Why are so many cybersecurity company founders so bad at talking about their own products?! This week we're joined by Elliot Volkman and Doug Landis to talk about how they used storytelling training to transform one company’s message to its customers!

In this episode:

🤦‍♂️ Why so many founders are terrible at talking about their own products

🎭 The power of storytelling vs. spewing facts and stats

💰 Why companies should invest in communication skills for operators, not just technical skills.

📊 Building trust through customer stories, not flashy banners

🗣️ Practical tips for nailing your next conference presentation

Tune in for some real talk on how to cut through the noise and actually connect with your audience. No BS, just straight advice.

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🏔️We’re coming to SecureWorld Denver! Here are some exclusive discount codes:

BKBTSWC1    Conference Pass $50.00 Discount

BKBTSWO1    Open Sessions (Free)

BKBTSWP1    Plus Pass $75.00 Discount

🔥Want a little BKBT fire for your conference? Or maybe your GTM team needs a high-test dose of buyer insight at your next SKO! Drop us a line at [email protected]

On the show this week: Reanna Schultz, SOC Team Lead and all-around badass, talks about life in the trenches of cybersecurity operations.

George K and George A talk to Reanna about:

🎯 What vendors get wrong about SOC life (hint: it's not all about alert fatigue)

🔍 The importance of integrating new tools with existing processes

🤝 Building authentic relationships in the cybersecurity community

💪 Developing communication skills for high-pressure situations

Plus, she shares her journey of finding mentors and building her career without following the typical playbook.

Whether you're a vendor trying to connect with SOC teams or an aspiring analyst looking to level up, this episode is packed with a lotta juice!

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🔥Want a little BKBT fire for your conference? Or maybe your GTM team needs a high-test dose of buyer insight at your next SKO! Drop us a line at [email protected]

Justin Merhoff, Director of InfoSec, and Florian Beijers, a blind web developer, join the show to talk about accessibility in cybersecurity. This week the Americans with Disabilities Act turns 34!

George K and George A talk to Justin and Florian about:

🔍 The current state of accessibility in cybersecurity and the challenges faced by practitioners with disabilities

🧠 How AI and assistive technologies may help accessibility in cybersecurity tools

🛠️ Practical steps companies can take to make their security solutions more inclusive

✍️ The importance of “accessibility by design” to avoid costly retrofits

Don't miss this episode on building a more inclusive future in tech!

Go deeper:

• RSA presentation on inclusive design in cyber https://www.rsaconference.com/library/presentation/usa/2024/balancing%20accessibility%20security%20and%20ai%20design%20inclusive%20security%20tools#

Follow Florian on

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blindlycoding
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ic_null

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What does it really take to break into cyber? Mari Galloway jumps into the ring and brings her 15+ years of experience to bear.

George K and George A talk to Mari about:

🤔 The evolution of the cybersecurity industry and the challenges faced by women and minorities

😒 The rise of influencer culture in cybersecurity and what we’re NOT telling newcomers

🤝 The mission and growth of the Women's Society of Cyberjutsu

🎯 Practical advice for newcomers and career pivoters in cybersecurity

Further Reading:

• Securing Our Future by The Black Women in Cyber Collective
• CC Certified in Cybersecurity Cert Guide (NEW!)

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CEO Carolina Ruiz jumps into the ring to talk about leading cyber consultancy, the value of diverse skill sets, and how she memorized ISO 27001 in a weekend! 😳

George K and George A talk to Carolina about:

🤔 The evolving threat landscape and its impact on cybersecurity strategies

🎓 Addressing the skill shortage in cybersecurity and innovative ways to tackle it

📜 The implications of new legislation and regulations in different markets

🌎 The growth and potential of the cybersecurity industry in Latin America

📚 Recommended reading:

• Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch: The Secret of Extraordinary Results, Igniting the Passion Within
• The Culture Map

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Hacker and researcher Adrian Wood (threlfall), an expert red teamer joins the show to talk about using supply chain attack techniques to poison AI models. This is the cutting edge, and most organizations are entirely unprepared.

