Talent First

SEASON FIVE: This week, I welcome back the wonderful Wendy Goucher, Cyber Consultant at Arcanum and author of the Netta in Cyberland and Eesha series for children, and the Canon Doyle stories for our older relatives. We chat about just how much the tech landscape has changed in the past three years since her first appearance, and how we can continue to protect our families in these increasingly complex digital times.About our guest:Wendy Goucher is a Cyber Security Consultant at Arcanum Cyber where she gets to work in teams with some brilliant folks. She specialises in risk and assurance because her perspective primarily is business focused.She has also written textbooks and cyber safety books for both lower and upper primary school age and also short cyber safety stories for the retired. These same skills also help her to design policies, although they generally have fewer pictures.Wendy is proud to be a Chartered Fellow of the BCS, and on the committees of BCS Women, ISSG and DiversIT and is hugely honoured to be part of the BCS Council and the BCS Community Board, and also on the CIISec Inclusion by Design Steering Group. All of which means that she has to roll up her sleeves and work for people outside as well as inside work.Nettie in Cyberland -  https://amzn.eu/d/dtIAKrPNettie in Cyberland Book Two - https://amzn.eu/d/4xtIYZ6Take Care How You Share - book 3 -  https://amzn.eu/d/22FvLuXCanon Doyle's Collaboration with a Vampire - Canon Doyle Book 1 https://amzn.eu/d/4Wg5dPB 

SEASON FIVE - In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Ben Tasker, Senior AI Learning Strategist for National Grid. After all the news about AI generated layoffs, I wanted to learn more about how tech professionals can prepare and not panic when it comes to this iteration of tech. We talk about upskilling, reskilling (and how to find the time), as well as how to hire for skills not traditional pathways. Ben also describes just how agentic AI will effect the org chart.About Our Guest: Ben Tasker is a recognized leader in AI education, workforce transformation, and responsible AI adoption. He currently leads a Data & AI Academy focused on upskilling and reskilling 36,000 employees in the public utility sector, ensuring the workforce is AI-ready for the future. He also serves as a Technical Advisor for uCertify, a global leader in workforce certification and reskilling.Previously, Ben was the Dean of AI at Southern New Hampshire University, where he spearheaded Applied AI programs and pioneered a skills institute focused on workforce AI + Human upskilling and reskilling. He also teaches as a part-time faculty member at Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences, one of the world’s top universities for AI education.

SEASON FIVE: *Sensitive subject matter*. In this week's episode of Talent First, I welcome back one of my favourite guests to the show, Nadja El Fertasi, Founder of Thrive with EQ who talks to me about her most recent offshoot of this venture, Shield with EQ. Nadja's mission is to empower individuals and families to build their personal Emotional Firewalls against scams, deepfakes, and online manipulation. We talk about a sensitive topic, but one that we all need to be aware of, and that is sextortion and how it is impacting our young people. About our guest: Internationally recognized thought leader shaping the intersection of emotional intelligence (EQ), AI, and cultural resilience. Leverages nearly two decades of leadership experience from NATO, successfully heading high-stakes digital transformation initiatives in complex, multicultural environments.Pioneered the groundbreaking ‘Emotional Firewalls’ framework, a human-centered approach to building organizational resilience against sophisticated social engineering threats and digital disruption. This methodology embeds EQ into a company's cultural DNA to foster psychological safety and enhance threat detection at the human level.As the founder of the Thrive with EQ AI-cademy, I now develop and scale AI-powered toolkits and applications designed to up-skill leaders and their teams. My work equips organizations to build resilient cultures of trust, proving that EQ is the most critical human anchor in the disruptive age of artificial intelligence.

