In this episode of The CyberVault, I sit down with Kim van Lavieren, Co-founder & CTO of Dawnguard, the startup making security-by-design the default.

We explore:
✨ What inspired Kim and his co-founder to launch Dawnguard and the gaps they saw in today’s tooling✨ How their AI-driven platform validates secure architectures before deployment✨ Why most teams push security too late - and how to shift toward architecture-first thinking✨ The bold goals Dawnguard has set for the next 18 months✨ Practical advice for founders and enterprises on moving from reactive fixes to proactive design

If you’re serious about embedding security into your architecture, not bolting it on later, this conversation is a must-listen.

In this episode of The CyberVault, I sit down with Cole Kennedy, Founder & CEO of TestifySec, to talk about the challenges of keeping today’s software supply chains secure - and why trust is the most important piece of the puzzle.

We cover:
✨ The journey behind founding TestifySec and spotting a critical gap in the market✨ Why verifying “what really happened” in your builds matters more than ever✨ How startups can balance innovation with trust when building security tools✨ What’s next for software supply chain security

If you’ve ever wondered how to protect your software from hidden risks - or what investors and leaders are watching in this space - this conversation is a must-listen.

In this episode of The CyberVault, I sit down with Sage Wohns, Founder and CEO of Jericho Security, to share the intimidating realties of how vulnerable humans really are in this age of security.

We explore:

✨ How old tools are not prepared for the sophistication of new threat vectors

✨ The core technologies that are changing the face of cybersecurity

✨Where are we getting attacks and how does education help us fight back in this battle

✨ Its no longer about spotting if something is AI generated, but identifying if its actually an attack

✨What Jericho are doing to be able to not only protect businesses and employees, but everyday people (because security doesn't stop when you leave the office)

Whether you're a CISO, security leader or arguably any individual using technology.... this is a tune in worth your time, because you truly might not realise how wide spread the threats are with modern technology.

In this episode of The CyberVault, I sit down with Mark Kraynak and Asad Khaliq, Founding Partners at Acrew Capital, to unpack how cybersecurity startups really catch a VC’s eye and what trends investors are betting on next.

We explore:
✨ What signals Acrew looks for beyond product, and why execution and conviction matter more than hype

✨ How the journey looks from that first meeting to partnership (yes, it’s a bit like dating)

✨ What happens once the capital is raised... because the real work starts here

✨ The products and sectors Mark and Asad are watching closely in 2025

If you’re raising capital, building in security, or just curious how VCs think (and invest) this episode offers rare clarity straight from the source.

In this live episode of The CyberVault, recorded on-site at Black Hat (with the casino in the background), I speak with Alex Hesterberg, CEO of Superna, about a cybersecurity layer most teams overlook: protecting unstructured data in storage.

We explore:

• Why the storage layer is the “best-kept secret” in cybersecurity - and how Superna builds real-time protection

• The journey Alex has taken through executive roles to spearhead a data-first security product that prevents ransomware and data loss

• How Superna’s platform brings prevention - not just recovery - to the data vault with AI-driven automation and policy-based locking

• The breakthrough impact of Data Attack Surface Manager (DASM) in helping security teams manage exposure by focusing on behavior and data sensitivity - not just CVEs

If you're serious about modernising your data defense or bridging the gap between storage and security, this episode delivers a must-hear strategy.

In this live episode of The CyberVault, recorded live at Black Hat, I sit down with Maxime Lamothe-Brassard, CEO & founder of LimaCharlie, to explore a new frontier in cybersecurity: cloud-native security infrastructure.

We dive into:

• What inspired LimaCharlie’s mission and how Maxime pivoted his vision into a scalable SecOps Cloud Platform

• How LimaCharlie acts like “Lego blocks” for SecOps, offering modular, API-first security capabilities

• Why this platform is built for modern security needs, providing integrated telemetry, automation, and multi-tenant scalability

• How it empowers MSSPs, enterprises, and founders to innovate without locking into rigid tools or breaking budgets

This episode is a must-listen if you want to understand how SecOps is evolving - and what’s truly possible with a cloud-native, infrastructure-first approach to security.

In this episode of The CyberVault, I’m joined by Logan Havern, CEO and founder of Datalogz, to talk about the emerging category of BI Ops - and how his team is helping data and security leaders uncover the hidden risks and inefficiencies buried in their analytics environments.

We dive into:
📊 How Datalogz was born from firsthand pain - and why Logan shifted his focus from data teams to security and technology leadership🔐 The unseen vulnerabilities in BI environments that CISOs and CIOs are just beginning to understand💡 Why so many organizations only act after an event - and how to get ahead with intelligence🤖 The role of NGI, automation, and next-gen tooling in managing BI sprawl📈 What it really looks like to pivot with the market - and how Logan’s team embraced it successfully

If you care about data security, operational efficiency, or the rising cost of analytics - this is one to tune into.

In this episode of The CyberVault, I’m joined by Dave McKinley, Chief Product Officer at Reveal Security, to talk about one of the most overlooked strengths in cybersecurity: the power of a non-traditional background.

We cover:
🎶 Dave’s journey from music major to product leader in cyber💡 Why not being technical can actually be a startup superpower🤝 The role of team synergy in high-growth environments - and how to create it🚀 What truly defines success inside an early-stage cybersecurity company🔍 Why Dave chose to join Reveal and what makes this startup stand out📈 The one non-negotiable mindset for anyone building in a startup

If you're in the startup trenches, hiring a team, or just making your leap into security - this is a refreshingly real conversation about what actually moves the needle.

In this episode of The CyberVault, I’m joined by Ravi Srivatsav, CEO of Data Krypto, to unpack one of the most pressing and misunderstood topics in security today: data vulnerabilities in the age of AI.

We dig into:
🧠 The new AI-driven threat vectors most companies don’t even realize exist🔓 Why so many organizations are dangerously unaware of how vulnerable their data really is🚨 The difference between noisy tooling vs. solving the actual problem🤖 The rise of AI agents - and the hidden risks that come with them🔮 Where the future of data protection is headed in a world run by automation and LLMs

This is the episode for security leaders, founders, and data teams who know that “we’re covered” isn’t a strategy - it’s a blind spot.

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Executive Podcast, I’m joined by Lisa Hayashi, VP at Mimic and the founder of Vision & Voice: Women in Cybersecurity - a growing global community aimed at elevating women across the cyber space.

Lisa shares her own non-traditional path into the industry, what sparked her to create Vision & Voice, and how leaders can create more inclusive cultures in an industry that still has a long way to go. We discuss the myths that hold women back, the power of peer support and mentorship, and how initiatives like hers are reshaping the future of cybersecurity - one conversation at a time.

Whether you're a woman building your career in cyber, or a leader looking to support diverse talent pipelines, this conversation is a must-listen.

🎙️ Topics include:

• Lisa’s journey into cybersecurity

• Why she launched Vision & Voice

• How to create real inclusion in security teams

• The response from the community and allies

• How to get involved (especially around Black Hat!)