Ray DeMeo on Cybersecurity Investing, AI Risk, and Building Resilient Teams

Thomas chats with Ray, managing director at Pulse Drive Group with a background in senior roles across tech and venture advising, about current cybersecurity market dynamics and investing.

Ray notes recent acquisitions focused on cyber AI and protecting AI applications and data, highlighting the need to reduce risk and address SOC alert overload. They discuss the Gartner Hype Cycle moving faster, hiring shifts toward broader, architecture-aware talent, and the possibility that top security individual contributors will become highly compensated as AI increases productivity.

Ray contrasts slow government procurement with urgent geopolitical pressures, citing Ukraine’s drone-driven innovation. He shares career lessons from early customer-facing work, startup discipline, mentorship in large companies, and the responsibility of layoffs. Ray argues most security spending is post-deployment, urging stronger pre-deployment secure coding.

Book recommendations include Nicole Perlroth’s “This Is How the World Ends,” plus “Team of Teams,” and Steve Martin’s “Born Standing Up.”

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:52 Ray’s Mission in Cybersecurity

04:03 Market Pulse and Investor Sentiment

04:25 AI Security and M&A Trends

07:09 Hype Cycle and Skills Shift

10:16 Government Pace and Ukraine Lessons

12:34 Career Lessons and Early Hustle

14:16 Startup Discipline and Customer Focus

16:56 Founder High and Building Momentum

18:23 Why Startups Hook You

19:41 Client Facing Skills

20:39 Caddying Lessons

21:47 Building People Skills

23:10 Big Company Mentors

25:48 Hard Leadership Calls

27:33 Secure Code Gap

32:36 AI and Code Quality

34:24 Books and Mindset

36:28 Advisory Work Network

37:51 Closing Thanks

CMMC Readiness, Compliance Consulting, and Career Lessons with Joe Schofield

In this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Tom speaks with Joe Scholefield, a former sysadmin/network engineer and ex-Dell cybersecurity manager, now serving as Director of Compliance at Deafcert, about helping defense contractors meet CMMC (based on NIST requirements) and preparing for DoD third-party assessments. Joe explains CMMC readiness commonly takes 12–18 months, with faster progress driven by aligned stakeholders, minimal internal resistance, and strong cross-department project management.

They discuss CMMC as both a cost and revenue differentiator, increasing supply-chain pressure from primes like Lockheed and RTX, and a looming assessor bottleneck given the number of companies needing certification versus C3PAOs. Joe shares career advice on knowing when to move roles, the impact of earning a bachelor’s degree over 17 years to avoid HR filtering, the importance of soft skills in consulting, and recommends the “CUI Center of Excellence” Discord community.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:03 What Joe Does Now

02:52 Helping Clients Succeed

03:36 Racing Through CMMC

05:24 CMMC as Revenue Driver

06:36 Supply Chain Pressure

07:46 Bottleneck and Assessors

08:50 Rollout Timeline Debate

11:39 Why CMMC Exists

13:08 Career Growth Lessons

16:27 Hiring and Soft Skills

19:19 Restaurant Skills for Consulting

20:29 Career Growth and Timing Moves

20:43 Finishing a Degree Late

22:37 Degrees and HR Filters

23:51 Certs and Hiring Signals

24:34 Job Search Fatigue Tips

26:31 Small Teams Hiring Stakes

27:17 Finding Community Resources

29:01 Mentors and Giving Back

31:26 Making Time for Growth

32:31 Work Life Balance Advice

33:08 Golf and Disconnecting

33:55 Wrap Up and Thanks

Jim Miller on Talent Acquisition: Career Growth, Remote Hiring, and Today’s Employer Market

On the Cyber Security Recruiter podcast, Thomas chats with Jim Miller, a talent acquisition leader with 25 years’ experience, including early recruitment at Allegis, a decade at Google (rising to global head of inbound talent), VP of Talent Acquisition at FullStory, and now VP of People and Talent at Ashby, where the company is fully remote across 27 countries.

