The Wake UP X Podcast - With Efren L. Salazar | Securing Tomorrow, Empowering Today

In this episode of the Wake UP X Podcast, host Efren Salazar sits down with network engineer Devin Prasad to talk about one of the most humbling and pivotal moments in his career journey.

Devin had the skills. He had the passion. He was going home every single night teaching himself. Installing software. Learning the command line. Figuring things out on his own because that is what hunger looks like.

So he started applying for jobs in the public sector. And he walked straight into one of the toughest interview formats in tech.

Back then you did not just sit down and answer questions. You physically took apart a PC and had to identify every component on the spot. CPU. RAM. Power supply. All of it. If you could not do that you never even made it to the second interview where you could actually have a real conversation.

Devin went through three of those interviews. Three times he made it past the hardware portion. Three times he came in second place.

Then one of the interviewers called him back. Not with a job offer. With something better. Real honest feedback.

🔹 Give clear examples.🔹 Add more details to your answers.🔹 Share the results of your work. Not just what you did but what it actually solved and what it meant.

That one phone call changed everything. Most people walk away from rejection feeling bitter. Devin walked away better. And that mindset is exactly what separates the people who eventually break through from the ones who stay stuck.

This episode is for anyone who has ever come in second place and wondered if it was worth keep going. It is.

🎙️ Host: Efren Salazar👤 Guest: Devin Prasad | Network Engineer & BGP Expert🎙️ Show: Wake UP X Podcast

🔗 Full Episode: https://www.wakeupxpodcast.com/the-full-career-story-nobody-tells-you-about-getting-into-itcyber-devin-prasad/

Episode Length: ~28 minutes

In this episode of the Wake UP X Podcast, host Efren Salazar sits down with network engineer Devin Prasad to unpack one of the boldest and most strategic career decisions he ever made.

Devin Prasad had two job offers on the table. One paid more. One had more room to grow. Every single person in his life told him to take the money. His leads. His peers. Not one person was on his side.

But Devin saw the bigger picture.

The higher paying job was at a small office with only 10 to 14 people. Great salary but a hard ceiling. Someone would have to leave before he could move up.

The lower paying job was inside a massive organization with thousands of employees and hundreds of people in his department. More people meant more visibility. More visibility meant more opportunity. More opportunity meant a much higher probability of moving up.

So he took the lower paying job. He showed up hungry. He took on projects. He worked overtime. He built real relationships with customers and teammates. He gave everything he had.

Six months later he got his first promotion to the exact same level the other job was offering from day one.

🔹 The money caught up. It always does when you play the long game.🔹 The relationships he built opened doors money alone never could.🔹 The visibility he gained inside a large organization created momentum that followed him for years.

This episode is for anyone standing at a crossroads between a bigger paycheck and a bigger opportunity. It is a reminder that the best career moves are not always the most obvious ones.

Bet on yourself. Put in the work. Let the results speak.

🎙️ Host: Efren Salazar👤 Guest: Devin Prasad | Network Engineer & BGP Expert🎙️ Show: Wake UP X Podcast

🔗 Full Episode: https://www.wakeupxpodcast.com/the-full-career-story-nobody-tells-you-about-getting-into-itcyber-devin-prasad/

Episode Length: ~28 minutes

🎙️ Cathy Stephenson did not set out to work in cybersecurity. She landed in IT almost by accident and then outworked, out-learned, and out-networked her way to Security Engineer at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with Deputy CISO in her sights.
In this episode of the WakeUpX Podcast, host Efren Salazar sits down with Cathy live at the ISACA Sacramento chapter event. Cathy shares how enterprise architecture became her foundation, how she slashed SLA response times from 30 days to one hour, and why she once stopped a job interview mid-session because she knew it was not the right fit.
She also talks about teaching cybersecurity basics to 60 seniors at a church, the frameworks she trusts most including NIST CSF and Zero Trust, and what it really takes to go from SOC analyst to Deputy CISO.
Huge shoutout to Cathy Stephenson from CDCR for sharing her story with honesty and heart. 🙌
If you are building a cybersecurity career without a traditional roadmap, this episode was made for you.
Guest: Cathy Stephenson

Connect with Cathy Stephenson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-stephenson-6b54a026/
Host: Efren Salazar, Founder and CEO, WakeUpX Solutions

Connect with Efren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/efrenlsalazar/

WakeUpX Solutions: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wake-up-x-solutions

Website: www.wakeupxpodcast.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Efren.wakeupx
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wake-up-x-podcast-with-efren-l-salazar/id1792821643

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28GZnRBrIV2efHOhZdiftt

In this episode of the Wake UP X Podcast, host Efren Salazar sits down with network engineer and architect Devin for a conversation about one of the most underrated skills in all of tech.

The ability to make the complex simple.

Devin shares how he helped a desktop team finally understand network authentication not with a textbook or a technical walkthrough but with a nightclub analogy.

Your PC account is your ID. The RADIUS server is the bouncer. Active Directory is the guest list. Your access level determines whether you get a wristband for VIP or stay in general admission.

