CCN Conversations

What makes customers trust an organization, and what happens when that trust is lost?

In this episode of CCN Conversations, Francois Guay sits down with Darren Gallop, CEO and Co-Founder of Carbide and author of Built to Trust, to explore why trust should be treated as a business asset.

Darren introduces the idea of "trust capital," built through consistently delivering on promises and meeting customer expectations. But trust goes much deeper than reputation. Cybersecurity, privacy, AI governance, product quality and leadership decisions all contribute to whether customers believe an organization will do what it says it will do.

The conversation explores why cybersecurity cannot simply be delegated to IT, why leadership involvement can determine whether security and privacy programs succeed, and why organizations need to build these considerations into strategy rather than bolt them on afterward.

Darren and Francois also discuss the pressure organizations face to adopt AI, the importance of starting with purpose and strategy before governance, and why businesses need to balance innovation with thoughtful risk-taking.

For founders, Darren shares lessons from his own entrepreneurial experience, including the long-term cost of treating cybersecurity as an afterthought and why even early-stage companies benefit from thinking about security incrementally as they grow.

Ultimately, the conversation comes back to people. As AI becomes more embedded in business, Darren believes trust will continue to depend on the humans behind the technology.

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In this episode of CCN Conversations, host Francois Guay speaks with Rakesh Jayaprakash, Director of Product Management at ManageEngine, about what organizations need to get right before accelerating their adoption of AI.

While businesses are moving quickly toward AI, cloud transformation, and automation, Rakesh explains why many organizations are discovering that their operational maturity has not kept pace with their ambitions.

The conversation explores the IT foundations required to make AI useful, secure, and reliable, from configuration management and infrastructure visibility to governance, compliance, security, and data quality.

Rakesh also discusses why organizations should start with business problems rather than AI solutions, how leaders can balance innovation with security, and why smaller, focused AI projects can provide a stronger path toward meaningful adoption.

They also look at ManageEngine's approach to integrated IT management and what Canadian IT leaders, managers, and practitioners can expect from upcoming ManageEngine ITCON events in Quebec City and Vancouver.

For organizations asking how to prepare for AI, this conversation offers a practical reminder: transformation starts with getting the foundations right.

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In this episode of CCN Conversations, host Francois Guay sits down with members of UNIT 7300, including Nathan Chan, Paul Kriukov, James Wang, Chelsea Kensall, and Michael Thomas.

Founded in 2018, UNIT 7300 is a Canadian cybersecurity team dedicated to developing practical security skills through Capture the Flag competitions, bug bounty research, hands-on training, and collaborative problem solving.

The conversation explores how the team was built, why collaboration has become one of its greatest strengths, and how members from diverse professional backgrounds have come together to continuously develop their cybersecurity expertise.

They discuss mentorship, offensive security, continuous learning, teamwork, and the value of creating an environment where knowledge is openly shared instead of gatekept.

The group also shares why curiosity, discipline, and hands-on experience are often more important than following a traditional path into cybersecurity.

Whether you're an experienced practitioner, a student, or someone considering a career in cybersecurity, this episode offers valuable insight into how community, mentorship, and collaboration help build stronger cybersecurity professionals.

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In this episode of CCN Conversations, host Francois Guay speaks with Michael Argast, CEO and Co-Founder of Kobalt, about entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, and why security should be viewed as a business enabler rather than a business blocker.

Michael shares the story behind Kobalt, from an unexpected return from semi-retirement to building a company focused on helping small and mid-sized businesses strengthen their cybersecurity programs without requiring enterprise-sized budgets or teams.

The conversation explores the challenges of building a cybersecurity startup, lessons learned from scaling a business, and why solving cybersecurity for SMBs remains one of the industry's biggest opportunities.

Michael also discusses why security should accelerate innovation instead of slowing organizations down, the importance of networking for those entering cybersecurity, and why developing expertise in a specific area can help professionals stand out in a competitive industry.

Whether you're building a business, growing your cybersecurity career, or helping organizations innovate securely, this episode offers practical advice for leaders and practitioners alike.

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In this episode of CCN Conversations, host Francois Guay speaks with David Shipley, CEO of Beauceron Security.

David shares his unconventional journey into cybersecurity, from serving as a soldier and working as a newspaper reporter and digital marketer, to helping respond to a cyber incident at the University of New Brunswick and eventually building one of Canada's leading cybersecurity awareness companies.

