I sat down with someone whose work lives far from the spotlight but impacts everything from intelligence strategy to leadership systems. In this nearly three-hour conversation, Frank shares what it takes to lead when stakes are high, decisions are gray, and systems are bigger than any one person. We unpack how influence is earned, what happens behind the scenes in real-world operations, and how trust, precision, and humility come together to drive real progress. If you're someone who likes to think about leadership at the systems level—this one's for you.

00:00:00 - 00:10:10 — Building a career rooted in trust

00:10:11 - 00:20:36 — Influence built through relationships, not titles

00:20:37 - 00:31:18 — Crisis, trust, and real-time leadership

00:31:19 - 00:41:43 — Surveillance ethics and threat assessment

00:41:44 - 00:52:15 — Navigating transparency vs. duty

00:52:16 - 01:03:07 — Perception vs. operational reality

01:03:08 - 01:13:33 — Innovation inside government red tape

01:13:34 - 01:24:17 — Healthcare shows systemic failures

01:24:18 - 01:34:46 — Leadership when seconds count

01:34:47 - 01:45:17 — Systems that quietly break trust

01:45:18 - 01:56:04 —Tech waste and procurement dysfunction

01:56:05 - 02:06:21 — Infrastructure, targeting, and resilience

02:06:22 - 02:16:35 — Deepfakes and digital identity erosion

02:16:36 - 02:27:15 — Burnout-proofing digital transformation

02:27:16 - 02:37:39 — Compliance vs. practical progress

02:37:40 - 02:47:47 — Humanity and humor in leadership

02:47:48 - 02:54:52 — Franks final reflections on legacy, courage, and why clarity matters more than confidence.

Graham shares his career journey from PHX Suns ticket sales to CEO, the lessons he learned from both sides of the table, and how he built HireRising into a powerhouse in tech staffing and consulting.

🔹 Was he crazy to take the risk? (Even his friends thought so.)

🔹 The biggest hiring trends for 2025 : who’s in demand & what’s changing?

🔹 How sales experience can transform your career

🔹 The secret to building high-value relationships that fuel success.

🔹 Graham’s daily routine for peak performance—cold plunges, meditation & mindset shifts.

If you’ve ever thought about taking a leap in your career or business, Graham has the story you need to hear.

0:00 | From Sales to Business Ownership

7:01 | Understanding Both Sides in Business

14:31 | Overcoming Doubt & Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap

20:51 | Hiring Trends for 2025 & Business Growth

29:16 | Work-Life Balance & Personal Success Habits

38:01 | The Power of Business Relationships

44:21 | Future of Hiring & Industry Shifts

51:31 | HireRising’s Vision & Expansion into Consulting

58:41 | Final Takeaways & Career Advice

I am not certain any person actually has the life they expected. I would argue, a number of unexpected events lead us down a path we might not have imagined.

In the episode, Paul Wolf opens up about an early dream of becoming an actor, a surprising detour into radio, and the financial hardships during a tech layoff. Through his storytelling, we explore the struggles of finding our footing, career pivots, and the emotional toll of losing your source of income.

From being “voluntold” into cybersecurity to navigating financial survival, this episode covers resilience, personal growth, and how security roles have evolved in the business world.

If you're unsure of what your future looks like, find yourself at a career crossroads, or looking for some inspiration, Paul is just to person to learn from. Listen to his story about overcoming setbacks, adapting to change, and finding purpose.

This episode is a reminder that the toughest moments can lead to the most unexpected opportunities.

00:00:00 - The Accidental Path to Cybersecurity

00:10:23 - Chasing Dreams: From Acting to Tech

00:22:46 - Breaking into Radio & Early Tech Experiences

00:34:16 - The Reality of Low Salaries in Radio

00:47:31 - Transitioning from Radio to IT

01:02:01 - The Evolution of Security Roles

01:17:46 - When Your Career Chooses You

01:31:01 - Struggles of Building a Security Program

01:43:51 - Getting Laid Off and Facing Rock Bottom

02:00:11 - The Emotional Toll of Financial Struggles

02:20:00 - The Evolution of Security in Business

02:40:00 - Rebuilding and Finding Purpose in Security

02:57:36 - Final Reflections & Career Advice

In this episode, we dive into the origin of a CISO, how they handle challenges, and how professionals integrate work and life to be successful. Using examples from family life, the conversation shows why trust, teamwork, and doing the right thing are important for a strong workplace culture through CISO leadership. You’ll also hear about how professionals deal with topics around AI and privacy, but also how they help future leaders grow. This episode is full of great tips and stories that will make you think about how to be a better leader and a better version of yourself with different perspectives from the host/guest. Tune in to learn about the ups and downs of leadership and what the future might look like for you.