George K and George A talk to Adrian about:

🛡️ The practical challenges and misconceptions around AI threats

⛓️ How attacking ML models is similar to supply chain attacks but in a far more complex environment

🧩 The importance of understanding your business and ML pipelines for better security

🔍 Tips and strategies for how Blue Teams can start building defenses and where they should focus their attention today

Recommendations for learning more:

• Adrian’s research
• DEFCON 31 AI Village Presentation
• Andrej Karpathy's YouTube channel
• Andrej Karpathy's GitHub
• Fast.ai
• Adrian's Resource List

We're speaking at SquadCon on August 8th! Get your tix here: https://blackgirlshack.org/event-5495307 

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✅ Subscribe and share your fave episode on LinkedIn
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☕️ Make a donation or sustaining contribution: https://lnkd.in/ewvn_ZGx

Break through? No, PUNCH through the AI hype in cybersecurity this week’s guest, Mani Keerthi, Field CISO.

George K and George A talk to Mani about:

🥴 Making sense of AI, GenAI, LLMs and why clarity is lacking right now

🐍 Questions security teams should ask to separate snake oil from legit use cases

🤖 How the AI tech stack differs from IT tech stacks and why that matters

🚀 What the trinity of opportunity, experience, and interest means for career growth

This episode is full of insights for CISOs and SecOps teams!

🏳️‍🌈✊ This month: All profits from Pride shirt sales will be donated to LGBTQ organizations

Shop today: www.bkbtpodcast.shop

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✅ Subscribe and share your fave episode on LinkedIn

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Bonus! Chas Larios shares her 7 tips for cybersecurity marketers on how to earn security buyers' respect and trust. These are low-cost, high-return changes teams can make today!

This month: All profits from Pride shirt sales will be donated to LGBTQ organizations

Shop today: www.bkbtpodcast.shop

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Support the show!

✅ Subscribe and share your fave episode on LinkedIn

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This week, Chas Larios of Anvilogic joins the show to about her approach to winning practitioners' trust through respect for their time and attention.

George K and George A talk to Chas about:

🚀 Building brands on principles and the importance of giving back to the cyber community

🧠 How her technical Infosec background informs her marketing

😳 How she hires, and why resumes are the LAST thing she looks at

🎙️ Changes in the market and favorite bands, as turns the table and interviews the Georges!

This episode is full of insights for founders, CEOs, vendors, and sellers. Sharpen those pencils and get out your notebooks, school’s in session! 

This month: All profits from Pride shirt sales will be donated to LGBTQ organizations!

Shop today: www.bkbtpodcast.shop

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Support the show!

✅ Subscribe and share your fave episode on LinkedIn

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Longtime cybersecurity leader Peter Schawacker joins us the show to talk about radical zeal, global talent, and creating safe spaces for queer communities.

George K and George A talk to Peter about:

👨‍🎤 How his punk rock roots and hacker mentality inform his approach to cyber and playing to win

🌏 Cultivating and employing global talent

🏳️‍🌈⚧️ Creating the Queer in Cyber community

🔍His new cyber tabletop research project, and how you can help.

🧨 In the Teardown: George K responds to copy/paste outreach from two different BDRs at the same company.

Learn more about Queer In Cyber:

• Queer in Cyber (QIC) channel on the Nearshore Cyber Discord: https://discord.gg/4BNshGdmBp (hashtag#queer-in-cyber)
• QiC Podcast Website: https://queerincyber.podbean.com/
• Video: https://www.youtube.com/@QueerInCyber

This month: All profits from Pride shirt sales will be donated to LGBTQ organizations!

Shop today: www.bkbtpodcast.shop

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Support the show!

✅ Subscribe and share your fave episode on LinkedIn

⭐️ Leave us a rating

☕️ Make a donation or sustaining contribution: https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks