 Achieving Short-Term Goals21:22 The Importance of Fun at Work23:38 Understanding SMART Goals25:11 Balancing Work and Personal Life28:00 The Value of Office Culture36:24 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Cyber Security Recruiter Podcast: Navigating Career Journeys and Leveraging AI with Grace Rauth,In this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Thomas interacts with Grace Rauth, the global Learning and Development Manager at Chronosphere.Grace shares her journey from an HR specialist to an L&D specialist, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in today’s fast-changing work environment, especially with the rise of AI. The conversation also explores how Enneagram can be a powerful tool for understanding team dynamics and personal motivations. Grace shares her love for 'The Lord of the Rings' as a personal life philosophy and recommends 'Five Dysfunctions of a Team' for professional development.The episode wraps up with practical advice for job seekers in the current tough market, emphasizing the value of AI tools, active listening, and staying positive.00:14 Discussing the Weather and Working Conditions01:26 Grace's Career Journey01:59 The Startup Experience03:31 Adapting to AI in the Workplace11:11 The Importance of Active Listening17:00 Understanding Motivation with Enneagram20:28 The Challenges of Transitioning to Management21:52 The Complexities of Sales and Recruitment24:38 The Impact of Market Conditions on Hiring29:38 Leveraging AI and Staying Positive in Job Search34:37 The Value of Patience and Adaptability in CareersGrace Rauth suggested:The Lord of the Rings by John Ronald Reuel TolkienThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Insightful Journeys in Cybersecurity and the Impact of Emotional IntelligenceIn this episode of the 'Cybersecurity Recruiter' podcast, Thomas welcomes Max Schroeder, CTO at Aquiety, who shares his unique career trajectory from the beverage industry to becoming a CTO in cybersecurity. Max emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in technical roles and elaborates on how his hospitality background has been instrumental to his success.The discussion covers recurring themes concerning the hospitality industry's influence on career advancement, the significance of networking and genuine human connection in a digitized world, and the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in recruiting and cybersecurity. Max offers invaluable advice on the importance of communication skills, continuous learning, and the need for passion outside of work to stay grounded. The episode also features a thoughtful recommendation for the book 'Setting the Table' by Danny Meyer, highlighting the essence of exceptional customer service and its relevance across different fields.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:31 Max Shroeder's Career Journey02:27 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence05:23 Leadership and Communication Skills10:08 Networking and AI in Recruitment16:14 The Value of Conferences and Networking Groups20:32 LinkedIn and Online Presence23:23 The Quest for Authenticity in the Age of AI24:21 Balancing AI Innovation with Security Concerns26:30 The Importance of Quality Over Quantity in SMBs27:48 The Power of Positive Experiences and Referrals29:55 Building Genuine Connections in Professional Networking33:52 Navigating Career Progression and Job Loyalty41:34 The Value of Passion Projects and Continuous Learning44:02 Concluding Thoughts and ReflectionsMax suggested:Setting the Table by Danny Meyer

Navigating Cybersecurity and Career Transitions with George Charles OsterholtIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, the host welcomes George Charles Osterholt, a lead cybersecurity engineer at Scientia. They discuss George's career transition from managing sizable teams in restaurants to becoming an advisor at Indiana University and later advancing in the cybersecurity field.George shares his insights on managing remote teams, the importance of cybersecurity compliance, and the challenges of integrating AI into security measures. He also offers valuable advice on effectively communicating the importance of cybersecurity to non-technical stakeholders.George recommends 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho and a book about the life of MF Doom, emphasizing the importance of adventure, self-realization, and sticking to first principles in one's career journey.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:41 George's Background and Career Journey01:16 A Day in the Life of a Cybersecurity Engineer02:19 CMMC and Compliance in Cybersecurity03:17 The Importance of Security and Privacy04:19 Team Dynamics and Development05:21 Incident Response and Continuous Learning10:10 Balancing Budget and Security13:51 Communicating ROI in Cybersecurity19:45 AI and the Future of Cybersecurity22:21 Navigating Security with Caveats23:41 Effective Cybersecurity Training24:54 Visible Security and Trust25:42 Communication and Adaptability in Security26:33 Lessons from the Restaurant Industry29:03 Incident Response and Agility32:59 Career Transitions and Lifelong Learning35:08 The Future of AI and Cybersecurity36:41 Economic Cycles and Career Resilience37:44 Adapting to Remote Work39:50 Books that Inspire and Guide42:07 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsGeorge suggested:The Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoThe Chronicles of Doom by S.H. Fernando Jr.