Suddenly everything clicked.

But this episode goes deeper than just great storytelling. Devin opens up about how his mind has always worked differently. Never purely a math person or an art person. Always both. And that balance between rational linear engineer thinking and creative design driven architect thinking is exactly what sets him apart.

🔹 As an engineer you work toward the end of the equation.

🔹 As an architect you work from the beginning where creativity lives.

Devin brings art class principles into every diagram he builds. Eye flow. Visual hierarchy. How the mind moves through information. Things he learned in art class that now live inside every network diagram and system design he creates.

That combination of technical mastery and creative intuition is a skill most companies don't even know to ask for.

This episode is for every tech professional who wants to communicate better, design clearer systems and unlock the part of their brain they have been leaving on the table.

🎙️ Host: Efren Salazar👤 Guest: Devin | Network Engineer & BGP Expert🎙️ Show: Wake UP X Podcast

In this episode of the Wake UP X Podcast, host Efren Salazar sits down with network engineer Devin for one of the most honest and practical conversations about what it actually takes to be great in tech.

Spoiler. It's not just technical skill.

Devin shares how showing up with empathy, humor, and genuine human connection allowed him to fix problems faster, build trust on the spot, and create lasting relationships with the people he served. From talking football smack to defuse tension, to quietly diagnosing a network issue in the background, Devin's approach is as real as it gets.

He also breaks down his personal framework for tech mastery, built around the power of three.

🔹 Visualization. You have to be the one creating the visuals, not just learning from them.

🔹 Empathy. The bridge between what a customer says they want and what they actually need.

🔹 Technical Skillset. The foundation that only reaches its full potential when paired with the other two.

And when it comes to getting things done:

🔹 Architecture. Design the boat.🔹 Engineering. Build the boat.🔹 Operations. Keep it afloat.

This episode is for every engineer, architect, or tech professional who wants to level up beyond the technical and become someone people genuinely trust and remember.

🎙️ Host: Efren Salazar👤 Guest: Devin | Network Engineer & BGP Expert🎙️ Show: Wake UP X Podcast

In this episode of the Wake UP X Podcast, host Efren Salazar sits down with network engineer Devin for a candid conversation about what it really takes to grow in the world of networking.

From getting blamed for every outage to becoming a BGP expert trusted across teams, Devin's story is one every tech professional needs to hear.

What we cover in this episode:

🔹 The "guilty until proven innocent" dynamic in networking and how it forces you to master everything around you.

🔹 How Devin learned databases, cloud infrastructure, and server architecture simply by having to prove it wasn't his fault.

🔹 The shift from traditional on-prem networks to Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and why it changes how you think.

🔹 Why the cloud is a complete Layer 3 mindset reset and what that means for your configurations.

🔹 The lift-and-shift era and the real challenges companies faced when rushing to AWS and Azure.

🔹 BGP and why it powers the entire internet, why enterprises like Google and Facebook rely on it exclusively, and how Devin built his mastery.

🔹 What it actually means to route traffic over the internet. It's not just send it and forget it.

Whether you're a network engineer, cloud architect, or just someone curious about how the internet really works, this episode will change how you think about infrastructure.

Host: Efren SalazarGuest: Devin | Network Engineer and BGP ExpertShow: Wake UP X Podcast

Wake UP X Podcast, Efren Salazar, Devin network engineer, network engineering podcast, BGP routing explained, cloud networking podcast, SDN software defined networking, network engineer career tips, AWS Azure cloud networking, internet routing protocols, CCNP CCIE prep, tech infrastructure podcast, IT career growth, networking mastery

Larry Switzer opens this episode with a story about his grandfather, a man born in western Pennsylvania who never left except to fight World War II, and who lived to see humans walk on the moon. Larry's point is simple and powerful: the innovation cycle is only accelerating from here.

At RSA 2026 in San Francisco, that acceleration was on full display. Autonomous Waymo vehicles navigating live city traffic. Larry rode in one and came away with an unexpected feeling: he trusted the computer's data driven decision making more than he would a stranger behind the wheel. Smoother. More consistent. No stop and start.

And behind every one of those decisions? Data. Massive amounts of it. In real time.

That is the backdrop for the second half of this conversation, where Larry addresses the question everyone in tech is wrestling with: is AI taking jobs?

His take is grounded and clear. AI is automation. Just like mechanical automation before it, the result is not the elimination of work but the redirection of smart people toward harder, more valuable problems. The challenge is not a lack of work. It is a shortage of technically trained people ready to take on what is next.

Featuring Larry Switzer and the team at Ziggiz.AI.

🙏 Thank you Larry Switzer for this incredible conversation on Wake Up X. From horse carts to autonomous vehicles to petabyte scale cybersecurity, your perspective on where we are and where we are going is something everyone in this industry needs to hear. Proud to feature you and the work at Ziggiz.AI. 🎙️

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLODZHZk6rF5j9esSSLcFbvDGJSqlhs2ZM

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wake-up-x-securing-tomorrow-empowering-today-with/id1792821643

A baseball player who hits .300 is a superstar. That means they fail 7 out of 10 times.

