Dr. Eric Cole is a renowned cybersecurity expert, entrepreneur, public figure, and bestselling author who has spent over three decades shaping the cybersecurity landscape. From starting as a professional hacker for the CIA to serving as the 44th President’s Commissioner on Cybersecurity, Dr. Cole has advised top companies and government agencies on digital security. Known for his pioneering work and business acumen, he’s built and sold multiple tech companies and now leads Secure Anchor Consulting, helping organizations turn cybersecurity into a business enabler. His unique blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial spirit makes him a leading voice in both cybersecurity and business innovation.

On this episode we talk about:

Dr. Cole’s journey from CIA hacker to cybersecurity entrepreneur

The fundamentals of ethical hacking and making money ethically

How to spot future tech trends and build companies for high-value exits

The state of U.S. cybersecurity laws and why federal regulation is needed

Using AI and data analysis to identify investment opportunities and the future of cryptocurrency

Top 3 Takeaways

Ethics and Execution Matter: Dr. Cole emphasizes that making money ethically is crucial, and rapid execution—making decisions quickly and learning from them—is a key driver of entrepreneurial success.

Spotting Trends Early: Success in tech and business often comes from identifying where the market is heading in 2–3 years, focusing on niche opportunities, and building intellectual property that creates leverage for future exits.

Simplify and Standardize Security: The U.S. lags behind in unified cybersecurity laws, and there’s a major need for simplified, standardized security practices that businesses and individuals can actually implement.

Notable Quotes

“Making money is ethical. Sales and ethical things. So it's how can you use cyber in a good ethical way to make money?”

“Swing at every pitch. There's no striking out in life. The more I swing, the more I execute, the more I'm going to have opportunities, the more I'm going to make money.”

“We need a very simplified model of cybersecurity...something that people can actually implement and we can actually check and verify.”

Connect with Dr. Eric Cole:

https://linktr.ee/drericcole

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