Navigating Cybersecurity Careers: Insights from Brennan LodgeIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Thomas is joined by Brennan Lodge to discuss his extensive experience and career in cybersecurity. They delve into Brennan's past roles at Goldman Sachs, BlockFi, and HSBC, as well as his current ventures as a founder of BLodgic and fractional CISO. Brennan shares insights on balancing multiple roles, the importance of communication and mentorship, and his passion for integrating AI and data science into cybersecurity practices. The conversation also touches on the need for resilience, the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, and the benefits of attending industry conferences. Brennan recommends two impactful books: Shon Harris's CISSP guide and Ethan Mollick's 'Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AIBrennan also tells us about his LinkedIn Learning LinkedIn learning class coming out on AI Tools and Automation for Cybersecurity and his previous classes on LinkedIn Learning,- RAG (retrieve augmented generation) and use cases of RAG for cybersecurity. And then MCP (model context protocol) and use cases of using and securing MCP and cybersecurity.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:30 Guest Background and Career Highlights 01:45 Current Role and Responsibilities 03:38 Insights on Cybersecurity and Career Growth 05:35 Challenges and Strategies in Cybersecurity 13:49 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity 21:49 AI in Legal and Security Frameworks 22:27 The Role of AI in GRC and Audits 23:22 Challenges and Benefits of AI in Compliance 27:38 The Importance of Conferences and Networking 31:56 Upcoming Talks and Learning Resources 35:07 Books and Resources for Career Growth 38:10 Final Thoughts on Cybersecurity and AI

Navigating Cybersecurity Recruitment: Insights from Carter MillerIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Tom engages in a candid conversation with Carter Miller, the head of talent at Trail of Bits. They discuss Carter's journey in the recruitment industry, touching on his roles at various organizations including Scope Group, Capital One, and Research Innovations. They delve into the importance of passion, continuous learning, and community involvement for candidates looking to excel in cybersecurity roles.Carter shares insights on effective hiring practices, the impact of AI in recruitment, and the challenges posed by fake candidates. The episode also highlights Carter's personal growth journey and his efforts to create an inclusive and agile work environment at Trail of Bits. Book recommendation: ´The Rising Leader Handbook´ by Mark Silverman.00:00 Introduction and Technical Issues01:15 Carter Miller's Career Journey03:48 Recruitment Insights and Strategies09:23 AI and Cybersecurity Innovations15:34 Hiring Criteria and Candidate Tips18:48 Hiring Passionate People at Trail of Bits19:19 Importance of Blockchain and Public Contests20:43 Job Search Fatigue and Candidate Preparation21:54 Challenges in Reviewing Resumes24:12 AI in Job Applications30:57 Building Relationships in Recruiting35:14 The Rising Leader Handbook38:46 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsCarter suggested:The Rising leader Handbook by Mark Silverman

The Journey from Employee to Cybersecurity Entrepreneur with Kevin JohnsonIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, the host interviews Kevin Johnson, CEO of Secure Ideas.Kevin shares his experience and insights from his career journey, including his early days as a programmer, a SANS instructor, and his transition to running his own successful cybersecurity firm. He discusses the differences between being busy and being productive, the importance of consuming and discerning information, and the ethical implications of business practices like cold calling.Kevin also emphasizes the role of a strong support network in achieving entrepreneurial success and offers advice on how to sustain long-term business growth.Additionally, he recommends Malcolm Gladwell's podcast 'Revisionist History' for its insights into understanding and solving complex problems.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:23 The Busy vs. Productive Debate02:15 Kevin's Journey into Cybersecurity04:42 The Importance of Consuming Knowledge07:24 From Employee to Entrepreneur14:48 The Power of Doing18:29 The Evolution of MVPs and Security Concerns19:10 Leadership vs. Management: A Personal Insight20:04 The Importance of Fun in the Workplace21:24 A Unique Approach to Customer Service26:07 The Ethics of Cold Calling and Inbound Marketing31:52 The Impact of Revisionist History36:45 Concluding Thoughts and ReflectionsKevin suggested:Talking to Strangers book and Revisionist History podcast by Malcolm Gladwell