SEASON FIVE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to parenting expert Sue Atkins about something that is becoming of increasing concern to parents globally - children and technology. When is the right time to give your child a smartphone? What should schools be doing and what support do they need? Is the UK government doing all it can to tackle online safety and security? For parents, teachers and security people - this is one not to miss. About Our Guest:Sue Atkins is an internationally recognised Parenting Expert, Broadcaster, Speaker, Freelance Writer & Columnist and Author of the Amazon best-selling books “Parenting Made Easy – How to Raise Happy Children” & “Raising Happy Children for Dummies" one in the famous black and yellow series as well as author of the highly acclaimed “Navigating the Digital Jungle: Scripts to Start Family Tech Conversations About Smartphones, AI, Online Safety, and Other Essential Topics” and the Parenting Made Easy resources. She regularly appears on the award-winning flagship ITV show ‘This Morning,’ Good Morning Britain, ‘Jeremy Vine on 5’, The Vanessa Feltz Show & is the parenting expert for numerous BBC Radio Stations around the UK.Sue regularly works with Fortune 500 companies, brands, and celebrities.Sue is the Parenting Expert for Disney Family and has recorded monthly podcasts, videos and Facebook Live Tea Parties around ‘Parenting Hacks’ writing articles, sharing her parenting tips as well as heading up ‘The Disney Gift of Play’ Campaign, the ‘Time to Shine’ Self Esteem Campaign and ‘The Parenting Hacks’ YouTube Campaign.Check out her videos and tips on the new Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel website around the Gift of Play  https://www.disneymagicmoments.co.uk/the-gift-of-playHer highly acclaimed ‘Can Do Kid’s Journal: Discover your Confidence Superpower’ gives children the gift of self-esteem and empowers them to become creative, innovative, independent, resourceful, resilient & confident in their own abilities to try new things & able to bounce back after setbacks.  She has created The Sue Atkins ‘Toddler Roadmap,’ which is bursting with over 40 Quick Win Videos, Audios and eModules. around raising happy confident, resilient toddlers. It is bursting with exclusive content for parents around toddler tantrums, picky eating, potty training, bedtimes & sleep, and covers the ‘Why’ and ‘No’ Stages and much, much more and is bursting with fresh ideas, tried and tested strategies and lots of practical tips to raise toddlers with strong self-esteem and good mental health – not damaged by living through a pandemic. Sue produces ‘The Sue Atkins Parenting Show’ a free weekly podcast which is bursting with Sue’s practical ideas, techniques, and down to earth strategies for raising happy, confident, resilient children with strong self-esteem. Sue has also created the ‘Parentverse’ her exclusive platform for her podcast interviews with global Experts from around the world in her ‘Sue in Conversation With …’ series. Sue also has created The Sue Atkins Book Club showcasing the very best in parenting and children’s books.Sue is the host of ‘Navigating the Digital Jungle with Sue Atkins and Friends’ a podcast where tech meets family life, and she is also the global spokesperson for World Digital Detox Day. https://navigatingthedigitaljungle.com/home/ Her latest book is ‘Navigating the Digital Jungle: Scripts to Start Family Tech Conversations About Smartphones, AI, Online Safety, and Other Essential Topics’ is now available to download. Sue is the Patron for Mama Academy. Helping to prevent stillbirths in the UK by empowering expectant parents and healthcare professionals to help babies arrive safely. https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/Sue is a proud winner of the prestigious #SBS (Small Business Sunday) Award, founded by entrepreneur and former Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis. This recognition highlights Sue's dedication to empowering families to navigate the challenges of modern parenting, particularly in the digital age. Being part of the #SBS community not only celebrates her impactful work but also connects her with a vibrant network of innovative businesses across the UK.Sue offers practical guidance for bringing up happy, confident, resilient children and helps parents create happy childhoods, free from finger pointing or judgement.Sue also specialises in supporting families through divorce & created the Award Winning ‘Divorce Journal for Kids’ is designed to help children express, explore and understand some of the strong emotions that they may be feeling and to help them process the divorce for themselves. She has also created a series of Divorce Conversational Cards for parents to help start the difficult conversations about the changes that families face when they are going through divorce.  Sue has created a number of CPD Courses for professionals working with parents, children and families around ‘Navigating Family Transitions: A CPD COURSE for Professionals Supporting Children, Parents & Families through Divorce, Separation, or Family Break Up’ Sue’s parenting articles are published all over the world & to receive her free eBooks bursting with practical tips and helpful advice from toddler to teen log on to www.theSueAtkins.com and download them instantly today.Follow Sue:Websites: www.thesueatkins.comwww.navigatingthedigitaljungle.comSue on Twitter @sueatkinsSue on InstagramSue on TikTok Sue on Facebook: Sue Atkins The Parenting ExpertSue on LinkedIn: Sue AtkinsSue on Pinterest: Sue Atkins Parenting ExpertSue on YouTube: Sue Atkins Parenting Expert  

SEASON FIVE - In this episode I’m joined by Joe Wells, a passionate and driven voice in cybersecurity who is determined to make the online world safer for children. Together, we explore Cyberherd, his inspiring initiative designed to guide parents, educators, and communities in protecting young people as they grow up in an increasingly connected world.Our conversation covers practical strategies for parents — including those with little technical knowledge — to engage their children in meaningful, age-appropriate conversations about online safety. We discuss the critical role of teachers and schools in reinforcing these messages, and examine the broader horizon: the opportunities and risks of AI, deepfakes, and a post-truth digital era.We also address the issue of accessibility and equity in cyber-safety resources, ensuring that no family or child is left behind. Finally, Joe shares what lies ahead for Cyberherd, and how you can connect with and support his work.This is an episode for anyone who believes the digital future should be safe, fair, and empowering for every child.Abour Our Guest:I’m Joe Wells, a first-class cyber security graduate, public speaker, and advocate for inclusive, human-centred digital safety.Over the last 800+ days, I’ve committed to learning cybersecurity every single day, building skills across blue team, red team, and digital resilience. My mission is to make online safety accessible, engaging, and empowering, especially for children, students, and underserved communities.I’m currently building CyberHerd - THE gamified learning platform that teaches children how to navigate the internet with confidence, curiosity, and kindness. Alongside this, I run MVP, a student cyber cluster based in Wales, where I support university students with CTFs, talks, and career development.My journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve overcome disability, homelessness, and exclusion, and those experiences now fuel everything I do. I believe digital safety should be built with empathy, not just encryption.