Jim shares career lessons: teach and share expertise, explicitly ask for roles you want, and prioritize quality over quantity. They discuss today’s market dynamics: layoffs, heavy competition for remote roles, niche hard-to-fill roles, and intentional application “friction”,plus concerns about overusing AI in applications.

Jim advises tailoring CVs to show what you did, how, and the impact and magnitude of your actions, and recommends Ashby’s “Offer Accepted” podcast.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:51 Life and Remote Work

03:04 Team Retreats and Remote Culture

04:07 Career Growth Lessons

08:13 Quality Over Quantity

10:06 Intentional Applications

12:19 Hiring Market Imbalance

16:47 AI Use and Integrity

19:33 Resume Impact and Magnitude

22:40 Resume Bullet Formula

22:53 ATS Myths And Evidence

24:05 AI Criteria Matching

25:26 Speed And Transparency

25:41 High Volume Review Hacks

26:37 Accent Banter Break

27:08 Handling Setbacks Adaptably

29:23 Inbound Versus Sourcing

32:33 Early Google Scaling Story

34:41 Choosing Product Market Fit

36:28 Building Google's ATS

39:50 Offer Accepted Podcast

41:03 Learning From Coworkers

43:03 Closing Thoughts

Andrew Wildrix on Transitioning from the Army, Building Networks, and Standing Out in Cybersecurity Hiring

On the Cyber Security Recruiter podcast, Tom interviews Andrew Wildrix, a former US Army major and current VP of Business Development at Intrusion, about his career path from military service into cybersecurity and sales/technical leadership.

Andrew describes his day-to-day work spanning emails and sales calls, product and engineering feedback loops, budgeting for a public company, and raising Intrusion’s profile as it expands from long-term US government work into commercial markets. He contrasts government vs MSP messaging, emphasizes planning before leaving the military, and advises building networks through local professional groups and optimizing LinkedIn while avoiding divisive topics.

They discuss ATS-driven hiring challenges, the value of soft skills and translating technical concepts without condescension, creative job-search tactics to “not be a number,” and interview red flags like victim mentality. Andrew recommends reading The Phoenix Project and a Star Wars “Book of the Sith” on power and leadership.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:11 Day in the Life at Intrusion

02:38 Branding vs Cold Outreach

03:20 Customer Feedback to Product

04:06 Army Background and Influence Ops

04:48 Transitioning Out of Military

06:28 ATS and Hiring Reality Check

08:14 Building a Network and LinkedIn

11:19 Staying Professional Online

13:51 Sales and Technical Career Loop

14:56 Communication and Culture Lessons

21:06 Toxicity and SMB Team Fit

22:09 Standing Out in Job Hunting

26:17 Resilience and Victim Mindset

30:58 Books That Shaped Andrew

32:57 Wrap Up and Thanks

Navigating a Cybersecurity Career and Business Leadership with Dave Anderson

In this episode of the Cyber Security Recruiter Podcast, our host converses with Dave Anderson about his fascinating career journey in cybersecurity. They discuss Dave's consistent online presence, bolstered by a specialist assisting him with LinkedIn content, which is pivotal for staying visible in the cybersecurity field.

Dave shares insightful details about his traditional career progression, from tech support to high-level security roles at prominent companies like Greenhouse, and his eventual transition to founding TSC Security. Dave takes us through the unique steps of moving from being an employee to an employer, including an intriguing personal story of moving to a boat in New Jersey and eventually to Florida, while developing his consultancy business.