The conversation explores why cybersecurity is ultimately about people, process, and culture, not just technology. David discusses how organizations can better motivate people to make safer decisions, why traditional awareness programs often miss the mark, and how psychology, behavioral science, and engagement play a critical role in reducing cyber risk.

They also discuss entrepreneurship, resilience, the realities of building a cybersecurity startup, career advice for newcomers, and why supporting Canadian cybersecurity innovation has never been more important.

This episode is a thoughtful discussion about leadership, motivation, cybersecurity culture, and the future of Canada's cyber ecosystem.

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In this episode of CCN Conversations, host Francois Guay sits down with Evgeniy Kharam, cybersecurity strategist, solution architect, author, podcaster, and industry leader.

Evgeniy shares his journey from quality assurance and firewall testing to becoming a solution architect responsible for helping organizations connect technologies, teams, and business objectives.

The conversation explores the importance of breaking down silos, understanding organizational priorities, and translating cybersecurity concepts into language business leaders can understand.

They discuss AI, asset visibility, shadow IT, cybersecurity awareness, communication, trust, and why soft skills are becoming just as important as technical expertise in today's cybersecurity landscape.

Evgeniy also shares practical insights on storytelling, analogies, relationship building, and how security professionals can become more effective communicators and leaders.

This episode is a must-listen for cybersecurity professionals, leaders, and anyone looking to bridge the gap between technology and business.

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In this episode of CCN Conversations, host Francois Guay speaks with Amisha Parikh, Vice President of Product Management, Cyber Intelligence Solutions at Mastercard.

Amisha shares her journey into cybersecurity and discusses the growing importance of trust, collaboration, and innovation in an increasingly digital world.

The conversation explores how organizations can move beyond viewing cybersecurity as a technical function and instead recognize it as a shared business responsibility. They discuss the role of AI in both enabling and combating cyber threats, the convergence of cybersecurity and fraud prevention, and why collaboration across industries is critical to building stronger defenses.

Amisha also shares insights on Mastercard's investments in cybersecurity innovation, the importance of supporting small and medium-sized businesses, and advice for women considering careers in STEM and cybersecurity.

This episode is a thoughtful discussion about trust, leadership, resilience, and the future of cybersecurity.

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In this episode of CCN Conversations, host Francois Guay speaks with Tim McCreight, CEO and Founder of TaleCraft Security.

With more than four decades in the security industry, Tim shares insights from his journey through physical security, cybersecurity leadership, enterprise risk management, and mentorship.

The conversation explores the importance of storytelling in cybersecurity, explaining why security professionals must learn how to communicate risk in ways executives and organizations can understand.

Tim also discusses enterprise security risk management (ESRM), the need for stronger collaboration across industries, and why organizations must move beyond compliance toward true resilience.

Other topics include mentorship, curiosity, cybersecurity education, organizational culture, and the role community plays in helping the industry grow together.

This episode is a thoughtful and practical discussion about leadership, communication, resilience, and the future of cybersecurity.

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In this episode of CCN Conversations, host Francois Guay speaks with Shruti Mukherjee, Director of GRC, about the growing importance of governance, risk, and compliance in today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Shruti shares her journey from software engineering into cybersecurity and GRC, highlighting how curiosity, adaptability, and continuous learning shaped her career.

The conversation explores how cybersecurity has evolved beyond technical protection into a business-wide challenge centered around trust, governance, and operational resilience.

Key topics include AI governance, checkbox compliance versus real security posture, continuous improvement, and why organizations must understand and protect their “crown jewels” as technology rapidly evolves.

Shruti also discusses why strong governance structures are becoming critical as businesses adopt AI and other emerging technologies, emphasizing the need for proper guardrails, accountability, and risk management.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders, practitioners, and organizations trying to navigate the intersection of cybersecurity, governance, AI, and business trust.

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In this episode of CCN Conversations, host François Guay speaks with William Mailhot about his unconventional path into cybersecurity and how curiosity, hands-on learning, and persistence shaped his career.

William shares how his interest in hacking game consoles led him into programming, reverse engineering, malware analysis, and eventually cybersecurity consulting.

The conversation explores the value of self-learning, technical curiosity, and practical experience, especially in an industry where traditional paths are not the only route to success.

William also discusses the importance of networking, building projects, and developing both technical and communication skills to stand out in today’s cybersecurity job market.

From developing dashboards that simplify security operations to helping organizations improve visibility across their environments, William highlights how technical depth combined with business understanding can create real impact.

This episode is a strong reminder that cybersecurity careers are often built through experimentation, initiative, and the willingness to keep learning.

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