eXecutive Security

MK Palmore has had a long and fascinating career -- from the military to the FBI to cybersecurity executive at Google. Don't miss his story.He's also a Vice President of Cyversity and has great insights and ideas about bringing more diversity to the cybersecurity field.  This is an important and valuable conversation for anyone looking to get into cybersecurity, especially those without technical skills, those with military backgrounds, or those from under-represented populations.MK Palmore on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkpalmore/Cyversity: https://www.cyversity.org/

Interested in behavioral science? The training and awareness side of cybersecurity might be for you – and you should hear Masha Sedova’s story. She offers a fascinating look at the human attack surface – which presents a whole new set of challenges – and they aren’t all technical. She has built a career on solving these challenges, and she sheds light on this lesser-known side of the cybersecurity world.

In this special episode, Gene encourages listeners to spread the word about the so-called "Phantom Hacker" scams targeting the elderly. The FBI recently published an alert about these popular scams that attempt to convince senior citizens that their money is unsafe and they need to move it.Gene outlines how the scam works, and how to protect the elderly in your life.

Cybersecurity is intimidating says Check Point CISO Cindi Carter. But she also says it shouldn’t be. Cindi and Gene talk about how to make cybersecurity more accessible in this episode of the eXecutive Security podcast. They also talk about community involvement, networking, and the advice she gives her mentees. Cindi Carter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindibcarter/ Check Point Software: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies/

Most of us don't approach mentoring with the right mindset, says Amanda Fennell of Prove. Thinking of it as "sponsoring" rather than "mentoring" would be a step in the right direction. Gene and Amanda talk about this mindset shift, plus her work at Prove, her work teaching cybersecurity at Tulane, why one of her best security analysts picked up valuable skills from her time as a bartender, and more.Amanda Fennell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afennell/Prove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proveidentity/Ron Gula "How to Conference": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRLcBPW12bc

Haris Pylarinos found cybersecurity training subpar, and too expensive, so he started a company to do better. Hack The Box is now a leading gamified cybersecurity upskilling, certification, and talent assessment platform with more than 2 million platform members. In this episode, Haris and Gene talk about Hack The Box, its origins and goals; why training plays a key role in addressing the cybersecurity skills gap; why cybersecurity hiring practices need to change, and more.

The author of "Building a Career in Cybersecurity," Yuri Diogenes offers a wealth of knowledge, advice, and tips on entering this field in this episode. He and Gene discuss:Yuri's career journeyHis take on cybersecurity certifications Why building a lab is important for those looking for entry-level rolesHow to be intentional in your attendance at cybersecurity conferences Why often the best technical person doesn’t get the jobYuri Diogenes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuridiogenes/Building a Career in Cybersecurity: https://a.co/d/ivHxIVL

You don’t need a tech background to work in cybersecurity, says Lance Hayden, Chief Information Security Strategist at Vericast, and former English major. What skills and abilities do you need? Get Lance’s perspective in this episode. He and Gene also talk about his experience teaching cybersecurity at the Univeristy of Texas, and what he looks for in entry level candidates.

Eric Jacobsen, Asst. VP and CISO at Boston University, is our first guest from the higher education space, and he offers a unique look at what it’s like to work in cybersecurity at a university. He and Gene talk about the benefits of working at an institution of higher learning, his path from a chemistry degree to cybersecurity leader, what he looks for when hiring for entry-level positions, and more.

Zscaler CISO Sam Curry discusses cybersecurity burnout and the need for a more welcoming industry. They highlight the challenges in finding talent and the benefits of collegiate cyber defense competitions. The chapter explores mental health in cybersecurity and emphasizes the importance of support. They also discuss the excitement and challenges of a cybersecurity career.