Welcome to the Engage & Secure Podcast, Powered by OutThink! Timestamps below the description.In this episode of the Engage & Secure Podcast, host Fred Menachem is joined by David Gee, one of the most respected voices in global cybersecurity leadership and bestselling author, to explore what it really takes to lead with resilience, adaptability, and purpose. Learn leadership lessons from a cybersecurity leader who built high-performing teams across five countries, while defying cultural ceilings and rethinking what it means to lead.A former CIO and CISO at organizations like HSBC, MetLife, Eli Lilly, and Credit Union Australia, David shares his deeply personal journey from being bullied as a child in Australia to transforming entire cybersecurity cultures across Asia, the U.S., and beyond. He opens up about how becoming a father at 20 shaped his urgency, empathy as a leader, approach to personnel development, and why he’s such a firm believer in coaching individuals. Throughout the episode, David offers practical insights into employee development, impactful and progressive cybersecurity principles, inclusive leadership, and how to break out of the “solo contributor” mindset to elevate entire teams. He unpacks his personal frameworks, including daily discipline habits like yoga, his "think two jobs ahead" mindset, and his powerful 9-Day Transformation Plan for rebuilding underperforming security teams.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:- How cultural differences between East and West influence cybersecurity outcomes- Why shaping behavior and team dynamics are critical to building high performing teams- How David’s “vulnerability index” changed the cybersecurity posture at HSBC- His philosophy for building adaptable, loyal teams that thrive under pressure- The habits and self-awareness tools that help him stay at the top of his gameTimestamps: (0:00) - Intro (1:44) - How David’s unique multicultural upbringing forged him as a person and leader(8:02) - Dealing with imposter syndrome, early fatherhood, and how family pressures taught him valuable lessons on personnel development and leadership(15:53) - Early career choices, transition to IT, and arrival at EY (23:07) - Adapting to different work cultures and building teams(30:50) - His books: The Aspiring CIO and CISO and A Day in the Life of a CISO(35:44) - Differences between East and West: culture, team building, security, and regional nuances(50:00) - Navigating the pressures of being a CISO, framing cyber as a growth driver, and the HSBC vulnerability index(1:00:02) - Staying on top of his game, personal philosophy, and effectivegrowth strategies for success(1:08:10) - Leadership advice and what he would tell his younger self(1:11:04) - Conclusion Keep an eye out for our next episode, coming soon!Don’t forget to follow, activate notifications, and drop a comment with your biggest insight from the episode.More Resources & Connect With OutThink:Visit our website.Follow us on Linkedin and Twitter.

Welcome to the Engage & Secure Podcast, Powered by OutThink!

Timestamps below the description.

In this episode, OutThink Founder & CEO Flavius Plesu sits down with host Fred Menachem to chronicle how his quest to go beyond the limitations of conventional, legacy security awareness training programs led to the emergence of Human Risk Management as a category and the founding of OutThink. While in industry, Flavius took on the challenge of figuring out how to drive engagement with cybersecurity from every employee across an enterprise organization. What he found was what he refers to now as the “Sea of Sameness” - monotonous, uninspiring compliance programs and training modules poorly designed for stimulating genuine interest in the end user. Flavius recognized the opportunity. He collaborated with other practitioners and subject matter experts to conceive of a new approach based on personalization, instructional design best practices, and alignment with business objectives: cybersecurity human risk management was born. OutThink, the world’s first AI-native cybersecurity human risk management platform, was founded to bring that vision to life. Discover how OutThink’s relentless pursuit of building a truly excellent human-centric cybersecurity product was inspired by the greatness of Michael Jordan and the sacrifices and commitment of an amazing team. But for Flavius, cybersecurity is just the start - after securing digital life, everywhere, he aspires to work on other big, systemic issues affecting those less fortunate across the globe. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:- Why Traditional Security Awareness Training Is Flawed - While compliance is important, addressing the human element in cybersecurity warrants a more personalized, impactful approach.- The Founding of Outthink - How interactions with other industry practitioners demonstrated the need for a game-changing product.- Cybersecurity and Beyond - Why improving the security of digital life served as a gateway to dreaming about solutions for other significant challenges.- Lessons on Leadership and Impact - The powers of a steadfast belief that the status quo can be improved on and the perseverance to fully commit to that belief.Timestamps: (0:00) - Intro (2:18) - The 'Sea of Sameness' in Security Awareness(6:22) - Why Human Risk Management Is Necessary(10:37) - How to Drive Engagement with Cyber(13:48) - Why Cybersecurity Human Risk Management(16:04) - Genesis of OutThink (20:33) - How to Build Great Product(25:00) - Excellence Is All About Team (27:40) - Vision for OutThink(31:56) - Securing Digital Life, Everywhere(35:16) - What Would Flavius as a Kid Think?(37:58) - Building the Industry(43:35) - Parting Advice and ConclusionKeep an eye out for our next episode, which will feature leading lights in the Human Risk Management space!Don’t forget to follow, activate notifications, and drop a comment with your biggest insight from the episode.More Resources & Connect With OutThink:Visit our website. Follow us on Linkedin and Twitter.

