In this episode, Simon sits down with Karla Reffold, Chief Insights Officer at Surefire Cyber, where she transforms real-world cyber incident data into actionable business intelligence that helps organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

Drawing on her unique journey from founding one of the UK's first cybersecurity recruitment firms to leading cyber insights at Surefire Cyber, Karla shares practical lessons on entrepreneurship, cybersecurity leadership, ransomware trends, AI, deepfakes, hiring top talent, and why business leaders must view cybersecurity as a business risk—not simply an IT problem.

The conversation explores how organizations can improve cyber resilience through fundamental security practices, why networking remains one of the most valuable career assets, and how diverse perspectives create stronger cybersecurity teams.

Whether you're a CEO, cybersecurity leader, entrepreneur, recruiter, or technology professional, this episode delivers practical advice on leadership, cyber resilience, business growth, and the future of cybersecurity.

Key Moments

1. Karla's journey into cybersecurity and launching her recruitment business

2. Building and successfully exiting one of the UK's first cybersecurity recruitment firms

3. Expanding into the US market and lessons from entrepreneurship

4. What a Chief Insights Officer actually does

5. Turning cybersecurity data into business insights

6. Why organizations struggle to connect cyber risk with business decisions

7. The importance of backups and multi-factor authentication (MFA)

8. How AI is changing cybersecurity—and what isn't changing

9. The growing threat of deepfakes and AI-powered fraud

10. Common mistakes companies make when hiring cybersecurity professionals

11. Why networking creates better career opportunities than résumés alone

12. The role of diversity in building stronger cybersecurity teams

13. Karla's advice for building a personal brand and industry reputation

14. Quick-fire leadership lessons every executive should know

To learn more about Karla Reffold, please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about  Surefire Cyber, please visit her website.

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

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In this episode, Simon sits down with Jeff Majka, Founder & CEO of Security Bulldog, an AI-driven cybersecurity intelligence platform designed to help organizations make faster, smarter security decisions.

With more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity marketing, enterprise technology, and go-to-market strategy, Jeff shares why traditional cybersecurity approaches are no longer enough in today's rapidly evolving threat landscape. The conversation explores the growing challenges CISOs face, the increasing complexity of cybersecurity buying decisions, and how AI can reduce manual workloads while improving risk management.

Jeff also offers valuable insights for startup founders on achieving product-market fit, building effective go-to-market strategies, and creating products customers genuinely need.

Whether you're a cybersecurity leader, startup founder, marketer, or technology executive, this episode delivers practical insights on innovation, trust, and the future of AI-powered security.

Key Moments

1. Introduction to Jeff Majka and his cybersecurity background

2. Why Jeff founded Security Bulldog

3. The growing challenge of cybersecurity vendor saturation

4. The evolving role of today's CISO

5. How security leaders evaluate cybersecurity vendors

6. Why trust and peer recommendations outperform traditional analyst reports

7. What separates successful cybersecurity startups from the rest

8. Building products around narrow, well-defined customer problems

9. How AI is reshaping cybersecurity operations

10. How Security Bulldog helps organizations reduce remediation time

11. Jeff's top go-to-market advice for startup founders

12. What's next for Security Bulldog

To learn more about Jeff Majka , please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about  Security Bulldog, please visit her website.

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

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In this episode, Simon sits down with Etinosa Agbonlahor, behavioral economist, CEO of Decision Alpha, and author of How to Talk to Your Parents About Money. Together, they explore why so many business owners struggle with pricing confidence, how behavioral economics influences customer decisions, and why the right pricing strategy can dramatically increase profitability without simply charging more.

Eti-Osa shares her journey from global financial institutions to building a consultancy focused on evidence-based pricing. She explains how businesses unknowingly leave money on the table, the psychology behind customer buying decisions, and practical strategies entrepreneurs can use to package, position, and communicate their value more effectively.

Whether you're a consultant, coach, agency owner, or service-based entrepreneur, this conversation will change the way you think about pricing.

Key Moments:

• Why pricing confidence is one of the biggest challenges facing service businesses.

• How behavioral economics shapes purchasing decisions.

