In this special Thanksgiving edition of The Cyber Talent Matrix, we step away from dashboards and datasets to focus on what really drives cybersecurity: people.

CEO Jeff Welgan, alongside co-hosts Sasha Vanterpool and Will Denman, takes a candid look at the cyber workforce narrative — and Jeff doesn’t hold back. In this episode, he calls “bullsh*t” on the long-standing myth of a cyber talent shortage, arguing that what we truly face is a strategy problem, not a supply problem.

Together, the hosts explore:

• Why the “cyber workforce shortage” narrative is misleading
• The real reasons organizations struggle to hire and retain cyber talent
• How early-career professionals are being overlooked despite high interest and capability
• Why senior talent demands are misaligned with reality
• How workforce intelligence and data-driven planning can reshape the future of cyber talent
• And, in the spirit of the season, what each host is grateful for this year — across the cyber community, their work, and the people behind every success

Whether you’re a security leader, HR/L&D professional, cyber practitioner, or simply need a thoughtful break from turkey, family, or football — this episode offers honesty, insight, and a moment of gratitude for the people who keep cybersecurity moving forward.