00:00:00 - The Role of CIOs and CISOs

00:10:23 - Security in Leadership: Lessons from Family Life

00:22:46 - Managing Risks in Corporate Culture

00:34:16 - Building Trust in Teams and Technology

00:47:51 - Personal Growth Through Professional Challenges

01:02:01 - Balancing Work, Life, and Innovation

01:17:16 - The Ethics of Cybersecurity and Privacy

01:31:01 - Empowering Future Leaders in Cybersecurity

01:43:51 - Facing the Future: Challenges and Opportunities

02:00:11 - Hypothetical Risk Scenarios and Leadership Responsibility

02:20:00 - Adapting Security Practices and Tools

02:40:00 - Building Connections and Sharing Expertise

02:53:00 - Final Reflections and Future Plans

Time Stamps

00:00:00 - Breaking Down Barriers: Early Career Lessons

00:10:05 - Navigating Leadership in Tech

00:20:42 - The Power of Storytelling in Cybersecurity

00:34:35 - Fostering Trust Through Collaboration

00:47:50 - Personal Growth Through Professional Challenges

01:02:20 - Balancing Work, Family, and Self

01:18:05 - Innovation vs. Legacy: Making Strategic Decisions

01:31:10 - Empowering Teams with Purpose-Driven Leadership

01:44:05 - Lessons from Mistakes: A Personal Reflection

02:00:35 - Facing the Future: Tech and Trust

02:20:25 - The Importance of Diversity in Tech Leadership

02:35:10 - Closing Reflections and Future Visions

Every CISO has war stories, but Mike is different.

His 26 years of experience of client and vendor roles has provided perspective to the stories people rarely speak about. The darker side of security where corporations lose more through Business Email Compromise than the recorded ransomware attacks you might read about in the news.

Take a seat and buckle up.

I guarantee these stories will blow your mind and provide a perspective into the things we all wonder about, but rarely hear of.

00:00 - Intro

05:38 - Homeschooling and Pandemic Adjustments

12:14 - Parenting Challenges and Work-Life Balance

20:23 - Fitness, Hobbies, and Routines

29:29 - Yoga, Weightlifting, and Self-Care

38:01 - Life Experiences Shaping Professional Growth

45:01 - Business Practices, Sales, and Security

01:00:01 - Leadership and Decision-Making in Tech

01:12:01 - Innovation and Balancing Tradition with Modern Ideas

01:25:01 - Security and Compliance in Different Industries

01:37:01 - Corporate Culture and Ethical Leadership

01:45:16 - Workplace Ethics and Security Challenges

02:00:01 - Emerging Threats and AI in Security

02:15:01 - Corporate Risk Management and Leadership

02:30:01 - Blending Traditional and Modern Security Approaches

02:45:45 - Career Growth and Leadership Insights

02:55:01 - Changes in technology, business strategies, and leadership approaches

03:10:01 - Personal and Professional Development Takeaways

Through mentorship, on the job coaching, and most recently through his Security Sam Series of books promoting Cybersecurity for today's youth, Rich has established himself as a Cybersecurity Legend.

His 50 years of experience and mentorship of countless CISOs in todays market has provided the wisdom a significant number of organizations can attribute to their security practice foundations.

Through all the years, processes, controls, frameworks, equipment, software and technology breakthroughs, one thing has and will always be true about Cybersecurity:

Its All about people.

Learn from the living legend in this 3+ hour conversation where we talk NASA to AI and technology from 1970 to 2024.

If you are interested in reading more about Security Sam or the books discussed in this episode, please use the following link:

https://store.bookbaby.com/profile/RichOwen

10% Promo Code: "JSS1"

Guest Info:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwowen/

If you have ever wondered how successful leaders build authentic connections to create a thriving workplace, this is for you. In this episode we sit with Chris Lawrence to discuss his insights on navigating these challenges with the optics of being an engineer early in his career to a standing CISO.

Our conversation jumps into being reflective on stories of personal growth through tragic loss and the renewed purpose we find through our desire to create the legacy we were destined for.

Whether you are leading a team, aspiring to lead, or struggling to find the flame within, this episode will provide the words of encouragement you might need.

Tune in for this weeks episode.

Lester and I sat to discuss how his unique experiences forged his beliefs on leadership, building teams, and finding success in Cyber. We captured the stories where his confidence in himself allowed him to transfer from a music background to being responsible for one of the largest counties in the US. Things are not always as they seem, and Lester gave us his opinion on how there is a place for everyone in Cyber regardless of what people might have heard about qualifications. Everyone can make a positive impact with securing our community. Find out how with this episode. 

Guest: 

Lester Godsey

CISO of Maricopa County. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lestergodsey/

I sat with Kim Jones, a Cyber Professional with nearly 40 years of experience, to get his take on leadership. I learned personal accountability and communication are key components to his success, but there are plenty of other characteristics we must develop before we can expect to make an impact. Through impact, we leave a legacy for the next generation to carry the torch on.

Listen on and enjoy a snippet of 38 years of experience broken into 23 chapters.