The conversation covers the challenges of scaling a business, hiring dynamic and flexible personnel, and the importance of certifications and continual learning in the cybersecurity field. Dave also emphasizes the value of referrals,and shares his thoughts on the impactful book 'The Phoenix Project' for understanding effective project management in a business context.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:30 Dave's Content Strategy and Consistency

01:56 Career Journey and Achievements

02:43 Starting TSC Security

04:30 Life on a Boat and Transition to Entrepreneurship

06:28 Growth and Challenges of Running a Business

09:56 Importance of Referrals and Networking

13:36 Lessons from Startup Experience

18:33 Building a Strong Network

19:04 Scaling Challenges and Company Growth

21:44 Hiring the Right People

25:14 The Impact of AI on Business

29:29 The Value of Certifications

32:25 Recommended Resources for Success

35:37 Final Thoughts and Reflection

Leading Managed Security Services: Growth, Hiring Advice, and Playing to Your Strengths with April Jenkins

Thomas chats with April Jenkins, Senior Director of Managed Services/Service Desk at Elite Ops, about her career path, and how she prioritizes both customer outcomes and team growth, balance, and psychological safety. April explains her organization’s expansion from 9 to 42 people through new hiring and team consolidation, and discusses current market conditions: high candidate volume, employer decisions about remote vs. office, and the importance of responsiveness, accurately matching job requirements, and adding short notes with resumes.

She shares career guidance on focusing on strengths, staying authentic, reading the room, building relationships through problem-solving, and sustaining momentum via small daily wins and protected thinking time. Recommendation: a strengths-focused book (described as “maximizing your strengths”) and the “do unto others” golden rule from a Dr Pepper Museum exhibit.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:26 April’s Career Origins

02:45 Life Running 24/7 Support

05:03 Team Culture and Mindset

06:31 Scaling from 9 to 42

07:13 Hiring in a Tough Market

11:10 Standing Out as a Candidate

14:39 Internships and Career Switchers

15:12 Advice for Career Growth

17:19 Strengths and Relationship Building

20:15 Finding Your Niche in Security

21:29 Find Your Strengths

22:20 Define Your Core

24:12 Write It Down Daily

25:24 Protect Thinking Time

26:29 Start Small Habits

28:40 Momentum From Small Wins

29:51 Ignore Social Media Timelines

32:15 Relationships As Deposits

34:33 Authenticity And Feedback

37:36 Golden Rule Leadership

40:00 Wrap Up And Thanks

Recruiter Insights for a Tough Market: Resumes, Interviews, Follow-Ups, and Professionalism

On the Cyber Security Recruiter podcast, Tom chats with Barb Adrian, Chief People Officer at Procellis Technology. about how candidates can stand out in a competitive, layoff-impacted market.

Barb stresses a well-constructed, proof-read resume (errors like misspellings or mismatched dates are deal-breakers), showcasing community involvement, and limiting work history to relevant recent years. For interviews, she advises researching the company, being prepared for recruiter calls, asking thoughtful questions (including culture and what the interviewer loves about the job), practicing communication, and being comfortable with silence rather than babbling.

She welcomes proactive outreach via LinkedIn or email and emphasizes follow-up and professionalism on virtual interviews (clean space, appropriate attire, minimal oversharing). Barb notes AI filtering can miss great candidates, so she manually reviewed 430 applicants, and she finds referrals especially effective.

00:56 Meet Barb Career Journey

02:01 Resume Must Haves

03:21 Interview Prep and Flow

05:57 Smart Questions to Ask

07:05 Relaxed Communication Tips

09:41 Reaching Out and Standing Out

10:30 AI Screening and Follow Up

14:35 Worst Phone Interview Story

16:30 Virtual Interview Professionalism

17:21 Oversharing Red Flags

18:06 Stay Professional until Offer

18:51 Dress For Success

19:36 Market Shift Reality Check

20:24 Community Interview Support

23:51 AI Screening Pitfalls

25:07 Referrals Beat Algorithms

25:46 LinkedIn Noise And Etiquette

28:07 Hiring Needs And Candidate Energy

30:52 Human Touch And Mental Health

33:04 Learning Through Your Network

34:23 Episode Wrap Up

Navigating Cybersecurity Careers and Communication with Jake Everett

In this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Thomas welcomes Jake Everett, VP of Offensive Security at Rule4. They discuss technical challenges, the impact of AI, and Jake's career journey from the Marine Corps to the commercial world.