SEASON FIVE: This episode, I chat to Aska Kuwabara, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Axartoys.ai and Founder of Getitdonewith.AI.We chat about her amazing new AI powered soft toy, MAXI, that aims to educate children not just around the use of AI but in traditional academic subjects too - no screen, just fun. We talk about her journey as a tech entrepreneur, what MAXI can do as well as the parental controls and guardrails that have to be put in place when it comes to EdTech. We also talk about the UAE, its approach to AI education and the pros and cons. About Our Guest:Aska is a product builder, founder, and someone who’s constantly figuring things out on the go.With 20+ years of experience across product management, corporate strategy, and digital transformation, she has worked in industries such as finance, e-commerce, telecom, and now AI. She has led teams, shipped products, and driven change across Japan, Singapore, France, India, and the UAE - often as the only woman, the only Japanese, or the only one asking “why are we doing it this way?”Aska is Co-Founder of AxarToys.ai as well as Founder of GetItDoneWith.ai, a platform for non-techies to learn how to actually use AI - without the hype. www.meetmaxi.ai - to pre-order and be informed about MAXI's progresshttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/meetmaxi/1005040600?ref=9bsi7x&token=1adf173c - MAXI's Kickstarter Preview Page - we wanted to go live tomorrow but due to some unforeseen issues, the launch will be delayed by a few days. The content is still viewable and once the campaign starts, this link should redirect to the live page, too!www.axartoys.ai - our company's website, the brain behind MAXIwww.getitdonewith.ai - my recently published website for companies and individuals wanting to learn the basics of AI, without being overwhelmed - more contents to come :)http://thesilicontree.com/ - the site should be up by this Friday - The Silicon Tree is a local guide to startup growth - from events to accelerators to insider reports. Built by founders, for founders in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Dubai - more cities tome as we grow!

SEASON FIVE: In this episode of Talent First, I chat to Dr Elena Zehndorfer, academic, researcher and editor-in-chief at Blackheath Publishing. We cover a range of topics that will be of particular interest to parents of teenagers who are navigating the digital world. We discuss the issues of deepfake tech, how to parent in this post-truth era, and why our teens are susceptible targets for cyber criminals.About Our Guest:Dr. Elesa Zehndorfer is a Managing Partner at Austrian consulting firm Lakeside Partners GmbH, a Senior Advisor to the Paddy Ashdown Research Forum, an eMBA lecturer and Research Officer for British Mensa. An award-winning writer, she has authored six non-fiction books for global publisher Taylor & Francis, and one novel (political thriller Upload) for Blackheath Publishing. Most recently, her political book Post Truth Politics: A Brave New World was released in February of this year. She earned her PhD from Loughborough University in 2006. LINKS:Website: www.elesazehndorfer.comTEDx YouTube video: https://youtu.be/2OOtS8QnBMM?si=TaC6HmVkHehRp50M LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elesazehndorfer001Latest book: Post-Truth Politics: A Brave New World? - 1st Edition - Elesa Zehndorf

SEASON FIVE - In this week's episode, I speak to Stuart Walton about all things security awareness and training for businesses and for the family. We talk about his superhero analogy when it comes to online safety, the different forms of social engineering we encounter every day and how to protect our loved ones in particular from becoming a victim of cybercriminals. With plenty of humour and heart, this is one not to miss.About Our Guest:Stu Walton is the Security Awareness Specialist for Pinsent Masons. With more than twenty years of work in the education and technology world he has spent the last four years learning about and building cyber security culture programmes. As an experienced public speaker, he has combined his love of superheroes with his passion for cyber security in a series of talks titled “Protecting Your Secret Identity Online”.

SEASON FIVE: In this episode, the first episode of season 5 of our award-winning podcast, I speak to Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President and CEO of AnitaB.org. We discuss a range of topics on our responsibility for understanding AI, not just in organisation but as individuals, so that we have a voice when it comes to its implementation and integration. We also chat about AI literacy and education and why diversity is becoming increasingly important in the current geopolitical landscape.About Our Guest:

SEASON FOUR: In this episode, I chat to Lisa Plaggemeir, Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance about her career to date (from marketing to cybersecurity!), and about the incredible work of the NCA. When it comes to security awareness training, their free resources are second to none and created for people of all ages, including our aging relatives, and for organisations of all sizes.About Our Guest: Lisa Plaggemier is Executive Director at the National Cybersecurity Alliance. She is on a mission to empower people and organizations to stay safe online, so that everyone can experience the benefits of technology without worry. Lisa started her career in marketing with Ford Motor Company before migrating to automotive technology and eventually security.  Lisa is honored to serve on the US Secret Service Cyber Investigations Advisory Board. She is a University of Michigan graduate (Go Blue!) and while she wasn’t born in Austin, Texas, she got there as fast as she could.Facebook: StaysafeonlineInstagram: @natlcybersecurityallianceTwitter: @LisaPlaggemierLinkedIn: Lisa PlaggemierProfessional Title: Executive DirectorWebsite Link: https://staysafeonline.org

