Episode Summary

In this episode, David Malicoat sits down with Kate Goldman, founder and CEO of Cybermaniacs, to challenge one of cybersecurity’s oldest assumptions — that humans are the weakest link. Kate argues it’s time for CISOs to rethink human risk, culture, and resilience in the modern organization.

 

Together, David and Kate explore the emerging field of Human Risk Management, the idea of the Human Operating System, and how leaders can leverage psychology, culture, and AI to build resilient teams that thrive in the age of digital transformation.

 

Key Takeaways

• Why the phrase “humans are the weakest link” needs to be retired.
• The concept of the Human Operating System — and how to “patch” human vulnerabilities.
• How to evolve from compliance-based awareness to behavior-based resilience.
• Why culture, psychology, and norms are the real keys to cybersecurity success.
• The intersection of AI and human risk — and how workforce roles must evolve.
• Why the next wave of cyber resilience will require rethinking training, learning, and leadership.

 

Notable Quotes

“Humans aren’t the weakest link — they’re the core operating system of your business.” — Kate Goldman

“You can’t compliance people into good behavior. You have to design the culture around it.” — Kate Goldman

“We’ve thrown chaos into a system we barely understood — AI has made human risk even more concentrated.” — Kate Goldman

“CISOs must learn to use culture and psychology as part of their playbook.” — David Malicoat

“The next era of security isn’t just about tech resilience — it’s about human resilience.” — Kate Goldman

 

Listener Benefits

By listening, cybersecurity leaders will gain:

• A new framework for understanding and managing human risk.
• Insights into integrating behavioral science and culture into cybersecurity programs.
• Practical ideas for evolving awareness, resilience, and workforce readiness in the AI era.

Call to Action

If you believe it’s time to professionalize the role of the CISO, hit Follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and visit us at www.thpc.co for upcoming episodes and tour dates.

 

Connect with Us

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-professional-ciso-show
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@TheProfessionalCISO
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2C7JojNZPdg1g6AXvpKDfn?si=a7ac3172bb414673
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-professional-ciso/id1731138021

Guest Info

Kate Goldman

CEO & Founder, Cybermaniacs

www.thecybermaniacs.com

Follow on LinkedIn: Kate Goldman

 

Sponsors

This episode is made possible by:

• MagicMirror Security — “The magic happens when security is invisible.” magicmirrorsecurity.com/thpc

 

Related Episodes

• Ep. 80 – Stop Rolling Your Eyes: AI Is Your CISO Leadership Opportunity
• Ep. 82 – Responsible AI in Cybersecurity with Alain Espinosa
• Ep. 85 – LLMs vs SLMs: The Future of AI in Cybersecurity

 

Hashtags

#CyberSecurity #CISO #HumanRisk #CyberAwareness #AIinSecurity #CyberCulture #Leadership #CyberResilience #TheProfessionalCISOShow