Episode Summary:

RSAC has officially expanded its research team with 11 new hires, plus another major research release is dropping this October. Guests Ben Waring and Jessica Porter join us to break down what the expansion means for the industry and how RSAC is stepping into year-round thought leadership.

They also take us inside the new RSAC digital community, where AI-powered tools, curated news briefs, and private peer groups keep cybersecurity pros connected long after the conference floor closes.

On the startup side, it’s the 20th anniversary of Innovation Sandbox with submissions up nearly 40% and a new $5M investment fueling each finalist’s growth. Plus, for anyone eyeing the RSAC 2026 stage, Ben and Jessica share what makes a Call for Speakers submission stand out and what gets it cut.

Listen to this episode before your next submission, pitch, or conference plan; you’ll thank yourself later.

About guests:

Ben Waring is the Director of Global PR and Communications at RSAC. He leads the global public relations strategy for the conference and its year-round community platform, managing media engagement, high-profile speaker press, and live event communications.

Follow Ben on LinkedIn.

Jessica Porter is Senior Director of Marketing at RSAC, where she has worked since 2017. She drives go-to-market strategy, targeted attendance, and community engagement, building RSAC into a year-round hub for cybersecurity learning. Previously, Jessica held integrated marketing roles at RSA Security.

Follow Jessica on LinkedIn .

🔗 Links & Resources:

RSAC Membership overview (launch blog)

RSAC Membership platform demo (video)

RSAC Cybersecurity Atlas (interactive tool) 

RSAC Innovation Sandbox (program)

Innovation Sandbox — How it Works (submission details)

RSAC Launch Pad (program)

RSAC Call for Submissions (Closed) 

RSAC Research (report landing example)

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