BONUS EPISODE: This week's episode of Talent First is with an incredible woman in cyberscurity who I have been wanting to chat to for some time! She is Candace Williams, Founder of Cyb(H)er Ally Solutions and staunch advocate for all those entering the profession and for women who are looking to get in and up in this industry. We talk all things influence, thought leadership and how to close the gap with the C Suite as a security leader through reciprocity and messaging.About Our Guest:Candace Williams is a pioneering figure in cybersecurity, recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice for her thought leadership and industry influence. As an Associate Director of Cybersecurity Leadership at Raytheon, an RTX Business, she oversees key cybersecurity operations, ensuring strategic security initiatives align with organizational goals.Beyond her corporate leadership, Candace is the founder of Cyb(H)er Ally Cybersecurity Solutions, an organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for women in cybersecurity. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, she empowers individuals and organizations to build strong careers and leadership pathways. As part of this mission, she leads Cyb(H)er Sync, a membership-based community focused on professional growth and influence-building in cybersecurity.Her commitment to mentorship and community-building is evident through the Cyb(H)er Series in Tampa, Florida, including Cyb(H)er Brunch, Cyb(H)er Roundtable, and Cyb(H)er Connect—events designed to create meaningful connections, facilitate mentorship, and open doors for more professionals in the field.An accomplished speaker, Candace frequently shares her expertise on cybersecurity, career strategy, and influence at industry events. She is also the author of No Experience Required: Your Cybersecurity Career Kickstart Guide, a resource that helps aspiring professionals navigate and break into the field. Additionally, she serves on the RSA Conference 2024 and 2025 Program Committee, contributing her expertise to shape critical industry discussions.Through her work, Candace continues to help others advance, lead, and make an impact in cybersecurity.Links to share:www.cybherally.com Candace is now booking keynote talks for 2025.Her signature talk is titled: “The Influence Hack: Shaping Your Future in Cybersecurity”In this powerful keynote, Candace challenges the idea that technical skills alone are enough to succeed in cybersecurity. She introduces influence as the missing link—an overlooked but essential ingredient for career growth, organizational impact, and industry transformation. Through compelling storytelling and real-world insights, Candace shows how professionals can leverage influence to position themselves as trusted voices, unlock new opportunities, and shape the future of cybersecurity from wherever they stand. Candace brings energy, clarity, and inspiration to every stage—making this a must-hear message for conferences, leadership forums, and organizations ready to think beyond the technical.

BONUS EPISODE - In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to one of my favourite women who I am yet to meet in the flesh, Keri-Lynne Shaw, Founder of The Salary Bump and its sister companies, The Career Bump and The Exit Bump. We talk how to negotiate for a better salary and promotion, how to negotiate pay at interview, when it is time to quit and if we should accept that counter offer. And of course, we finish with a quick chat about diverse teams in this current climate.About Our Guest:Keri-Lynne Shaw is a Fractional Chief People Officer revolutionizing salary negotiation and career growth. Starting in the trenches and learning the hard way, KL has mastered the nuances of compensation dynamics and is dedicated to empowering professionals to recognize their market value and negotiate with intent.With an extensive background in HR and executive leadership, KL has helped countless professionals secure the pay they deserve. She is a trusted advisor for executives, a sought-after speaker on compensation strategy, and the founder of The Salary Bump, where she equips professionals with the tools to own their worth.KL has been featured in major career development forums, speaks globally on negotiation strategies, and is a strong advocate for pay transparency and equity. Her dynamic approach blends actionable insights with real-world experience, making her a go-to expert for those ready to level up their earnings and career trajectory.

SEASON FOUR - In this fantastic episode, just in time for International Women's Day, I speak to Kathy Staudt, President and Co Founder of The Vibration Guys about her incredible career, about her experiences as a woman in STEM and about how to thrive, not just survive, in a niche industry. Her advice around building effective teams through trust is advice not to be missed. About Our Guest: Serial entrepreneur and experienced corporate business leader. Successful founder and strategic visionary behind The Vibration Guys. Gatherer of expert talent to build a strong service business. In her own words 'I always hire people smarter and more talented than I could ever be'.

SEASON FOUR - This week, we're doing something a little different. It's a retrospective of three of our favourite episodes with women who are working for or in Texas. I talk sports betting, leadership, the future of cybersecurity and the efficacy of teams three incredible people who are paving the way in technology.About our guests (and their full episodes): Kelly Pracht is Co-Founder and CEO at nVenue.https://open.spotify.com/episode/5B1zMiMlu0DyRVvSnM4ajm?si=1d27f7bbf1ee4cdeJessica Nemmers went from ballerina to CISO and now works with Flair Data Systems.https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wIMxKniCcIMdziRCDVoIa?si=c6a2c1cbbb3648beMandy Andress is CISO at Elastic.https://open.spotify.com/episode/75xX1aMjVPcDDw3a0qRLPY?si=883742ddda744e67

SEASON FOUR: Another great advice-driven episode with Mani Keerthi Nagothu, Field CISO and LinkedIn Learning Instructor. We chat about the benefits of table top exercises as a form of training, how to evaluate progress and follow up as well how to create a security culture, how to prevent security fatigue and how to engender enthusiasm for security awareness, especially with reluctant members of staff.About Our Guest:Mani Keerthi Nagothu is a Cybersecurity professional with experience in Cybersecurity Strategy, Incident Response, and Risk Management. She is a public speaker at Cybersecurity Conferences, Webinars, and Podcasts. She is passionate about teaching Cybersecurity; three of her courses, Insider Threat Risk Management, Designing Cybersecurity Controls, and Designing Tabletop Exercises, are published on LinkedIn Learning.

SEASON FOUR: In this episode, I chat to Luz Angeles, Security SE at SHI International Corporation about her views on leading remote teams, on-prem versus remote SOCs, as well as her predictions for security in 2025.We also discuss Luz's career to date, how she finds time to complete qualifications and certs to keep up to date and about her passion for supporting women in this industry through her work with WiCyS and for women leaders through EWF.About Our Guest:Luz is a Security Engineer with a decade of experience in Cybersecurity with a specialty in SecOps (MDR, XDR, SIEM). She serves as a national consultant to organizations in aligning to their business outcomes and optimally securing their environment by reducing risk and unnecessary redundancy. She is an avid speaker on technical, leadership, and DEI subject matter and is passionate about promoting women and people of color into cybersecurity. Within SHI, she serves as a Board Member of the Women in Technology Committee where she has implemented Mentorship Programs, curates a Speaker Series, leads Volunteer initiatives, etc. She is an Emerging Leaders Forum Chair and has achieved a master mentor designation in EWF where she has further promoted her leadership skillset through the Leader Within Program. She also serves as President of the Austin Affiliate chapter of WiCyS (Women in Cybersecurity) where she brings her local community together in creating inclusive spaces to share experiences and insights.