Navigating the Job Market:- Insights from Industry ExpertsIn this episode of the Talent Acquisition podcast, Tom welcomes Donna Pacheco, a seasoned talent acquisition specialist, for an in-depth discussion on the contemporary recruitment landscape.Donna shares her extensive career journey and insights from her experience in various sectors, including healthcare and logistics. The conversation covers the chaotic post-COVID job market, emphasizing the importance of industry-specific knowledge and adaptability.Key topics include the impact of AI on job applications, strategies for effective job searching, relationship-building with recruiters, and the evolving nature of recruitment in a more volatile world. Both Tom and Donna stress the importance of authenticity and due diligence for job seekers and recruiters alike, offering practical advice to help navigate these unprecedented times.Donna recommends reading  Franklin Covey series about being mindful of time management.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:30 Donna's Career Journey01:13 Post-COVID Job Market Insights03:09 AI and Technology in Job Hunting03:34 Industry-Specific Job Market Trends05:36 Using AI for Resumes and Interviews15:47 Building Relationships in Recruiting17:23 Challenges in Modern Recruiting19:46 Scaling Back on Profiles20:17 The Importance of Personal Branding21:00 Challenges in Recruitment22:35 Fake Applications and Impersonation Issues24:38 The Value of Initial Screening Calls25:23 Recruiter and Candidate Communication26:31 Understanding Recruiter Workloads29:05 The Impact of Company Restructuring31:13 The Joy and Challenges of Recruitment34:39 Time Management Tips for RecruitersDonna suggested:Franklin Covey Training series

Balancing Cybersecurity and Skateboarding: Insights from Patrick GarrityIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Thomas is joined by Patrick Garrity, an experienced cybersecurity professional with a unique passion for skateboarding. They discuss Patrick’s journey from sales to high-level roles in cybersecurity, his innovative office setup, and his skateboarding adventures.Patrick shares his experiences with injury, the importance of vulnerability and persistence in professional development, and strategies for effective online engagement. They also explore valuable resources for cybersecurity research and the importance of staying active, both mentally and physically. Patrick recommends the book 'The Mutt' by skateboard legend Rodney Mullen for inspiration.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:12 Skateboarding Passion and Injuries02:47 Patrick's Professional Journey04:05 Daily Life and Work in Cybersecurity05:37 The Importance of Communication Skills07:35 Embracing Criticism and Feedback17:50 Balancing Work and Hobbies21:28 The Importance of Surrounding Yourself with Good People22:53 Climbing the Career Ladder: Titles and Responsibilities30:47 Balancing Work and Personal Life34:07 Resources for Vulnerability Research37:29 Conference Highlights and Networking40:05 Book Recommendations and Personal Growth42:07 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Navigating Career Growth and Modern Sales Strategies with Kyle PardueIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Tom welcomes Kyle Pardue, a seasoned professional with a diverse career trajectory from accounting to sales leadership at Kirkpatrick Price. Kyle shares insights on overcoming technical glitches, career progression, and the importance of sales and communication skills, especially in a down market. He emphasizes the value of personalized outreach, such as handwritten notes and thoughtful communication. Kyle also discusses his approach to hiring and managing sales teams, stressing creativity and authenticity. He highlights the importance of continuous learning and leadership, referencing John Maxwell's 'The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership' as a key influence.The conversation wraps up with a focus on achieving goals and cultivating healthy habits for sustained success.00:00 Introduction00:22 Guest Introduction: Kyle's Career Journey00:56 Day in the Life of Kyle: New Dad and Sales Leader02:08 Sales Strategies and Market Insights02:28 Kyle's Career Progression and Promotions05:09 The Importance of Being Remembered06:32 Sales Skills and Authenticity09:03 The Changing Landscape of Sales11:45 Recruiting and Hiring Insights18:03 Managing Different Personalities18:36 Breaking Down Big Goals into Manageable Steps19:16 Encouraging Creativity in Sales Plans20:37 Recruitment Strategies: Going Beyond Job Postings22:26 The Importance of Personal Touch in Outreach25:27 Challenges and Changes in Sales Communication28:29 The Power of Personalized Outreach32:54 Influential Books and Mentorship36:15 Year-End Goals and Healthy HabitsKyle suggested:The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