In this closing segment of our RSA 2026 conversation, Larry Switzer of Ziggiz.AI shares the mindset that separates the people who make it in cybersecurity from those who burn out or give up: be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Larry breaks down why discomfort is not a problem to fix but a signal that you are actually growing. His advice for breaking into or leveling up in the industry is simple and direct. Watch where the top investors are putting their money. Get in local rooms with people doing leading edge work. Find experts who have done it, not just taught it. Keep adding. Keep showing up.

And when you fail, which you will, remember that life is about what you do after the fall.

We also share the story of how this conversation started: a chance encounter at RSA 2026 in San Francisco, a great person in a great conversation, and a simple hello.

That is Wake Up X. Real conversations. Real people. Real cybersecurity.

Connect with Larry at Ziggiz.AI — [email protected]

🙏 Thank you Larry Switzer for closing out this conversation with so much honesty and heart. The work you and the team at Ziggiz.AI are doing matters and we are grateful you took the time to chat with us at RSA 2026. 🎙️

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLODZHZk6rF5j9esSSLcFbvDGJSqlhs2ZM

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wake-up-x-securing-tomorrow-empowering-today-with/id1792821643

A huge thank you to ISACA Sacramento for hosting an incredible appreciation event and welcoming the WakeUpX team in to capture some amazing conversations. The energy in that room was something else, packed with passionate professionals, emerging talent, and leaders who genuinely invest in this community. We walked away with outstanding interviews and video content that we can't wait to share with you. More episodes from this event are coming, so stay locked in. 🔒

I sat down with Anil Reddy (Kondakrindi), founder of ARK Strategies Inc., a CMAS-certified small business IT consulting firm that works directly with state and local government agencies across California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and beyond. Anil brings over 25 years of corporate experience and 10 years of deep focus on cybersecurity, in a space that desperately needs leaders who understand both the technology and the public sector mission behind it.

What started as a leap of faith during the pandemic has grown into a firm specializing in cloud security, penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, security policy development, and digital transformation, powered by platforms like Microsoft Power Platform, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Workday.

We talked about:

💼 Why he left the 9-to-5 to build his own consulting firm

🏛️ How he landed his first public sector engagement with zero prior policy writing experience (and scored perfectly on the CISM to prepare)

🤝 Why relationships, integrity, and community are the real foundation of a consulting business

🔐 How he handles the stress of security breaches at 2am

🤖 His perspective on where AI is headed and what it means for security

🌐 Why he's expanding ARK Strategies beyond California and what "serving the citizens" actually means to him

One moment that stuck with me, Anil said, "Don't just bring the problems. Bring the solutions." That's the entrepreneurial mindset right there.

For anyone looking to break into cybersecurity, he had this to say: start with education, get certified, then go show leaders what you know. Simple. Actionable. Real.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, watch on YouTube, and follow along at wakeupxpodcast.com for more conversations with CISOs, CTOs, CEOs, serial entrepreneurs, and the professionals shaping the future of cybersecurity.

This is just the beginning, we have major guests coming up across tech leadership, cyber defense, and entrepreneurship. You don't want to miss what's next.

👉 Connect with Anil: linkedin.com/in/anil-reddy-kondakrindi-1933891🌐 Learn more about ARK Strategies: ArkStrategiesInc.com🎙️ More episodes: wakeupxpodcast.com

#WakeUpXPodcast #Cybersecurity #Entrepreneurship #PublicSector #ISACA #ISACASacramento #CyberLeaders #SmallBusiness #ITConsulting #ARKStrategies #CISM #SecurityPolicy #DigitalTransformation #CloudSecurity #SacramentoTech #CyberCommunity #PodcastAlert

Why can the biggest companies in cybersecurity see disruption coming and still not stop it?

In this episode, Larry Switzer breaks down the innovator's dilemma and why business model is the real battleground for the next generation of cyber companies. When an incumbent is locked into how they charge customers, a startup running pure consumption pricing can win ground they simply cannot defend without burning down their own revenue engine.

Larry also shares his playbook for staying ahead in one of the fastest moving industries on the planet. Follow the top venture capital firms. Study what the leaders at Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, and Zscaler are doing and why. And above all else, find people who have actually done the work and get in the room with them. Training is useful. Experience is irreplaceable.

This is a conversation about disruption, business model innovation, and what real growth looks like in cybersecurity.

Featuring Larry Switzer and the team at Ziggiz.AI.

🙏 Thank you Larry Switzer for another phenomenal conversation on Wake Up X. Your perspective on business model innovation and staying ahead in cybersecurity is exactly what this industry needs to hear. Honored to have you on the show. 🎙️

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLODZHZk6rF5j9esSSLcFbvDGJSqlhs2ZM

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wake-up-x-securing-tomorrow-empowering-today-with/id1792821643