BONUS EPISODE - In this episode of Talent First, I chat to Andy Ellis, author, CSO Hall of Famer and Partner at YL Ventures. We discuss his label of the 'idealized' CISO, what this means and how they are vanishing. We also talk about how to attract and retain talent, how CISOs can bridge the C Suite gap and how CISOs effect change successfully in their first few weeks.Another advice-laden episode and as ever, hope you enjoy.ABOUT OUR GUEST:Andy Ellis is a seasoned technology and business executive with deep expertise in cybersecurity, managing risk, and leading an inclusive culture. He is the author of 1% Leadership, Partner at YL Ventures, and is an advisor to cyber security startups. He is the founder and CEO of Duha, a boutique advisory firm focused on providing strategic consulting in the areas of Leadership, Management, Cybersecurity, Technology Risk, and Enterprise Risk Management.Widely respected across the cybersecurity industry for his pragmatic approach to aligning security and business needs, Andy regularly speaks and writes on cybersecurity, leadership, diversity & inclusion, and decision-making. Ellis previously served as the Chief Security Officer of Akamai Technologies, where he was responsible for the company’s cybersecurity strategy, including leading its initial forays into the cybersecurity market. In his twenty-year tenure at Akamai, Andy led the information security organization from a single individual to a 90+ person team, over 40% of whom were women.Andy has received a wide variety of accolades, including the CSO Compass Award, Air Force Commendation Medal, Spirit of Disneyland Award, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (for The Arlington Inn), the SANS DMA Podcast of the Year (for Cloud Security Reinvented), and was the winner of the Sherman Oaks Galleria Spelling Bee. He was inducted into the CSO Hall of Fame in 2021.After receiving a degree in computer science from MIT, Andy served as an officer in the United States Air Force with the 609th Information Warfare Squadron and the Electronic Systems Center.State of The Cyber Nation report: https://www.ylventures.com/magazine/insights/state-of-the-cyber-nation-2024-report/How to CISO: https://www.howtociso.com/Idealized CISO Job Description: https://www.howtociso.com/how-to-ciso-volume-0-the-ciso-job-description/CISO First 91 Day Guide: https://www.howtociso.com/how-to-ciso-volume-1-the-first-91-days/1% Leadership: https://www.csoandy.com/book/, https://amzn.to/3JOhLzD

SEASON FOUR: This week's episode is a bonus episode with Joshua Copeland, Field CISO, Cybersecurity Director and LinkedIn's self proclaimed 'Unpopular Opinions Guy'. We chat about what being a business enabler really means, how to alter the view of the cybersecurity department from cost centre to value add as well as that most contentious of subjects - the distinction between a technical vs a non-technical CISO.BIO:Joshua Copeland is a cybersecurity leader and engineer with 25 years of experience, with a focus on holistic cloud and on-prem security approaches and specific expertise in building and operating security stacks, SOC operations, and cybersecurity governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) processes. His key focus areas are building multi-faceted and diverse teams that translate the "bits and bytes" into "business capabilities and requirements." In his previous positions, he managed cybersecurity teams from 1 to 100+, oversaw physical, personnel, and cyber security programs, as well as traditional operational IT functions. In these roles, he directed the organizational-level security and long-term compliance processes.Since 2021, he has been the purveyor of #unpopularopinions as the "Unpopular Opinion Guy" SM or "UOG" on LinkedIn, covering topics like hiring, mentoring, and cybersecurity.

SEASON FOUR: In this episode of Talent First, I speak to Melinda Stallings, Founder of The Positive Consultant and another fabulous woman who is securing Texas through her leadership and positivity consultancy. We talk about what makes a good leader, how to deal with conflict and how leaders can be empathetic and benevolent without being a pushover.About Our Guest:Melinda Stallings is an internationally recognized organizational development psychologist, CEO of The Positive Consultant®, and best-selling author of The Power of Positive Conflict Resolution. With over 25 years of experience, Melinda is a trusted authority in leadership development, conflict resolution, and positive psychology.As a global keynote speaker and thought leader, Melinda has delivered transformative insights to audiences across Europe, Asia, and Australia, and has graced the stages of Harvard, Carnegie Hall, NASDAQ, and New York’s World Trade Center. She has been featured on major media networks and in leading business and niche-specific publications, sharing her expertise in organizational strategy, women’s leadership, and her proprietary POSITIVE Approach© to Conflict Resolution.Her latest program, The Positive Approach to Personal Leadership and Conflict Resolution, empowers leaders and employees alike to develop shared language and skills for conflict resolution, communication, and personal growth.Her mission is clear: to positively impact the world, one individual at a time, by helping clients uncover their greatness and model leadership that inspires others.

