The Secret CISO: Navigating the Human and Technical Challenges in Cybersecurity

In this episode of 'Cybersecurity Today,' hosts John Pinard and Jim Love introduce their unique show, 'The Secret CISO,' which aims to dive deep into the lives and thoughts of CISOs and similar roles, beyond the usual interview-style format. The guest for this episode is Priya Mouli, CISO at Sheridan College, who shares her journey from engineering to cybersecurity, her global experiences, and how she manages her multifaceted role. Another guest, Mohsen Azari, Director of Cyber Defense in the financial sector, discusses his career path, which includes notable stints in entertainment and consulting. The conversation explores the pressing challenges in cybersecurity such as AI threats, burnout, and vendor tool overload, while emphasizing the importance of people skills and relationship-building within organizations. The episode wraps up with a promise of a follow-up discussion to delve deeper into the impact of AI on cybersecurity.

00:00 Introduction to the Secret CISO Show 00:51 Guest Introductions: Meet Priya Ali 01:59 Priya's Career Journey and Insights 06:44 Mohsen's Background and Career Path 13:12 John's Career and Cybersecurity Evolution 15:58 Current Cybersecurity Challenges 24:04 Adapting to New Roles in Cybersecurity 25:36 Managing People and Preventing Burnout 27:08 Servant Leadership and Team Dynamics 31:16 Strategic Hiring and Team Cohesion 33:42 Handling Stress and Personal Well-being 35:46 The Role of CISOs as Organizational Psychologists 40:54 Influencing Behavior and Building a Security Culture 44:28 Coping with the Barrage of Cybersecurity Tools 51:10 Conclusion and Future Discussions