• The hidden cost of reactive pricing.

• Why customers often value your services more than you think.

• The importance of packaging and positioning—not just pricing.

• How premium pricing influences customer perception.

• Why businesses should review pricing regularly instead of reacting to market changes.

• Practical strategies to increase profitability without losing clients.

To learn more about Etinosa Agbonlahor, please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about  Decision Alpha, please visit her website

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YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

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IHeartRadio

In this episode of The Conference Room, Simon welcomes Joshua Jones, Founder and CEO of Crush Security, for an eye-opening conversation about the hidden flaws within today's cybersecurity partner ecosystem.

Drawing on more than 20 years of industry experience, Joshua explains why many CISOs struggle to receive unbiased guidance when purchasing security technologies and how traditional reseller models have drifted away from their original purpose of delivering value. He shares the inspiration behind launching Crush Security and how the company is using AI-powered, data-driven insights to help organizations make smarter security decisions.

The discussion explores trust, transparency, tool sprawl, and the growing pressure on security leaders, while offering practical lessons for anyone building businesses focused on solving real customer problems.

1. Joshua shares how an unexpected career opportunity led him into cybersecurity over two decades ago.

2. The story behind founding Crush Security and identifying a major gap in the cybersecurity ecosystem.

3. Why the traditional partner and reseller model is "broken" and often fails to serve buyers effectively.

4. The importance of unbiased advice and how incentives can influence purchasing recommendations.

5. The biggest frustrations CISOs have with vendors, partners, and advisory firms today.

6.  Understanding tool sprawl and why organizations frequently purchase overlapping technologies.

7. Building stronger relationships between security, procurement, legal, and finance teams.

8. Do resellers still provide value? Joshua shares his perspective on the industry's future.

9. How Crush Security aligns its internal culture to prioritize customers over quotas.

10. Why CISOs played a direct role in shaping the Crush Security platform.

11. A look ahead at what's next for Crush Security, including upcoming innovations and industry announcements.

To learn more about Joshua Jones, please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about  Crush Security, please visit her website

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YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

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IHeartRadio

In this episode of The Conference Room, Simon welcomes Calvin Corelli, founder and CEO of Simpler, entrepreneur, software engineer, and creator of the Mind Bug framework. Calvin shares how his journey from programming and entrepreneurship evolved into a deeper exploration of mindset, identity, and personal transformation. The conversation explores the challenges business owners face with fragmented systems, the hidden beliefs that limit growth, and how simplifying both business operations and internal thinking can unlock greater success, freedom, and fulfillment.

1. Calvin explains how combining programming, entrepreneurship, and personal development created the foundation for his success and differentiated approach to business.

2. A deep identity and meaning crisis in his early thirties became the catalyst for developing his coaching philosophy and the concept of Mind Bugs.

3. Business owners often spend more time fixing integrations and troubleshooting systems than serving customers and growing their companies.

4. Mind Bugs are deeply rooted limiting beliefs that shape how people experience life, business, and relationships without realizing it.

5. Many entrepreneurs unknowingly make decisions, overwork, seek validation, or chase success because of an underlying belief that they are not enough.

6. The first step to overcoming limiting beliefs is learning to see them clearly. Once exposed, they begin losing their power.

7. Calvin explains that repeating positive statements rarely creates lasting change if the underlying belief system remains untouched.

8. Rather than viewing mistakes as failures, Calvin encourages seeing them as experiences that provide valuable lessons and direction.

9. The conversation explores how judgment, resistance, and attachment often create more suffering than the circumstances themselves.

10. Calvin shares how AI is helping coaches and educators make their content more accessible, personalized, and actionable for students and clients.

To learn more about Calvin Corelli, please visit her LinkedIn profileTo learn more about  Simplero, please visit its website

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YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

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IHeartRadio

Key Moments

In this episode, Simon Lader sits down with Lori Asbury, a seasoned executive with over 25 years in brand strategy, operations, and consumer marketing. From shaping billion-dollar brands like HGTV, Fox, and CBS to leading her own agency through challenges like COVID, Lori shares actionable advice on strategic planning, authentic storytelling, balancing vision with execution, and scaling small businesses. Drawing from her equestrian background, she emphasizes resiliency and thinking outside the box. Whether you're a startup founder or corporate leader, this episode is packed with insights on driving revenue growth while staying true to your brand.

