Talent First

Disclaimer - This episode covers topics that some listeners might find sensitive.

BONUS EPISODE: This week we are celebrating a key milestone - 50 guests have joined me to discuss all things tech, security and leadership and we could be prouder in the Talent First office! And who better to chat to for this special episode than Lisa Ventura MBE who talks to me about her career so far, and about three topics that are rarely seen together - cybersecurity, menopause and neurodiversity, and how the three are connected.

About Our Guest: Lisa Ventura MBE is an award-winning cyber security specialist, published writer/author, journalist and keynote speaker. She is the Founder of Cyber Security Unity, a global community organisation that is dedicated to bringing individuals and organisations together who actively work in cyber security to help combat the growing cyber threat and Neuro Unity, a non-profit that champions and promotes neuroinclusion for all. As a consultant Lisa also provides cyber security awareness and culture change training, along with neurodiversity in the workplace training, and works with cyber security leadership teams to help them collaborate more effectively. She has specialist knowledge in diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion (DEIB), neurodiversity, the human factors of cyber security, cyber psychology, neurodiversity and AI in cyber. More information about Lisa can be found on www.lisaventura.co.uk

SEASON FOUR - In this week's episode I return to the theme of the season, The Women Securing Texas, discussing all things empathy and leadership with Founder of Green Reed, Farrah Mitra. We talk about her new framework for change management, her work as a radical candor coach and about her own experiences with Imposter Syndrome and how she overcame it to successfully partner with top US businesses.

About Our Guest: Farrah Mitra is an executive coach and advisor specializing in leadership, communications, and people strategy. She has over 15 years of experience as a Bain strategy consultant and people and culture executive at hyper-growth tech companies. She has supported the development of successful leaders across every industry. Farrah’s clients span the C-suite at Fortune 50 companies to small startups and nonprofits. Farrah knows what it takes to be an operator in high-performance environments and she helps others create sustained change by centering her coaching around a mindset shift and practical skill building. 

As a communications expert, Farrah is one of just 15 Radical Candor coaches globally and has led over 200 workshops and keynotes to empower others to deliver feedback in both a kind and clear way. Her Communicating Change framework helps leaders navigate and communicate change clearly and effectively, while also being empathetic, creating a positive employee experience no matter how challenging the topic. 

• Farrah Mitra's LinkedIn profile
• Green Reed website 
• The biggest reason we run from challenging conversations
• How to receive feedback without being apologetic or defensive
• Radical Candor website
• Air BnB Layoff Communication Example

BONUS EPISODE: This week's episode of Talent First is with an incredible woman in cyberscurity who I have been wanting to chat to for some time! She is Candace Williams, Founder of Cyb(H)er Ally Solutions and staunch advocate for all those entering the profession and for women who are looking to get in and up in this industry. We talk all things influence, thought leadership and how to close the gap with the C Suite as a security leader through reciprocity and messaging.

About Our Guest:

Candace Williams is a pioneering figure in cybersecurity, recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice for her thought leadership and industry influence. As an Associate Director of Cybersecurity Leadership at Raytheon, an RTX Business, she oversees key cybersecurity operations, ensuring strategic security initiatives align with organizational goals.

Beyond her corporate leadership, Candace is the founder of Cyb(H)er Ally Cybersecurity Solutions, an organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for women in cybersecurity. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, she empowers individuals and organizations to build strong careers and leadership pathways. As part of this mission, she leads Cyb(H)er Sync, a membership-based community focused on professional growth and influence-building in cybersecurity.

Her commitment to mentorship and community-building is evident through the Cyb(H)er Series in Tampa, Florida, including Cyb(H)er Brunch, Cyb(H)er Roundtable, and Cyb(H)er Connect—events designed to create meaningful connections, facilitate mentorship, and open doors for more professionals in the field.

An accomplished speaker, Candace frequently shares her expertise on cybersecurity, career strategy, and influence at industry events. She is also the author of No Experience Required: Your Cybersecurity Career Kickstart Guide, a resource that helps aspiring professionals navigate and break into the field. Additionally, she serves on the RSA Conference 2024 and 2025 Program Committee, contributing her expertise to shape critical industry discussions.

Through her work, Candace continues to help others advance, lead, and make an impact in cybersecurity.

Links to share:

www.cybherally.com 

Candace is now booking keynote talks for 2025.

Her signature talk is titled: “The Influence Hack: Shaping Your Future in Cybersecurity”

In this powerful keynote, Candace challenges the idea that technical skills alone are enough to succeed in cybersecurity. She introduces influence as the missing link—an overlooked but essential ingredient for career growth, organizational impact, and industry transformation. Through compelling storytelling and real-world insights, Candace shows how professionals can leverage influence to position themselves as trusted voices, unlock new opportunities, and shape the future of cybersecurity from wherever they stand. Candace brings energy, clarity, and inspiration to every stage—making this a must-hear message for conferences, leadership forums, and organizations ready to think beyond the technical.

SEASON FOUR: In this episode of Talent Fist, I'm talking everything cybersecurity SaaS sales with Jessica Bookman, AVP of Commercial at Sublime Security. From how to scale excellent teams to how to interview for human skills, Jessica gives you a range of advice for how to be a successful leader in this space.

About Our Guest:

Jess Bookman is the Area Vice President of Commercial for Sublime Security, a transformational email security company. She has been in sales for over 15 years, focusing on security software for the last 9 years. Jess started her journey into security sales as a top performing rep at Duo Security before moving onto Wiz to build their Mid-Enterprise team, and eventually taking on a Regional Vice President of Commercial role. Jess lives in Austin, TX with her family, where she and her husband own and run a jiu jitsu school. 