Season Four - In this episode of Talent First, I talk cybersecurity leadership with Sonja Hammond, ORBIE finalist and CISO at National Veterinary Associates. Sonja offers fantastic advice on how to build a cohesive security team and the rewards and challenges of doing this remotely, as well as how to resolve conflicts between team members. We also talk interviewing for fit, and how to identify the right time to move into management.About Our Guest: Sonja Hammond is the Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President of IT Architecture and Engineering at National Veterinary Associates (NVA). With 16 years in risk and cybersecurity, Sonja recently expanded her role to include architecture and engineering. A strong advocate of "defense in depth," she is passionate about safeguarding companies from cyber threats. Sonja has held key infrastructure, security and privacy positions at EssilorLuxottica (maker of Ray-Ban and Oakley), Hewlett-Packard, and Callaway Golf Company. Sonja is one of the authors in The CISO Mentor and is a board member of several Dallas area CISO groups.

Season Four - In this first episode of our new season of Talent First, I chat to Susanne Senoff, CISO for PROS about her views of the issue of allyship. We focus on allyship between women in corporate America, how we can support each other and the benefits of mentorship. We also have a quick chat about CISO/Board relationships, so this is an episode not to be missed! About Our Guest:Susanne Senoff is the CISO at PROS, an AI-powered revenue and profit optimization platform. Prior to PROS, she served in various roles in risk management and cybersecurity for over 20 years, including serving as Deputy CISO at McAfee and Director level positions at Arm, Microsoft and Morgan Stanley. Susanne is a business partner integrating and aligning security strategy and practice with business objectives and process. She builds high performing teams who have fun while delivering innovative, effective solutions. Susanne graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and received a Masters degree from Columbia University. She currently lives in Austin with her husband, 2 daughters, ages 7 and 14 and 2 dogs. In her spare time, Susanne enjoys swimming, reading science fiction and watching movies. 

In this week's episode, I chat to Christophe Foulon, vCISO at Quisitive and Adjunct Professor at Bellevue University. We discuss a range of current issues in cybersecurity, from the so called talent gap to what entry level really means, and we chat about Chris's career journey so far. His work with Whole Human Cyber Initiative and his books on nailing the cybersecurity interview will be of huge interest to all of those looking for advice from someone who is really in the know.

In this episode of Talent First, I return to the EdTech theme with my guest Martin Saunders, CEO and Co-Founder of EdShed. We discuss the fantastic range of products and services that EdShed offers Primary-aged children to support their learning and their wellbeing and sense of achievement.We discuss a range of topics including neurodiversity in schools, how the system is potentially failing pupils, and the possible solutions.

In this episode I speak to Professor Sarah Jones, Pro Vice Chancellor for Education at Solent University. We talk about passions that we share - how to enhance learning and teaching through technology, digital equity and accessibility and the future of education. We also discuss Sarah's work on AI literacy and her development of AI literacy frameworks for Higher Education students with a key focus on bias, privacy, verification, transparency and ownership.A definite listen for anyone concerned about our young people and their future in this increasingly digital world.

In this episode of Talent First, we return to those leading the way in education technology - and this week I talk to Estelle Lloyd, Co-Founder and COO of Macademia, an edutainment platform whose mission is to help parents raise exceptional humans with their focus on being kinder, smarter and with a keen sense of social values. I loved this chat with Estelle - her views on digital literacy, accessibility and how we keep our young people safe whilst preparing them for the digitial world aligns with our thoughts here at Talent First.

In this episode, I talk cybersecurity awareness training with the fantastic Jemma Davis, Founder of Culture Gem. Jemma shares her incredible personal story and professional journey into cyber and we discuss how to get away from boring security awareness training, what Culture Gem offers their clients, and what a true security culture looks like.BIO:Jemma Davis is a leading Cyber Behaviour and Culture Transformation Consultant and the CEO of Culture Gem. Her journey into cybersecurity began during the global WannaCry attack, which deeply impacted thousands across the UK and sparked her dedication to protecting people from cyber threats.With a foundation in direct response marketing, Jemma combines her creative ingenuity and conversion acumen to pioneer advancements in cybersecurity. She leverages direct response marketing techniques to drive transformative behavioural changes in the digital sphere, fostering safer online practices.Jemma’s mission is to empower people to navigate the digital world safely and to help companies build a robust security culture. She is committed to creating a community of cyber-aware individuals equipped to tackle cyber threats and scams. Collaborating with various organisations, she enhances their cybersecurity strategies and simplifies complex cyber issues, making them understandable and actionable for all. Jemma believes that fostering good cybersecurity habits personally can lead to a more secure interconnected world.Join Jemma in her mission to create a safer digital future. Together, we can build a more secure and resilient cyber environment for everyone.

This week's episode of Talent First sees a return to a focus on EdTech innovators with a fantastic chat with Fadl Al Tarzi, Founder and CEO of Nexford University.Nexford University offers students a range of online courses with an innovative approach to learning and teaching and to assessment which is a real passion of mine - and his focus on affordability and relevance of education (and how it prepares students for future careers) is what makes Nexford really stand out as a choice for students globally.

This is part two of my chat with Annabel Berry, Co-Founder of Leading Cyber, an organisation whose mission is to deliver impactful and effective leadership development. In part one of our conversation, Annabel and about the realities of the leadership role, how you know if it is the right time, and what can be done to prepare for the demands of management.In this part, we move on to discuss the other end of the leadership spectrum and that is the consequences of poor leadership which are far more wide reaching than financial loss. Of course, we also talk abut how companies can mitigate those risks as well as about the crucial topic of wellbeing and avoiding burnout in this demanding industry.

