The Cyber Talent Matrix

The conversation delves into the challenges of cybersecurity workforce development, emphasizing the shift from paper credentials to hands-on capability. Dr. Michelle Angelo-Rocha shares her inspiring journey from Brazil to the U.S. and her work in cybersecurity education. The discussion also explores the findings of the Cyber Bay report, highlighting the mismatch between employer expectations and entry-level job applicants. The conversation covers a range of topics related to cybersecurity education, workforce readiness, and the challenges faced by students and professionals in the field. It emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience, mentorship, and a holistic approach to cybersecurity education. The discussion also touches on the impact of AI, burnout among senior leaders, and the need for problem-solving skills in the cybersecurity field.TakeawaysHands-on capability is more valuable than paper credentialsThe cybersecurity industry faces challenges in finding role-ready operational talent Hands-on experience is crucial for cybersecurity students and professionalsMentorship and tailored programs are essential for cybersecurity educationChapters00:00 The Shift from Paper Credentials to Hands-On Capability02:10 Dr. Michelle Angelo-Rocha's Journey to Cybersecurity06:29 Teaching Basic Cyber Safety to Senior Citizens19:27 Challenges in Cybersecurity Workforce Development32:14 The Need for Basic Skills and Specialization in Cybersecurity35:02 Challenges in Cybersecurity Education36:25 The Importance of Hands-On Experience38:10 Tailored Mentorship and Holistic Approach39:09 Performance Metrics and Success in Cybersecurity48:06 The Pressure on Senior Leaders and the Impact of AI01:03:41 Expanding to Other Industries

Episode SummaryWhat happens when you refuse to let the traditional mold define your path in cybersecurity?In this episode of The Cyber Talent Matrix, hosts Jeff Welgan, Dr. Sasha Vanterpool, and Will Denman dive into a bold, unfiltered conversation with Caitlin Sarian, the force behind Cybersecurity Girl. Moving past the standard "how-to" career checklist, this episode lifts the hood on the internal resilience, self-belief, and persistence required to navigate a gatekept industry.Caitlin shares the reality of facing critics, overcoming imposter syndrome, and deciding which voices actually matter when building credibility on your own terms. Whether you are an aspiring professional feeling underestimated or a leader trying to understand how to leverage nontraditional talent, this episode is a blueprint for breaking barriers and redefining what it means to be a modern cyber expert.Key TakeawaysNavigating the Gatekeepers: How to handle criticism and push forward when the established structure doesn't recognize your background.Resilience as a Daily Practice: Moving past resilience as a buzzword and embracing it as the quiet, consistent choice to keep building.Redefining Credibility: Why legitimacy in cybersecurity is shifting away from traditional corporate ladders and toward authentic public advocacy.The Permission vs. Persistence Paradox: Why staying consistent matters far more than waiting for someone to hand you a seat at the table.The Impact of Representation: Why visible, nontraditional role models are a functional business necessity for building the future cyber workforce.About the GuestCaitlin Sarian is a globally recognized cybersecurity expert, advocate, speaker, and content creator known online as Cybersecurity Girl. By breaking down complex technical concepts into accessible education, she has built an influential platform dedicated to diversifying the tech pipeline, empowering underrepresented communities, and advising organizations on modern talent engagement.Show Notes & ResourcesLearn more about Caitlin's work: Cybersecurity Girl Official WebsiteFollow Caitlin Sarian on LinkedIn: Caitlin SarianFollow Cybersecurity Girl on Instagram: @cybersecuritygirlConnect with the Hosts & skillrexJeff Welgan: LinkedInDr. Sasha Vanterpool: LinkedInWill Denman: LinkedInFollow skillrex: skillrex Company PageSubscribe to The Cyber Talent Matrix on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts so you never miss a play. If you enjoyed this conversation, leave us a review and share it with a colleague!

