Talent First

SEASON FIVE - In this episode I’m joined by Joe Wells, a passionate and driven voice in cybersecurity who is determined to make the online world safer for children. Together, we explore Cyberherd, his inspiring initiative designed to guide parents, educators, and communities in protecting young people as they grow up in an increasingly connected world.

Our conversation covers practical strategies for parents — including those with little technical knowledge — to engage their children in meaningful, age-appropriate conversations about online safety. We discuss the critical role of teachers and schools in reinforcing these messages, and examine the broader horizon: the opportunities and risks of AI, deepfakes, and a post-truth digital era.

We also address the issue of accessibility and equity in cyber-safety resources, ensuring that no family or child is left behind. Finally, Joe shares what lies ahead for Cyberherd, and how you can connect with and support his work.

This is an episode for anyone who believes the digital future should be safe, fair, and empowering for every child.

Abour Our Guest:

I’m Joe Wells, a first-class cyber security graduate, public speaker, and advocate for inclusive, human-centred digital safety.

Over the last 800+ days, I’ve committed to learning cybersecurity every single day, building skills across blue team, red team, and digital resilience. My mission is to make online safety accessible, engaging, and empowering, especially for children, students, and underserved communities.

I’m currently building CyberHerd - THE gamified learning platform that teaches children how to navigate the internet with confidence, curiosity, and kindness. Alongside this, I run MVP, a student cyber cluster based in Wales, where I support university students with CTFs, talks, and career development.

My journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve overcome disability, homelessness, and exclusion, and those experiences now fuel everything I do. I believe digital safety should be built with empathy, not just encryption.

SEASON FIVE: This episode, I chat to Aska Kuwabara, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Axartoys.ai and Founder of Getitdonewith.AI.

We chat about her amazing new AI powered soft toy, MAXI, that aims to educate children not just around the use of AI but in traditional academic subjects too - no screen, just fun. We talk about her journey as a tech entrepreneur, what MAXI can do as well as the parental controls and guardrails that have to be put in place when it comes to EdTech. We also talk about the UAE, its approach to AI education and the pros and cons.

About Our Guest:

Aska is a product builder, founder, and someone who’s constantly figuring things out on the go.

With 20+ years of experience across product management, corporate strategy, and digital transformation, she has worked in industries such as finance, e-commerce, telecom, and now AI. She has led teams, shipped products, and driven change across Japan, Singapore, France, India, and the UAE - often as the only woman, the only Japanese, or the only one asking “why are we doing it this way?”

Aska is Co-Founder of AxarToys.ai as well as Founder of GetItDoneWith.ai, a platform for non-techies to learn how to actually use AI - without the hype.

MeetMAXI.ai – Pre-order and stay informed about MAXI’s progress.

•  MAXI’s Kickstarter Preview Page

SEASON FIVE: In this episode of Talent First, I chat to Dr Elena Zehndorfer, academic, researcher and editor-in-chief at Blackheath Publishing. We cover a range of topics that will be of particular interest to parents of teenagers who are navigating the digital world. We discuss the issues of deepfake tech, how to parent in this post-truth era, and why our teens are susceptible targets for cyber criminals.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Elesa Zehndorfer is a Managing Partner at Austrian consulting firm Lakeside Partners GmbH, a Senior Advisor to the Paddy Ashdown Research Forum, an eMBA lecturer and Research Officer for British Mensa. 

An award-winning writer, she has authored six non-fiction books for global publisher Taylor & Francis, and one novel (political thriller Upload) for Blackheath Publishing. Most recently, her political book Post Truth Politics: A Brave New World was released in February of this year. She earned her PhD from Loughborough University in 2006. 

LINKS:

Website: www.elesazehndorfer.com

TEDx YouTube video: https://youtu.be/2OOtS8QnBMM?si=TaC6HmVkHehRp50M 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elesazehndorfer001

Latest book: Post-Truth Politics: A Brave New World? - 1st Edition - Elesa Zehndorf

SEASON FIVE - In this week's episode, I speak to Stuart Walton about all things security awareness and training for businesses and for the family. We talk about his superhero analogy when it comes to online safety, the different forms of social engineering we encounter every day and how to protect our loved ones in particular from becoming a victim of cybercriminals. With plenty of humour and heart, this is one not to miss.

About Our Guest:

Stu Walton is the Security Awareness Specialist for Pinsent Masons. With more than twenty years of work in the education and technology world he has spent the last four years learning about and building cyber security culture programmes. As an experienced public speaker, he has combined his love of superheroes with his passion for cyber security in a series of talks titled “Protecting Your Secret Identity Online”.

SEASON FIVE: In this episode, the first episode of season 5 of our award-winning podcast, I speak to Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President and CEO of AnitaB.org. We discuss a range of topics on our responsibility for understanding AI, not just in organisation but as individuals, so that we have a voice when it comes to its implementation and integration. We also chat about AI literacy and education and why diversity is becoming increasingly important in the current geopolitical landscape.

About Our Guest:

Brenda Darden Wilkerson is a nationally recognized tech and education leader, and President & CEO of AnitaB.org—one of the world’s most influential organizations supporting women and allies in technology. A former software engineer turned changemaker, Brenda founded the groundbreaking Computer Science for All initiative in Chicago Public Schools, which became a national model and earned her a spot on President Obama’s Tech Inclusion Task Force.

At AnitaB.org, she champions access, inclusion, and innovation—expanding pathways into tech, growing a global community of 150,000+, and shaping policy to drive systemic change. Named to Forbes 50 Over 50 in Impact and honored with the White House Champion of Change Award, Brenda is a sought-after speaker and host of the award-winning podcast B the Way Forward.

