Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson

Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor known for her groundbreaking work in psychological safety, shares invaluable insights on fostering open communication in high-stakes environments like cybersecurity. She discusses the importance of creating safe spaces where teams can speak up without fear, highlighting historical events like the Challenger disaster. Edmondson emphasizes leadership vulnerability, the dynamics of effective teaming during crises, and the need for a learn-it culture that embraces failures as opportunities for growth.

Nasrin Rezai, SVP and CISO at Verizon joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Nasrin shares practical defense strategies for hard-to-secure legacy systems, emphasizes the importance of zero trust, and explains why cybersecurity is now a matter of national defense. Despite the challenges, she closes with optimism, believing that innovation, collaboration, and a new generation of cyber leaders will shape a more secure future.    Resources:   View Nasrin Rezai on LinkedIn       View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn       Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network. 

Please enjoy this encore episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea while Ann Johnson and team are taking a break. Dr. Hugh Thompson⁠, Executive Chairman of RSA Conference and Managing Partner at Crosspoint Capital joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. They discuss what goes into planning the world’s largest cybersecurity conference—from theme selection to llama-related surprises on the expo floor—and how the RSA community continues to evolve. Hugh also shares how his background in applied math led him from academia to cybersecurity, his thoughts on the human element in security, and what keeps him optimistic about the future of the industry.    Resources:   ⁠View Hugh Thompson on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠ ⁠  ⁠View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn⁠       Related Microsoft Podcasts:   ⁠Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast⁠   ⁠The BlueHat Podcast⁠    ⁠Uncovering Hidden Risks⁠          Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at⁠ ⁠⁠microsoft.com/podcasts⁠      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network. 

Please enjoy this encore episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea while Ann Johnson and team are taking a break. Jack Rhysider, the creator and host of cybersecurity podcast Darknet Diaries joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Jack shares his journey from network security engineer to self-taught storyteller, detailing how his passion for cybersecurity and relentless dedication to learning and marketing helped him build an independent media powerhouse. He discusses the challenges of growing the podcast from scratch, the intensity required to succeed, and why telling well-researched cybercrime stories keeps him motivated.  Resources:  ⁠View Jack Rhysider on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn⁠   Related Microsoft Podcasts: ⁠Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast⁠  ⁠The BlueHat Podcast⁠   ⁠Uncovering Hidden Risks⁠         Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at⁠ microsoft.com/podcasts⁠    Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.   

Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. Jeetu shares insights on the urgent need for machine-scale defenses, the potential for defenders to finally tip the scale against attackers, and the importance of collaboration across the industry. They discuss the evolution of agentic AI, the challenges of innovation fragmentation, and why cybersecurity must become more accessible and effective to keep pace with modern threats.    Resources:   View Jeetu Patel On LinkedIn   View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn       Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.    

Aleise McGowan, Chief Information Security Officer of BlackGirlsHack and a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience, shares her transformative journey in cybersecurity. She highlights how an early career hack shifted her focus from development to defense. McGowan discusses the importance of resilience and human-centered leadership, emphasizing that inclusivity in cybersecurity isn't just ethical—it's strategic. She also sheds light on empowering underrepresented talent, advocating for a diverse workforce that can effectively tackle future threats.

Yonatan Zunger, Corporate Vice President and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for Artificial Intelligence at Microsoft, shares his expertise in AI security. He discusses how generative AI alters the cybersecurity landscape, highlighting both opportunities and risks. Zunger emphasizes treating AI as a valuable junior employee under human oversight. He promotes the importance of robust security frameworks and proactive governance in AI development, and expresses optimism about AI's potential to enhance persistent cybersecurity defenses.

Dr. Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman of RSA Conference and Managing Partner at Crosspoint Capital joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. They discuss what goes into planning the world’s largest cybersecurity conference—from theme selection to llama-related surprises on the expo floor—and how the RSA community continues to evolve. Hugh also shares how his background in applied math led him from academia to cybersecurity, his thoughts on the human element in security, and what keeps him optimistic about the future of the industry.    Resources:   View Hugh Thompson on LinkedIn    View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn          Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks          Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network. 

On this special episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea, Ann brings listeners inside the 2025 RSA Conference to explore the intersection of AI, quantum computing and cyber resiliency with two visionary experts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Vinod Vaikuntanathan and Dr. Sasha O’Connell from The Aspen Institute. Vinod shares how quantum computing poses a serious threat to current encryption methods and explains the urgent need for post-quantum cryptography, while Sasha shares her non-technical path into cybersecurity, her work leading Aspen Digital’s global policy efforts and the launch of the new public campaign aimed at making cybersecurity accessible and actionable for everyone.     Resources:   View Sasha O’Connell on LinkedIn   View Vinod Vaikuntanathan on LinkedIn           View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn       Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.    

Christina Morillo, Head of Information Security at the National Football League’s New York Giants joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Christina discusses the ins and outs of building a resilient cybersecurity strategy, the importance of entering organizations with curiosity—not checklists—and why listening is always her first step. Christina breaks down common cybersecurity misconceptions, shares how to move from strategy to implementation, discusses the importance of storytelling in governance and shares how she addresses burnout and mental health in her teams. Resources: View Christina Morillo on LinkedIn   View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn  Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  The BlueHat Podcast   Uncovering Hidden Risks         Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.