Episode SummaryAs organizations rush to integrate Artificial Intelligence, many are finding that AI has become "The Great Equalizer." When every knowledge worker has access to the same models and speed, where does competitive advantage come from?In this episode, hosts Jeff Welgan, Dr. Sasha Vanterpool, and Will Denman are joined by Jonathan Aberman, CEO of Hupside, to explore the concept of Original Intelligence (OI). They dive into why most AI deployments fail to generate ROI and how leaders can objectively identify "AI-Ready" talent using the Hupchecker. From identifying creative archetypes—Focals, Augmenters, Connecters, and Expanders—to building a workforce that creates value beyond the prompt, this conversation redefines the human layer of cybersecurity.About the GuestJonathan Aberman is the CEO and Co-Founder of Hupside. He is a veteran investor, academic leader, and professional services expert who has raised over $2B in funds and generated more than $1B in new revenue throughout his career. At Hupside, he leads the mission to identify, measure, and promote the human upside in an AI-driven world.Show Notes & ResourcesHupside Official Website: https://www.hupside.com/Follow Jonathan Aberman on LinkedIn: Jonathan AbermanLearn more about the Hupchecker: Hupchecker Product PageSkillrex + Hupside Partnership: Affiliate Program AnnouncementConnect with the HostsJeff Welgan: LinkedInDr. Sasha Vanterpool: LinkedInWill Denman: LinkedInFollow skillrex: skillrex Company PageSubscribe to The Cyber Talent Matrix Live on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode!

In this Season 2 premiere of The Cyber Talent Matrix, Jeff Welgan dives into the "Perfect Storm" currently reshaping the global cyber workforce. Joined by special guest Brian Correia, Director of Business Development at SANS | GIAC, we deconstruct the findings of the newly released 2026 Cybersecurity Workforce Research Report.The data reveals a fundamental transformation: for the first time, the Skills Gap (60%) has officially pulled away from the Headcount Gap (40%) as the industry's primary challenge. We are no longer just missing "bodies"—we are missing validated, specialized capabilities.In this episode, we explore:The Regulatory Accelerator: Why 95% of organizations now report that regulations like NIS2, DORA, and CMMC are directly dictating their hiring and specialist needs.The AI Paradox: How AI is automating the traditional "apprenticeship" tasks of SOC and security analysts, threatening the junior talent pipeline.Top-Down Rebuilding: Why 53% of hiring authority has migrated to senior leadership as organizations prioritize expert hires over long-term internal development.Precision Validation: The rise of frameworks like NICE and ECSF and why 64% of organizations now rely on certifications as the primary sensor for skill validation.Whether you are a CISO navigating budget constraints or an HR leader trying to define what "qualified" looks like in an AI-driven world, this episode provides the "Moneyball" scouting report you need to build a sustainable, resilient defense.The play of the day: Stop hiring for tenure—start validating for capability.

In this episode of the Cyber Talent Matrix, host Jeff Welgan is joined by experts Dr. Sasha Vanterpool and Will Denman, along with special guest Dawn Butler, a former senior leader at Citi and host of "Bytes Bits and Brilliance." Together, they delve into the challenges of navigating an uncertain job market in cybersecurity, focusing on career disruption, identity, and resilience. Dawn shares her personal journey from senior leadership to job seeker, offering insights on maintaining authenticity and finding comfort amidst chaos. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about embracing change and redefining success in the face of adversity.

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.

What does it take to strengthen our nation’s cyber resilience? Collaboration, intelligence sharing, and people ready to act when it matters most.In this episode of The Cyber Talent Matrix, host Jeff Welgan and co-hosts Sasha Vanterpool and Will Denman are joined by Dr. Katrina Rosseini, Chairwoman of the Board for the Civilian Reserve Information Sharing and Analysis Center (CR-ISAC) — an organization dedicated to organizing and mobilizing cyber, IT, and analyst volunteers who can surge in defense of the nation when needed most.Together, we’ll explore:The mission and vision behind CR-ISAC and why readiness before crisis is critical.How public-private collaboration and volunteerism strengthen national defense.The growing intersection between threat intelligence and talent intelligence — and how skillrex is partnering with CR-ISAC to support the human layer of resilience.What the future of cyber readiness looks like for organizations across every sector.Whether you’re part of critical infrastructure, government, industry, or the broader cyber community — this conversation will inspire you to think differently about what national resilience really means and the role every cyber professional can play.