Key Moments

Drivers of Sustainable Growth

Balancing Big Picture and DetailsReal-World Examples of Balance

Building the Right Team

Understanding the Competitive LandscapeThe Power of Storytelling and AuthenticityCommon Mistakes in Brand ExtensionLessons from Big Brands to Small BusinessesEquestrian Lessons for BusinessThree Tips to Follow in Laurie's Footsteps

To learn more about Lori Asbury please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about Lori please visit her website

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YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

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IHeartRadio

In this inspiring episode, Anya Cheng shares her remarkable journey from a non-technical immigrant background to leading product and growth at giants like Facebook, eBay, Target, and McDonald's, and ultimately founding Taylor—an AI-driven menswear rental and styling service for busy professionals. Drawing from her experiences during the 2008 recession, Anya discusses overcoming job-hunting hurdles, the birth of Taylor from personal frustrations with fashion rentals, and how AI and human stylists combine to solve real pain points for ambitious men who prioritize success over style. She reveals growth strategies, lessons from big tech, and future plans for sustainability and corporate partnerships. Perfect for entrepreneurs, fashion innovators, and anyone navigating career pivots.Key Moments

1. Host welcomes Anya Cheng, highlighting her tech leadership at Facebook, eBay, and more. Anya introduces Taylor as an AI service that curates and rents real menswear for busy men, eliminating shopping and laundry.

2. Anya shares how imposter syndrome as a female immigrant leader at eBay sparked Taylor. She hated subscription boxes and rental hassles, realizing fashion companies ignore practical users.Key Quote: "Most of fashion companies are designing for people who are into fashion, not for people like me. I just want to get ready for the day... Success for me is not about looking good. It's about looking good to get a job, get the deal."

3. Fresh from Northwestern with a marketing master's, Anya ambushes recruiters, networks via professors, and cold-calls publishers amid layoffs—turning desperation into her first media role.

4. Anya explains why she didn't quit: By leveraging her reporter skills (e.g., interviewing, cold-calling), challenges felt manageable, fueling hope.

5. Two years in, Taylor's users aren't just renting clothes—they're buying "chances to succeed" (e.g., job interviews, deals). Customers value convenience like an "executive assistant," while suppliers seek detailed feedback to reduce waste.

6. AI powers onboarding (quizzes, photos) and recommendations from 27,000 garments, with human stylists refining via Zoom/text. It even generates SEO content for trends.

7. Partnerships with dating apps, fitness centers, law firms, and nonprofits outperform solo efforts. Content marketing educates on body types and travel perks (e.g., no luggage fees).

8. From a Shopify waitlist, Anya manually bought/s shipped sale items from Macy's to her first eager customer (a real estate agent), validating demand and iterating 100 times.

9. Big tech taught logical thinking (goals vs. strategies) to pitch investors. For Taylor, targeting men yields higher margins than women's rentals due to buy-through rates.

10. Illustrate a clear problem/persona (e.g., men's convenience vs. women's variety). Nail one giant feature (like Google's search bar). 3) Focus on product-market fit over features.

To learn more about Anya Cheng please visit her Linkedin ProfileTo learn more about  Taelor please visit her website

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YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

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In this episode of The Conference Room, host Simon is joined by serial entrepreneur  Kasim Aslam.  Kasim shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Albuquerque to building multiple seven and eight-figure businesses, including the top-ranked Google ad agency Solutions 8, which he sold in 2022. He discusses his entrepreneurial origin story, the challenges he faced, and how he cracked the code on hiring exceptional talent globally.  Kasim introduces his upcoming book Higher, a step-by-step framework for hiring top remote talent, and dives deep into why most businesses struggle to attract extraordinary employees and how to fix that. He also shares practical hiring strategies, including how to find, vet, and retain the best people worldwide, especially in emerging markets. This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to scale with high-impact talent.