This week I continue my slight departure from The EdTech Season to speak to the wonderful Annabel Berry about her venture, Leading Cyber, an organisation committed to delivering impactful and effective leadership development through mentoring, off-site workshops and cybersecurity leadership programmes. In this part of our two part episode, we discuss Leading Cyber's mission, the realities of cybersecurity leadership and how to tell if you are ready to take the next step. BIO:With over 26 years of experience in cybersecurity, Annabel is a leader focused on building successful businesses through a focus on inclusive leadership and empowering cultures. She co-founded Leading Cyber alongside Danielle Phillips to meet the need in the industry for organisations to transform their cultures, strategies, and operational efficiencies by focusing on leadership development and training, based on behavioural science, organisation design & psychology and executive coaching. They have launched a global mentoring platform for the cybersecurity industry in order to more easily connect professionals wanting to enter into mentoring relationships with others in the industry. Annabel also serves as the chairperson of the board at CyberNorth, the North East Cyber Security Cluster and heads up the steering group for mental health and well-being on behalf of CIISec. She is passionate about learning and development and have completed executive education programs at Oxford, London School of Economics & Aberdeen. Empowering women in tech is incredibly important to her, and she is an executive director of Ladies Hacking Society, a network and community of women in cyber. https://leading-cyber.com/

In this episode of Talent First, I talk to Kelly Pracht, Co-Founder of nVenue a predictive analytics and micro-betting technology platform built for sports betting businesses and sports media. Although this is a departure from EdTech, the focus of Season Three, I was fascinated with Kelly's career, the fact that she is a woman not only in tech but in sports and sports betting, and of course the technology itself.Kelly and I had a great chat, discussing topics like AI and ML and the myths that surround it, and nVenue's approach to responsible gambling. Bio:The native Texan is a pioneer in machine learning, data, and analytics. For over 18 years, she was responsible for leading and directing teams of innovators, researchers, engineers, and go-to-market teams to drive new products to market for Hewlett Packard (across Workstations, Integrity servers, ProLiant, Moonshot, Edgeline, Apollo, and the HPC family of supercomputers) before compiling her love of sports with her passion for entrepreneurship, leading to the trailblazing launch of nVenue. Kelly holds multiple patents for her work in super-computing and engineering.In 2017, inspired by her work in building supercomputers for high tech - she wrote the first lines of code for a sports machine learning platform - which ultimately became a lightning-fast ML/AI kernel for nVenue's real-time analytics engines. The growth of the gaming and gambling industry during that time gave Pracht a window to fully expand her vision, which led to the full launch of the company in 2019. nVenue is now known as a powerful in-game betting solutions company that powers thousands of real-time probabilities and micro-betting odds for every play across NBA, NASCAR, MLB, and the NFL.Kelly was recently nominated as one of Sports Business Journal’s Tech Executive of the Year. She also received a Cynopsis Award for Digital Executive of the Year.Kelly earned her BSEE from the Colorado School of Mines and her MSEE at Colorado State University. She resides in Houston, Texas, with her husband and family of fellow Houston Astros fans.

In this episode of THE EDTECH SEASON, I speak to Ben Mason, Founder of globalbridge about his career in education, how he moved into technology and about the huge impact the globalbridge product is having on both students and for their enterprise partners.We discuss changing notions of human capital - the current value we place on education, what skills will be in demand and his advice to students, as well as how corporates can showcase their dedication to social values and talent pipelining through using this innovative service. Bio:Following 16 years in teaching as a senior leader across both the state and independent sectors, Ben founded globalbridge, a pioneering EdTech platform, to revolutionise how schools measure student outcomes, beyond exam grades alone. globalbridge is redefining how education evidences human capital, whilst transforming how industry engage and identify their future workforce to build sustainable emerging talent recruitment pathways. Having presented the platform in both the UK House of Commons and House of Lords, globalbridge has been listed in the Business Cloud UK EdTech top 10 for most innovative education technology creators. Ben himself was listed in the UKs Sunday Times top 100 entrepreneurs. As the business expands internationally and the world looks to address how education evidences student outcomes in a way that credentials skills alongside exam grades, Ben, and globalbridge, have been co-leading OECD projects on both the Learning Compass and AI in teaching and learning. As a keynote speaker, Ben has delivered thought leadership talks to the international community on the future world of work, human capital and the changing skills in emerging talent.

In this episode, I speak to Sarah Mintey, MBE about her career, how she founded and funded Developing Experts and about the impact her services are having on learning, teaching and corporate partnerships. We also chat about the importance of balanced diversity in STEM and about data-driven analysis of the impact her work is having on students.Bio:Sarah founded Developing Experts in October 2015. The company has since grown from strength to strength being a winner in Tech Nation's Rising Star 2019, one of 10 UK companies to win Google's Immersion Growth Program in 2020, in 2021 the company has been featured in @J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s report on the Top 200 Female-Powered businesses in the UK and recently won a place on Tech Nation's Upscale programme. In 2022 Developing Experts won the BETT Awards for Best Classroom Resource - Teaching Aid. Sarah is a 'LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leader' 2022.Developing Experts works with a range of tier 1 brands from the rail, energy, and construction industries to grow, track and build diverse talent pipelines for industry. In 2020 Sarah was honoured with an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for her services to tech and education and was named by Startup Magazine 'Top 20 Most Influential Female Founder of 2020’.Sarah is delighted to be working with over 8100 UK schools and clients such as the EDF, Network Rail, Rolls Royce, BEIS, National Nuclear Labs, the Royal Horticultural Society and the Ministry of Defence.