Navigating the Complexities of Cybersecurity Recruitment with Lane McFarlandIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, the host is joined by Lane McFarland, the VP of People Operations, Operational Excellence, Process Automation, and Workforce Planning at Flashpoint.Lane shares insights into his extensive career, which spans various roles in operations and people management. The discussion delves into the intricacies of modern recruitment practices, the impact of AI on job seeking and hiring processes, and the strategies for effective networking and outreach in a competitive job market.Lane emphasizes the importance of ethical use of AI, the value of honest and realistic resumes, and the significance of maintaining a robust professional network. The episode is filled with practical advice and real-world examples, making it a valuable resource for both job seekers and recruiters.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:31 Lane's Career Journey02:26 Day in the Life of Lane04:30 AI in Cybersecurity Recruitment09:55 Challenges in Recruitment18:54 Ethics and AI in Recruitment24:27 The Importance of In-Person Interviews25:40 Coaching Through Resume and Interview Preparation26:33 The Role of Personal Connections in Job Applications30:06 Balancing Remote and In-Person Work36:10 Effective Outreach Strategies for Job Seekers43:18 The Value of Networking and Mentorship45:50 Recommended Resources for Professional GrowthLane suggested: Dare to Lead by Brene BrownBooks by Ben Eubanks

Navigating Cybersecurity Careers: Insights from Alfredo Hickman's Phenomenal Journey In this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Thomas sits down with Alfredo Hickman, a seasoned cybersecurity professional with a rich background in both the military and commercial sectors. Alfredo shares his career journey, including his time in the United States Marine Corps, transitions to key roles at Vista International Operations, Rackspace, and currently at Ossian Security. The discussion highlights key topics such as the significance of community in cybersecurity, the impact of AI at the Black Hat conference, and advice for transitioning military personnel into the commercial world. Alfredo also delves into career progression strategies, the importance of genuine human connections, and the value of resilience and perseverance. The conversation is filled with valuable insights for both job seekers and employers in the cybersecurity industry. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:00 Alfredo Hickman's Career Journey 04:05 Black Hat Conference Insights 14:23 Transitioning from Military to Commercial World 18:05 Job Search Tips from an Employer's Perspective 23:20 Spotting Resume Red Flags 23:47 Balancing Job Search and Lifestyle 25:01 The Importance of Networking 25:37 Climbing the Career Ladder 26:08 Resilience and Grit: Personal Stories 27:53 Inspirational Quotes and Their Impact 35:39 Building Relationships for Career Growth 42:26 Recommended Reads for Personal Growth 44:17 Final Thoughts and Reflections Films/quotes that Alfredo mentions and are well worth checking out: Theodore Roosevelt, The Man in the Arena Rocky Balboa film Mother Theresa of Calcutta Rudyard Kipling - If Books that Alfredo recommends:  The Hard Thing about Hard Things by Ben Horowitz  Jocko Willink. Extreme OwnershipGeneral Stanley McChrystal, Team of Teams

