Nicole chats with Afia Phillips, Chief Information Security Officer for Little Caesars and the Ilitch Organization, about her expansive career journey from the help desk to protecting global iconic brands. Afia shares the technical and personal hurdles of building the City of Detroit’s first cybersecurity division from the ground up and navigating high-stakes leadership as "the only one" in the room.

They discuss the evolution of security post-9/11, the importance of removing the security burden from the end-user, and why empathy is a non-negotiable trait for effective leadership. Afia also dives into her passion for mentorship through her "Girls Get IT" program and her future ventures into AI and the creative fashion space, reminding listeners to "stay on their square" despite the naysayers.

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🎙️ Hosted by Nicole Dove, Creative Director of Podcasts