In this episode, I speak to Chris Parrish, Co-Founder of Podium Education. We began by talking about his background, education and career and we found that we had a lot in common which fuelled a lot of the discussion around Podium's products and services.We also talk diversity in tech, coding and data courses and the increase in popularity in these internships especially for students that are not taking tech-based degrees. And of course, we talked about how Podium's enterprise partners are attracting and pipelining the very best in tech talent. Bio:Christopher Parrish is Co-Founder and President of Partnerships at the leading experiential learning company, Podium Education. At Podium, Chris led the launch of The Global Career Accelerator, an industry redefining digital platform that enables students to gain credit, skills and experience by working on projects directly with industry. Podium currently partners with 70+ universities including Harvard, Georgetown and UT Austin and 50+ companies including Lyft, Intel and Stripe. His work has been featured in Fortune, Forbes and InsideHigherEd. He is a proud native of the Poconos and is passionate about unlocking opportunities for rural communities. Chris and Podium are based in Austin, TX.

In this episode of Talent First, I chat to Justin Merhoff, Director of Cybersecurity for Deque Systems about an often neglected topic - digital accessibility and equality.This is a fascinating discussion about the barriers faced by some to cybersecurity careers because of a lack of accessible products and tools, the need for diversity in tool design and development and Justin's advice organisations looking to improve digital equality and accessibility for cybersecurity and beyond.Justin Merhoff, a cybersecurity veteran with 26 years of experience, currently serves as the Director of Security at Deque Systems, Inc., a leading accessibility software and services company. Recognizing the profound importance of digital accessibility in cybersecurity, Justin passionately advocates for its integration into security products and services.

In this episode, I speak to CISO at Accurx Diane Abela about her experiences as a woman in cybersecurity - this is an open and frank discussion as well as being solutions-driven.We also chat about the evolving role of the CISO, the increasing demands it presents and how self-management is the key to success. Diane is a Chief Information Security Officer of a health technology organisation, with over 10 years of experience working in the information security space. She has spent the past 6 years building and leading information security, and more recently data protection functions, for engineering-first organisations.Diane is a big believer that information security and data protection, or what she calls Digital Trust, are enablers of the business. As consumers are demanding that their data is protected and their privacy respected, companies taking these areas seriously will definitely reap positive benefits through their customers’ trust. Within the space of health tech, Diane believes that digital trust can take this positive a step further as it can enable more equitable and accessible care through the increased sharing of data that is foundational to health research, decisions and care.Working in tech for most of her career, Diane is used to operating in environments where women were in the vast minority. She acknowledges, through first hand experience, the challenges and impact that inequality, gender discrimination and sexual harassment can have on ones professional journey and life. As such she seeks to champion women in cyber security through speaking up; representation; mentoring and through always seeking to challenge the status quo.

In this second part of my episode with Tennisha Martin, Founder of Black Girls Hack, we chat about the threat to DEI initiatives in corporations, and the ripple effect this will have for nonprofit organisations dedicated to progressing women in tech. We also talk about the current state of diversity in cybersecurity and how it can be improved. Don't miss the final 5 minutes where Tennisha tells me all about what is next for her, including Squad Con 2024.

In this episode, which is part one of a two part special, I speak with Tennisha Martin, Founder of Black Girls Hack about her career journey, her experience as a nonprofit Founder and about the current threats to DEI initiatives. We also talk about the current state of diversity in cybersecurity as well as what the future holds for her incredible organisation.Tennisha Martin is the founder and Executive Director of BlackGirlsHack (BGH Foundation), a national cybersecurity nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education and resources to underserved communities and increasing the diversity in cyber. BlackGirlsHack provides its members with resources, mentorship, direction, and training required to enter and excel in the cybersecurity field. Tennisha has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a Masters degrees in IT, Healthcare Policy and Management, Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics and Business Administration. She has worked in a consulting capacity for over 15 years in penetration testing, project management, risk management, audit, information assurance, quality assurance, software development, and testing roles. In her free time, Tennisha runs a consulting company, is a hacker, co-author of “Securing our Future: Embracing the Brilliance and Resilience of Black Women in Cybersecurity,” mentor, speaker, and an advocate for diversity.

In this episode I speak to three remarkable young women about their journey in STEAM so far and their resilience in making the finals of the VEX Robotics World Championships.

In this episode, I speak to Emily Maxie, Start Up Marketing Advisor whose vast experience in scaling Seed, Series A, and Series B B2B Tech companies makes this another advice-loaded podcast.  We talk about Raleigh's climb up the ranks in terms of the number of women in tech, and in the number of women who hold C Suite positions in organisations, and we chat about why it is that this metro has beaten the competition from Seattle to San Francisco. We also talk about the issues start ups are having at the moment and the hot topic of women founders and the lack of funding around female-founded companies.  As a seasoned startup executive, Emily Maxie has a proven track record of steering early-stage startups through pivotal growth moments. As Chief Marketing Officer at Very, she scaled revenue from $2M to $26M, securing its position as a category leader. Beyond her corporate achievements, Emily is a vocal advocate for gender equity in tech, frequently sharing her insights through keynote speeches at tech conferences, guest appearances on industry podcasts, and features on news segments, including ABC News.