In his Engage & Secure premiere, host Fred Menachem sits down with our very own Flavius Plesu , Founder & CEO of OutThink, to dive deep into his extraordinary life story that shaped his journey to cybersecurity and OutThink’s groundbreaking approach to cybersecurity human risk management.

From growing up in Communist Romania, where scarcity was the norm and resilience was a necessity, to becoming a leading voice in cybersecurity, Flavius' story is one of both ambition and transformation. As a child, he discovered technology through a Romanian-made computer and taught himself how to code without speaking English. Inspired by his father’s competitive spirit and mother’s deep empathy, he developed a mindset that would later define his leadership in cybersecurity.

His journey was far from linear. From hustling as a young entrepreneur in Romania (his first business venture? Reselling gum in school) to kickboxing, dropping out of university, and working as a police officer, a salesman, and a bouncer, Flavius took an unconventional path to cybersecurity leadership. But it was through these experiences - learning how to fight, both in the ring and in life - that he discovered his true purpose in life: to secure digital life, everywhere by addressing its biggest vulnerability, human behavior.

As the world’s first AI-native cybersecurity human risk management platform, Flavius built OutThink to prevent human-initiated security incidents by treating cybersecurity as a human challenge, not just a technical one. OutThink doesn’t just train and engage users, it empowers them to become Security Champions and their organization’s best line of defense against cyber threats.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• From Communist Romania to Cybersecurity Human Risk Management Pioneer – How growing up under communism shaped Flavius’ resilience, resourcefulness, and innovative spirit.
• Overcoming Challenges & Finding Purpose – From dropping out of university to finding purpose and meaning in life, Flavius shares the defining failures and pivotal moments that forged him and led to the founding of OutThink.
• The Human Side of Cybersecurity – Why cybersecurity isn’t just about technology but about human-centric security and behavioral risk management.
• Mental Health & Cybersecurity Leadership – The toll of mental health stigma and how self-care, self-awareness, and discipline fueled Flavius’ transformation fuel and success.

Timestamps:

(0:00) - Intro (3:14) - Expecting a child as a founder(4:23) - Growing up in Communist Romania(6:02) - Parental influences(7:42) - Early exposure to Romanian computer(9:30) - Further formative experiences and focus(12:18) - Path in university, dropping out, and early struggles(16:03) - Experiences of failure and becoming a police officer(21:03) - Feeling lost, move to UK, and pursuing cyber(24:40) - Sense of purpose and addressing the people element in cyber(27:40) - Mental health realizations and growth(38:19) - Company culture and work/life integration(42:15) - Importance of empathy and self-awareness(46:30) - How his wife grounds him(50:55) - Conclusion

Keep an eye out for our next episode, in which Fred and Flavius unpack cybersecurity human risk management and Flavius’ vision for transforming the industry!

Don’t forget to follow, activate notifications, and drop a comment with your biggest insight from the episode.

More Resources & Connect With OutThink:

Visit our website.

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