From Network Analyst to Cybersecurity Entrepreneur: A Conversation with Vinson Cornejo.In this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Thomas speaks with Vinson Cornejo, Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Cloak. Vinson shares his professional journey from a network analyst at George Washington University to starting his own cybersecurity company. The discussion covers Vinson's typical day, the transition from being an employee to an employer, and the challenges and rewards of running a business. Vinson also explores the role of AI in cybersecurity and offers insights into the hiring process and the importance of interest and passion in the field. The episode concludes with a look into Vinson's favorite resources for career growth and personal development.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:14 Client Demands and Productive Mornings 01:11 Vinson's Career Journey 02:42 A Day in the Life 08:52 The Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship 15:09 Supporting Employee Growth and Entrepreneurship 19:27 The Importance of Character in Tough Times 20:07 Hiring for Character Over Skills 23:27 Balancing Work and Personal Life 24:04 Diving into AI and Its Applications 26:03 The Future of AI in the Workplace 28:26 Efficient Coding with AI Tools 32:58 Reusing and Integrating Code Libraries 37:10 The Impact of AI on Jobs and Society 38:18 Personal AI Agents: The Next Big Thing 39:01 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Navigating the Cybersecurity Business Landscape with Gene ReichIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Thomas sits down with Gene Reich, owner of Point and co-founder of Traceless.io. They discuss Gene's extensive experience running two businesses simultaneously, his journey towards transitioning out of day-to-day operations, and the importance of resilience in the face of challenges.Gene shares insights on the significance of hiring the right people, building a strong company culture, and the unique challenges of doing business in New York City. He also reflects on his personal growth and the benefits of forming meaningful, in-person connections in the business world.00:00 Introduction and Catching Up01:02 Gene's Business Journey01:51 Challenges of Running an MSP03:59 Delegation and Team Building10:23 Navigating Business Setbacks18:17 The Importance of Rest and Emotional Discipline19:01 Stepping Away from Work to Clear Your Head19:34 Accepting Business Challenges and Self-Development20:19 Opportunities and Reflections on Entrepreneurship in America25:32 Hiring the Right People and Developing Leaders31:42 Filtering Content and Personal Growth34:01 The Value of In-Person Connections Post-COVID37:09 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

From Lockheed Martin to Founding Reveal Risk: Tim Sewelll's Cybersecurity JourneyIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Tim Sewell shares his remarkable journey through the cybersecurity field. Starting as an Information Assurance Lead at Lockheed Martin and advancing to Chief Cyber Architect, Tim has accumulated extensive experience over nearly a decade. He then moved on to serve in significant cybersecurity roles at Mayo Clinic and Eli Lilly, before co-founding Reveal Risk. Tim discusses the challenges and successes of building Reveal Risk from the ground up, including navigating the complexities of running a business, pivoting during the COVID-19 pandemic, and scaling the company to $5.8 million in revenue. He also emphasizes the importance of balancing robust cybersecurity measures with practicality for businesses and delves into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, especially in light of generative AI. Additionally, Tim offers valuable insights for aspiring cybersecurity professionals seeking to advance in their careers.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:40 Tim Saul's Career Journey01:29 Current Role and Advisory Work02:53 Challenges in Cybersecurity for Small Companies03:52 Career Progression Tips04:23 Experience at Lockheed Martin07:11 Transition to Healthcare Cybersecurity11:00 Starting Reveal Risk13:04 Navigating Business Challenges During COVID-1918:48 Scaling the Business and Leadership21:17 The Challenges of Hiring in a Small Company21:57 Handling Employee Development and Transitions23:00 Facing Difficult Business Decisions25:51 Balancing Work and Personal Life32:20 The Importance of Contract Language34:28 Advising and the Future of Cybersecurity37:23 Recommended Resources for Cybersecurity Professionals38:59 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsTim recommends:Hacking Exposed by Stuart McClure, Joel Scambray, and George Kurtz

Effective Leadership and Navigating Cyber Security CareersIn this Cyber Security Recruiter Podcast episode, Thomas welcomes Shawn Mattioli, COO of Prescient, to discuss Shawn's impressive career journey from an FBI intelligence intern to his current role.They explore the importance of team bonding in a remote work environment, the value of networking, and the evolving landscape of insider threats and ransomware negotiations. Shawn shares insights into what attributes make a good candidate in the cybersecurity industry, emphasizing communication, writing, time management, critical thinking, and adaptability.They also delve into the impact of AI on junior jobs and the necessity for young professionals to develop crucial soft skills. The episode concludes with book recommendations and a candid discussion on the challenges and rewards of leadership.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:01 Shawn's Career Journey06:12 Building Relationships and Networking12:24 Insider Threats and Cybersecurity17:33 Hiring and Industry Insights19:43 The Importance of Communication Skills20:02 Writing Skills: Breaking It Down Barney Style20:32 Time Management and Critical Thinking21:52 Adaptability in High-Pressure Situations26:24 The Role of Critical Thinking in Problem Solving30:09 The Impact of AI on Skill Development32:13 The Value of In-Person Collaboration33:49 Self-Development and Leadership37:44 Concluding Thoughts and ReflectionsShawn recommends: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