Jake shares his daily responsibilities, the importance of communication and responsiveness, and educational resources that have been pivotal for his career. They also explore the role of honesty and detailed problem-solving in successful cybersecurity careers.

Jake recommends the book 'Sandworm' and highlights valuable online resources like Hack the Box, Try Hack Me, and YouTube videos for continued learning.

00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches

00:20 AI in Podcasting and Everyday Life

01:03 Jake Everett's Career Journey

02:02 A Day in the Life of a VP of Offensive Security

02:38 The Four-Day Work Week

04:31 Preparing for OSCP and Continuous Learning

08:25 Physical Pen Testing and Lock Picking

09:35 Transitioning from the Marine Corps to Tech

10:27 The Importance of Practical Application in Learning

12:37 Communication Skills in Cybersecurity

14:37 Honesty and Integrity in Job Applications

16:36 Building Trust in Cybersecurity

17:45 The Power of Word of Mouth

18:31 Effective Communication Tips

22:23 Career Progression to VP Level

24:27 The Role of AI in Recruitment

28:01 The Value of Continuous Learning

29:03 The Impact of Cyber Warfare

32:08 The Importance of a Positive Algorithm Diet

33:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Unlocking the Secrets of Talent Acquisition with John Herrick

In this episode of the Cybersecurity Recruiter Podcast, Thomas interviews John Herrick, a seasoned professional in the recruitment industry. They discuss John's career trajectory from a boutique agency in 2012 to his current role as a Global Talent Acquisition Manager. John shares insights on the effectiveness of ice baths, the benefits of over-communicating, and the importance of networking for finding passive candidates. He also shares personal growth tips, emphasizing the need for proactive outreach and heavy note-taking.

The conversation is enriched with anecdotes about hiring across different cultures and the importance of aligning with hiring managers. For book lovers, John recommends survival books focused on edible plants, and for podcast enthusiasts, he enjoys 'The Joe Rogan Experience.

00:00 Introduction and Ice Bath Discussion

01:07 John Herrick's Career Journey

01:42 Agency vs In-House Recruitment

02:49 The Importance of Professionalism in Recruitment

06:33 Challenges in the Current Job Market

11:45 Effective Communication with Hiring Managers

15:04 John's Promotion Journey and Key Learnings

21:49 Qualifying Roles and Passive Talent

22:48 Effective Communication with Hiring Managers

23:23 Cultural Differences in Hiring Practices

25:19 Proactive Stakeholder Engagement

26:05 Importance of Personality in Hiring

30:22 Learning from Candidates and Research

35:18 Personal Growth and Recommendations

35:47 Networking and Referrals

40:42 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Building Relationships and Navigating Cybersecurity Recruitment with Mariah Haag

In this episode of the Cyber Security Recruiter podcast, host Thomas is joined by Mariah Haag, a Security Project and Talent Manager at Stratum Security, which has recently merged with Cyber Advisors. They discuss the organized chaos of managing client demands, Mariah’s career progression from retail management to cybersecurity recruitment, and the vital role of building relationships within the industry.

Mariah emphasizes the importance of setting SMART goals, getting out of one's comfort zone, and maintaining work-life balance. She also shares insights on the law of attraction and recommends reading 'The Secret' and Top Biller, by Steve Guest, a recruitment book that offers practical advice from one of the top recruiters in the world.

Throughout the episode, they highlight the benefits and challenges of remote work, the value of in-office experiences, especially for newcomers, and how to leverage every interaction for personal and professional growth.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:04 Mariah's Career Journey

02:40 Building Relationships in Recruitment

06:30 The Importance of Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

12:02 Practical Tips for Relationship Building

15:02 The Power of Positive Thinking and Goal Setting

20:21 Achieving Short-Term Goals

21:22 The Importance of Fun at Work

23:38 Understanding SMART Goals

25:11 Balancing Work and Personal Life

28:00 The Value of Office Culture

36:24 Final Thoughts and Recommendations