eXecutive Security

Key to a successful tech career? Re-inventing yourself every three years, says Faisal Bhutto, SVP of Cloud and Cybersecurity at Calian. Don’t go into tech if you’re not ready to be constantly learning and re-inventing yourself, he says. Hear more tips and advice from Faisal in his episode, including why money and promotions can’t be your only motivation, why you shouldn’t network only to look for a job, and how to get into cybersecurity without a tech background.

Faisal Bhutto is SVP of Cloud and Cybersecurity at Calian IT & Cyber Solutions. Previously, he was the co-founder of and COO at ENETsolutions.

Faisal Bhutto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fbhutto/ 

Corey Nenno (aka That Cyber Guy) just transitioned out of the military and into the cybersecurity industry in 2021 – so this is an ideal episode for those currently in the military looking to soon enter the cybersecurity field. It’s also one of our most practical episodes, whether you’re in the military or not – it’s filled with tips and advice on what to put on your resume, how to pass the CISSP, how to find a mentor, and more.

Corey Nenno is a Senior Cyber Intelligence Analyst at Cargill. Previously, he spent 12 years in the US Army in Cyber and Information Technology fields.

VetSec: www.veteransec.org 

Corey Nenno on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreynenno/ 

Cyber Mentor Dojo: https://cybermentordojo.com 

Alfredo Hickman fought the war on terror in the early 2000s in the Marine Corps infantry in Iraq. He shares some intense stories from his military experiences overseas with Gene, as well as how he transitioned from the front lines to a cybersecurity executive. Alfredo is passionate about helping veterans and giving back, and this episode is valuable for anyone looking to enter this industry, military or not. He shares details about his life and journey, his thoughts on cybersecurity trends in 2023, how the SANS Institute has been a resource for him and can be for others, his thoughts on mentoring, and more.

Alfredo Hickman is Head of Information Security at Obsidian Security. He previously held security leadership positions at Rackspace. Alfredo served in the US Marine Corps from 2003 to 2011.

Alfredo Hickman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredohickman/ 

Obsidian Security: https://www.obsidiansecurity.com 

SANS Institute: https://www.sans.org 

#CyberMentoringMonday on Twitter and LinkedIn 

David Cross’ advice for breaking into cybersecurity? Strategic use of gift cards. Get details on his networking through social media ideas in this episode. David transitioned out of the military into the world of high tech, where he has held numerous cybersecurity leadership roles. This episode is filled with practical tips and advice on demonstrating your skills to prospective employers, deciding what type of company to work for, transitioning military skills to the corporate world, networking, and more.

David Cross is the Senior Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of Oracle SaaS Cloud. Previously, he held senior leadership positions at numerous companies, including Google and Microsoft. David also served in the US Navy from 1991 to 1996.

David Cross on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/☢️-david-b-cross-b856657  

Parham Eftekhari is a nationally recognized leader in cybersecurity, national security, and critical infrastructure. He currently serves as an Executive Vice President at CyberRisk Alliance, setting the vision and operating priorities for its executive development, CISO, and community solutions. Parham also serves as the chairman of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), the nation's leading cybersecurity think tank which he founded in 2014, and advisory board member at MazeBolt Technologies and the Ready Rock Institute. Other leadership roles during his 15-year career include co-founder and V.P of research at the Government Technology Research Alliance and founder of the world’s first webcam cover manufacturer CamPatch.com.

Parham Eftekhari LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parhamtech/ 

Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT): https://icitech.org 

CyberRisk Alliance: https://www.cyberriskalliance.com 

ISACA: https://www.isaca.org/why-isaca 

ISSA: https://www.issa.org 

(ISC)2:https://www.isc2.org 

Rick Doten is VP, Information Security at Centene Corporation. He has over 30 years of experience in the IT industry, the last 23 focused specifically on cyber security. He has worked as both CISO of multinational company, and a management consultant performing risk management and risk engineering to mature customer security and privacy programs.

Rick Doten on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-doten-633470177/ 

Rick Doten YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSePMfJMI2PJ2qMrQrX9vIQ 

Carol Meyers is a partner at Glasswing Ventures, and independent board member, and an executive coach. She was formerly the CMO at Rapid7.

Carol Meyers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroljmeyers/ 

At the recent RSA Conference in San Francisco, we decided to take advantage of all the cybersecurity professionals gathered in one place to get some advice for those looking to enter the industry. We asked attendees who visited the ThreatX booth, What's the No. 1 piece of advice you'd offer to someone trying to break into cybersecurity? We recorded more than 20 answers, and collected a few here for this podcast episode.

It’s rough to start your career in an economic downturn, as many of our listeners are now finding out. Alyssa Robinson started her career in a down economy, but she found opportunity amidst the challenges. Listen to her episode to find out the silver linings of kicking off a career in uncertain times.

Alyssa Robinson is Deputy CISO at HubSpot and has had security leadership roles at several organizations, including Compete, Inc. and the Broad Institute.

HubSpot: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hubspot/ 

Alyssa Robinson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-robinson-0a83231/ 

We recently received more than 4,000 resumes for a job listing for an entry-level security position. How does this number make sense considering the cybersecurity skills gap? Gene shares his thoughts in this short episode.