Navigating the Cybersecurity Job Market: Insights with Brendan CroninIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Tom is joined by Brendan Cronin to discuss their long-awaited conversation on the cybersecurity job market. Brendan shares his career journey, starting as a teacher and progressing through various roles including network engineering and management at Verizon, to his current position at Vigilant Solutions. They delve into the impact of the internet boom, the cyclical nature of the market, and the transformative effect of AI. The discussion also covers practical advice for job seekers, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, leveraging relationships, and personalizing job applications. Brendan highlights the increasing importance of niche areas in cybersecurity, especially related to AI, and the need for well-rounded skill sets.The episode wraps up with book recommendations and personal anecdotes, providing valuable insights for both job seekers and industry professionals.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:56 Brendan Cronin's Career Journey 01:51 The Evolution of Cybersecurity 04:30 AI and Market Cycles 06:35 Job Market Challenges and Strategies 10:40 The Rise of AI and Automation 14:24 Security Threats and Job Market Realities 18:39 The Impact of AI on Job Markets 19:12 Challenges in Job Applications 20:04 Recruitment Strategies and Automation 20:25 Navigating Job Market Realities 23:29 Adapting to Technological Changes 25:51 Breaking into Cybersecurity 27:58 The Future of Cybersecurity and AI 31:03 The Importance of Continuous Learning 32:21 Recommended Resources and Tools 35:45 Concluding Thoughts and ReflectionsBrendan recommends:The Cuckoo's Egg by Clifford StollSandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin’s Most Dangerous Hackers by Andy GreenbergFancy Bear Goes Phishing by Scott J. ShapiroThe Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

From System Admin to VP of Product Security: Ed Hagopian's Journey in CybersecurityIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Thomas welcomes guest Ed Hagopian, VP of Product Security at Cream City Cyber.Ed shares his career trajectory from a CIS admin to a leading role, emphasizing a hands-on approach, relentless curiosity, and the importance of adaptability in the fast-evolving tech landscape. He discusses his early interest in computers, driven by his father's encouragement, and how this passion led to pivotal roles at North Western Mutual, Microsoft, and Dell.The conversation highlights the value of building strong teams, continuous learning, and positive mindset in overcoming career challenges and embracing technological advancements like AI and machine learning.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:28 Ed's Career Journey02:52 Early Passion for Computers05:20 Challenges and Setbacks10:10 AI and Machine Learning Insights13:14 The Future of AI and Security15:31 Identity Proofing and Trust21:16 AI in Music and Media21:54 AI in Cybersecurity: Detection and Defense22:21 The Rise of AI in Music22:33 Career Advice for Aspiring Professionals23:17 The Importance of Hands-On Learning24:09 Mentorship and Skill Development26:05 Implementing a Risk Assessment Program27:34 The Value of Demonstrable Proficiency28:15 Adapting to Technological Changes32:01 The Power of Positive Attitude36:42 Recommended Books and Continuous Learning41:28 Final Thoughts and FarewellEd suggested:Never Split the DifferenceChristopher Voss and Tahl Raz

Enhancing Communication Skills for Cybersecurity Professionals with Josh HohbeinIn this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, Thomas welcomes Josh Hohbein, an experienced security professional with a rich background in various roles, including restaurant management.Josh discusses how skills learned in the service industry have been invaluable in cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of communication and soft skills. The conversation covers the need for effective public speaking, client interactions, and building trust, especially as AI and technology evolve.Josh also shares practical advice for those looking to improve their communication abilities and emphasizes the growing importance of well-rounded skillsets in the cybersecurity field.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:47 Josh's Career Journey01:33 The Value of Soft Skills in Cybersecurity04:03 Real-Life Examples of Soft Skills in Action10:23 Enhancing Communication Skills13:05 The Future of Communication in the Age of AI16:47 The Importance of Going Above and Beyond in Service17:44 Drawing Parallels Between Restaurant Compliance and Cybersecurity19:03 The Power of Effective Communication in Client Relations23:12 Transitioning from Restaurant Management to Cybersecurity28:03 The Value of Hands-On Experience in Cybersecurity32:05 The Importance of Concise Communication and Continuous Learning34:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Josh suggested: Official Guide to Public Speaking by Chris AndersonUdemy,  EQ versus IQ