What does it take to build a more inclusive, confident, and capable cyber workforce? Data, community, and a clear mission.In this episode of The Cyber Talent Matrix, host Sasha Vanterpool is joined by co-hosts Jeff Welgan and Will Denman, along with special guest Rebekah Skeete, Executive Director and CEO of BlackGirlsHack, to explore insights from the 2025 BlackGirlsHack Cyber Talent Study — a collaboration between BlackGirlsHack and skillrex.Together, we’ll uncover:1. How community-driven programs like BGH are expanding access and opportunity in cybersecurity.2. What the data reveals about skill confidence, growth areas, and workforce readiness.3. How BGH used study insights to shape new initiatives and empower members for success.4. What organizations can do today to turn data into action and build the next generation of cyber talent.Whether you’re a CISO, workforce strategist, HR/L&D professional, or advocate for diversity in cyber — this episode will inspire you to think differently about how we grow, support, and sustain talent in the field.🎙️ Join the conversation — and see how data and purpose can work together to build a stronger, more resilient cyber workforce.

S1E3: Forecasting Cyber Talent: Today’s Market, Tomorrow’s SkillsOct 7, 2025The headlines say cybersecurity is facing a talent shortage — but what’s the real story in today’s labor market? And more importantly, what skills will define the cyber workforce of tomorrow?In this episode of The Cyber Talent Matrix, co-hosts Jeff Welgan, Sasha Vanterpool, and Will Denman are joined by special guest Will Markow, CEO of FourOne Insights, to break down the state of the cyber labor market and where it’s headed next.Together, we’ll explore:> The realities of cyber hiring and retention in 2025.> What the data tells us about supply, demand, and the so-called “cyber talent gap.”> The emerging skills and hybrid roles that will shape the profession in the years ahead.> What leaders can do today to future-proof their workforce strategies.Whether you’re a CISO, workforce manager, or HR/L&D leader, join us for an engaging, data-driven conversation on how to align your talent strategy with the shifting labor market.

S1E2: What's your Skill Language: Sep 24, 2025Cybersecurity has no shortage of frameworks and taxonomies — NIST NICE, Defense Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF), SFIA, ENISA, and more. Each provides a structured way of defining roles, skills, and competencies, but they don’t always speak the same “language.”In this episode of The Cyber Talent Matrix Live, co-hosts Jeff Welgan, Sasha Vanterpool, and Will Denman break down the big frameworks and skill taxonomies shaping the cyber workforce today. We’ll explore what makes them useful, where they fall short, and how organizations can translate across them to build clarity, consistency, and smarter workforce strategies.Whether you’re a CISO, HR leader, or L&D professional, join us for a practical and conversational look at how to speak frameworks and taxonomies fluently — and why it matters for your cyber talent strategy.

Welcome to the Matrix: Co-Hosts, Cyber Talent, and Workforce IntelligenceSep 10, 2025Join us for the very first episode of The Cyber Talent Matrix! In this kickoff episode, you’ll meet your co-hosts — Jeff Welgan, Sasha Vanterpool, and Will Denman of skillrex — and hear what drives their passion for cyber workforce strategy. We’ll also unpack two big ideas that will shape the show: the Cyber Talent Matrix and Cyber Workforce Intelligence.Tune in for a casual, engaging conversation about the people side of cybersecurity and why talent is the key to resilience.Why attend? If you’re a CISO, workforce manager, HR or L&D professional, this show offers ongoing insights into how data and strategy can transform your approach to cyber workforce challenges.