BONUS EPISODE - This week, I welcome back a guest from Season One of Talent First, Stacey Champagne, Founder of Hacker in Heels and advocate for women in cybersecurity everywhere. We talk about her career journey so far, the important work Hacker in Heels in doing in this space (and how YOU can support the venture) and what it's really like to take the CISSP.

About Our Guest:

Stacey Champagne is the Founder & CEO of Hacker in Heels, a company on a mission to increase the number of women in cybersecurity and influence greater societal change. She started the company on the belief that her own success in the field could be replicated. By transferring the skills she had as a graphic designer to the increasingly important and lucrative field of cybersecurity, Stacey dramatically changed the trajectory of her life. Now she is helping others do the same through her community and programs that help women launch and grow six-figure careers in cybersecurity. 

• Become a Hacker in Heels Insider: https://bit.ly/hih-insiders
• Attend or sponsor a Hacker in Heels Salon: https://bit.ly/hih-salon
• Fund women cybersecurity leaders, give $5 for 5 years of Hacker in Heels: https://bit.ly/hih-go-fund-me

BONUS EPISODE - In this week's episode of Talent First, I chat to one of my favourite women who I am yet to meet in the flesh, Keri-Lynne Shaw, Founder of The Salary Bump and its sister companies, The Career Bump and The Exit Bump - and does she have a special deal for our loyal listeners!. We talk how to negotiate for a better salary and promotion, how to negotiate pay at interview, when it is time to quit and if we should accept that counter offer. And of course, we finish with a quick chat about diverse teams in this current climate.

And don't forget - use the special code TALENT15 to receive 15% of the Salary Bump Accelerator at checkout!

About Our Guest:

Keri-Lynne Shaw is a Fractional Chief People Officer revolutionizing salary negotiation and career growth. Starting in the trenches and learning the hard way, KL has mastered the nuances of compensation dynamics and is dedicated to empowering professionals to recognize their market value and negotiate with intent.

With an extensive background in HR and executive leadership, KL has helped countless professionals secure the pay they deserve. She is a trusted advisor for executives, a sought-after speaker on compensation strategy, and the founder of The Salary Bump, where she equips professionals with the tools to own their worth.

KL has been featured in major career development forums, speaks globally on negotiation strategies, and is a strong advocate for pay transparency and equity. Her dynamic approach blends actionable insights with real-world experience, making her a go-to expert for those ready to level up their earnings and career trajectory.

SEASON FOUR - In this fantastic episode, just in time for International Women's Day, I speak to Kathy Staudt, President and Co Founder of The Vibration Guys about her incredible career, about her experiences as a woman in STEM and about how to thrive, not just survive, in a niche industry. Her advice around building effective teams through trust is advice not to be missed.

About Our Guest: Serial entrepreneur and experienced corporate business leader. Successful founder and strategic visionary behind The Vibration Guys. Gatherer of expert talent to build a strong service business. In her own words 'I always hire people smarter and more talented than I could ever be'.

SEASON FOUR - In this episode of Talent First, I sit down with Jeanie Anirudhan, PMO at PepsiCo, to break down the realities of digital transformation—why the term itself is often a misnomer and how true transformation is about delivering real business value. We explore the critical role of stakeholder buy-in, the importance of cultivating a digital culture, and how to ensure innovation goes beyond just maintenance. To close, we shift gears to discuss diversity in cybersecurity—what’s improving and where there’s still work to be done.

A must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of tech, business, and inclusion!

About our guest:

With a PMP certification and specialized skills in project governance, Jeanie has led initiatives that integrate project management standards across diverse environments. The results are streamlined operations and enhanced decision-making processes. Her commitment extends beyond professional responsibilities, as a non-profit board member in Information Security and Women in STEM organizations including DFW Alliance of Technology and Women.

SEASON FOUR - This week, we're doing something a little different. It's a retrospective of three of our favourite episodes with women who are working for or in Texas. I talk sports betting, leadership, the future of cybersecurity and the efficacy of teams three incredible people who are paving the way in technology.

About our guests (and their full episodes):

Kelly Pracht is Co-Founder and CEO at nVenue.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5B1zMiMlu0DyRVvSnM4ajm?si=1d27f7bbf1ee4cde

Jessica Nemmers went from ballerina to CISO and now works with Flair Data Systems.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wIMxKniCcIMdziRCDVoIa?si=c6a2c1cbbb3648be

Mandy Andress is CISO at Elastic.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/75xX1aMjVPcDDw3a0qRLPY?si=883742ddda744e67

SEASON FOUR: Another great advice-driven episode with Mani Keerthi Nagothu, Field CISO and LinkedIn Learning Instructor. We chat about the benefits of table top exercises as a form of training, how to evaluate progress and follow up as well how to create a security culture, how to prevent security fatigue and how to engender enthusiasm for security awareness, especially with reluctant members of staff.

About Our Guest:

Mani Keerthi Nagothu is a Cybersecurity professional with experience in Cybersecurity Strategy, Incident Response, and Risk Management. She is a public speaker at Cybersecurity Conferences, Webinars, and Podcasts. She is passionate about teaching Cybersecurity; three of her courses, Insider Threat Risk Management, Designing Cybersecurity Controls, and Designing Tabletop Exercises, are published on LinkedIn Learning.

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/designing-and-implementing-effective-cybersecurity-controls/what-you-should-know

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/designing-effective-cybersecurity-tabletop-exercises/what-is-a-tabletop-exercise-ttx