BONUS EPISODE: In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Dora Boussias, Founder of DoraB Global and a woman with a fascinating and inspiring personal story. We talk about her unique approach to leadership coaching, the frameworks she provides her cohorts so that they can SOAR and what being authentic really means. We also talk inclusivity, as well as about what is next for her fantastic organisation.

About our guest:

An award-winning thought leader in AI, Data, and Leadership, Dora Boussias is a global keynote speaker, career & leadership coach, and strategic advisor with a passion for business transformation and impact. With 30 years of real-world experience at top firms like GE, Stryker, and Prudential, she has led complex transformations while mentoring and empowering professionals to accelerate success with clarity, confidence, and proven strategies.

An immigrant at 17 with limited English, Dora rose through the ranks to executive leadership, gaining expertise across Financial Services, Insurance, Retail, Education, and Healthcare/MedTech. Recognized with numerous industry accolades, including Global Data Power Woman and AI100 Innovation Leader, she serves on multiple boards and has been featured in leading publications, NYC Times Square, and over 30 podcasts.

After transitioning from corporate, Dora’s mission is clear: to help professionals in data and tech accelerate success, lead with confidence, and create lasting impact in their careers and organizations.

Helpful links:

SOAR with Confidence™ Program Info Page

Career Lift-Off Guide

doraboussias.com website, includes signup to DORAisms newsletter of bite-sized video tips on career, leadership. data & AI (launching soon)

LInkedIn Profile

• • In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to Oluwadamilola Obamehinti, Founder of Cyber Culture about the future of this industry. We cover topics ranging from the issues in diversity, how Gen Z will learn leadership skills if working remotely and what tech leaders should really be concerned about when it comes to security.

    
    

    About Our Guest:

    Oluwadamilola has 14+ years of professional experience leading global security teams. She has worked at various technology companies such as eBay, Citizen, and Cybersecurity Ventures.

    Currently, she's the founder of Cyber Culture, a consulting company, and is completing her Master’s of Information & Cybersecurity at UC Berkeley.In addition to being a technology leader, Oluwadamilola specializes in speaking to various audiences about cybersecurity, AI, privacy, and inclusion in tech. As a keynote speaker, some of the events and companies Oluwadamilola has spoken at include AFROTECH™ Conference, Capital One, YMCA, Blackbaud, MassMutual, AbbVie and Ulta Beauty. Due to her tech expertise,

    Oluwadamilola has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, and Silicon Valley Business Journal.

    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/OluwadamilolaO

    Speaker site: www.vimeo.com/Oluwadamilola

    Cyber Culture website -

    www.cybercultureconsulting.com

    
    

    Cyber Culture LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/cybercultureconsulting

BONUS EPISODE: In this week's episode, I speak to the wonderful Suzie Henriques, Founder of The CV Bee who shares her wisdom and expertise in writing great resumes, and in career coaching.

We talk about the services her company offers, the importance of a multi-channel approach to job search as well as how to craft a compelling resume.

Avoid those LinkedIn charlatans who profess to be the best in CV writing, and listen in!

About Our Guest:

Suzie Henriques is a Career Coach working with mid-to-senior-level leaders, helping them take control of their career and make their next move with greater clarity and more confidence than they could on their own. Specialising in career transition mindset, job search strategy and personal branding, she helps clients understand how hiring works, stand out with a high-impact CV and LinkedIn profile and nail their interview. Since 2020, she has helped over 350 senior professionals secure roles at top organisations, including Nike, Harrods, Thomson Reuters, GCHQ, Heineken and the BBC. Suzie began her career at John Lewis, where she held leadership, project management and HR roles before transitioning into the Civil Service as a Senior Talent Manager for the flagship Fast Stream leadership development programme. She later led digital apprenticeships, internships and skills pathway programmes at the digital arm of the Department for Work & Pensions. Committed to professional development, Suzie has served as a charity trustee and volunteers as a CV reviewer for the Young Women’s Trust. She is a Level 7 ILM-qualified coach, a Chartered Member of the CIPD (MCIPD), a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (CMgr FCMI) and a member of the British Association of CV Writers (BACVW).

BONUS EPISODE (Some listeners may find this content sensitive): This week, I chat to Bronwyn Boyle, CISO at PPRO, about the crucial (and often misunderstood) issue of romance scams. We look at the increasing volume and complexity of these crimes from both the victim's and perpetrator's side, and discuss the propensity for victim blaming. Bronwyn also offers her solutions to these issues, and gives a shout out to companies who are already doing great things, and to the people whose innovations are supporting victims and helping bring criminals to justice.

SEASON FOUR: In this episode, I chat to Lisa Plaggemeir, Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance about her career to date (from marketing to cybersecurity!), and about the incredible work of the NCA. When it comes to security awareness training, their free resources are second to none and created for people of all ages, including our aging relatives, and for organisations of all sizes.

About Our Guest: Lisa Plaggemier is Executive Director at the National Cybersecurity Alliance. She is on a mission to empower people and organizations to stay safe online, so that everyone can experience the benefits of technology without worry. Lisa started her career in marketing with Ford Motor Company before migrating to automotive technology and eventually security. Lisa is honored to serve on the US Secret Service Cyber Investigations Advisory Board. She is a University of Michigan graduate (Go Blue!) and while she wasn’t born in Austin, Texas, she got there as fast as she could.

Facebook: Staysafeonline

Instagram: @natlcybersecurityalliance

Twitter: @LisaPlaggemier

LinkedIn: Lisa Plaggemier

Professional Title: Executive Director

Website Link: https://staysafeonline.org