What drives someone to leave a dream job at the heart of Silicon Valley to start again from a basement?

For Michael Coates, former CISO of Twitter and Mozilla, that leap wasn't about risk – it was about conviction. In this episode, Michael shares how stepping away from corporate success led him to build from the ground up: first a cybersecurity company born out of late-night sessions in his co-founder's basement, and later Seven Hill Ventures, a fund empowering the next generation of cybersecurity founders.

From Chicago to San Francisco, from code to capital, Michael reflects on how proximity to potential, perseverance, and purpose have shaped his journey. He also unpacks what the future of security looks like in an AI-driven world – and why the most effective protection is often invisible.

🎙️ This episode is a story about courage, conviction, and redefining what it means to build something that lasts.