Key Moments:

1. Introduction to  Kasim Aslam: Serial entrepreneur, author, and founder of Solutions 8, with multiple successful exits

2. Cassim’s entrepreneurial origin story: Growing up in poverty, early business lessons selling candy, and the impact of his upbringing.

3. Overcoming adversity: From losing everything in the banking collapse to starting over with web work and building Solutions 8.

4. Building and selling Solutions 8: Growing the largest dedicated Google ad agency and lessons learned from the exit.

5. Post-exit ventures and passion for offshore staffing: How  Kasim builds multiple service businesses and his focus on empowering talent in emerging markets.

6. The Higher book and hiring philosophy: Why treating people as commodities is wrong and the power of the Pareto (80/20) distribution in talent.

7. Why most businesses repel top talent: Fear of competence, mediocrity, and the importance of paying more to attract exceptional employees.

8. Global talent arbitrage: How hiring internationally can provide access to highly skilled, motivated workers at competitive rates.

9. Practical hiring framework: Writing compelling job posts, using “fly traps” to filter candidates, paying for trial projects, and testing real job skills.

10. Final tips and book launch: Top three hiring tips—be a place people want to work, have high expectations, and trust your team. How to get the Higher book and connect with Cassim.To learn more about  Kasim Aslam please visit her Linkedin ProfileTo learn more about  Pareto Talent please visit her website
    

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

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In this insightful episode, Simon sits down with Luiz Rozo, a FIFA licensed football agent and director of Pro Elevate XIV, a global sports agency focused on elevating elite football talent from Latin America to international markets, especially the Middle East. Luis shares his personal journey from Colombia to becoming a football agent, the unique challenges and opportunities in Latin American football, and the critical role mindset plays in a player’s success. They also explore the importance of relationship building in the sports business, cultural nuances in global football markets, and the future of women’s soccer. Whether you’re a football fan, aspiring agent, or interested in sports business, this episode offers valuable lessons on resilience, identity, and strategic growth.

Key Moments:

1. Beyond skill, discipline, resilience, and emotional intelligence define a player’s long-term success.

2. Building a strong personal identity helps players overcome setbacks and maintain performance.

3. Working with young players and their families from an early age ensures better career guidance.

4. Pro Elevate XIV connects Latin American talent with emerging markets like the Middle East, creating new pathways.

5. Colombian football suffers from limited data and streaming exposure, affecting player visibility internationally.

6. Successful agents focus on understanding and meeting the needs of clubs, not just pushing players.

7. Navigating different business practices, especially in the Middle East, requires transparency and long-term thinking.

8. Helping players develop strong relationships with teammates is key to their growth and success.

9. Know your market’s needs clearly, genuinely care about your clients and partners, and anticipate future trends.

10. There is significant opportunity in women’s football, especially in Latin America and the Middle East, which Pro Elevate XIV aims to support.

To learn more about Luiz Rozo please visit her Linkedin Profile

To learn more about  ProElevateXI please visit her website

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

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Welcome to a special episode of The Conference Room, where we revisit some of the most insightful conversations from 2025. This episode features a dynamic panel of experts sharing their unique perspectives on business growth, innovation, marketing, and cybersecurity.

Key Moments:

Successful market entry requires thorough analysis of market fit, financial potential, and execution capability.

The U.S. market is more receptive to innovation and offers higher revenue potential compared to Europe.

Email marketing success depends on strategy, segmentation, and nurturing the customer journey over time.

Authenticity and passion are critical when speaking publicly to build trust and attract ideal clients.

Cybersecurity marketing demands respect for the audience’s privacy and a deep understanding of technical products and culture.

Featured Guests:

• Uriel Cohen – VP of Product at a leading cybersecurity vendor

• Luigi Lenguito – Co-founder and CEO of Bfore Dot AI

• Evelina Kagan – High-conversion fashion copywriter

• Kimberley Crowe – International inspirational public speaker and TEDx speaker

• Gianna Whitver – CEO of the Cybersecurity Marketing Society

YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER  

Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.  

Get to know more about Simon at:    

Website: https://simonlader.com/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    

The Conference Room is available on

Spotify

Apple podcasts

Amazon Music

IHeartRadio