A lot of people are talking about how AI is changing the landscape of professional services, but there’s one really important consideration that often gets overlooked — cyber threats. As CEO of Ridgeback Network Defense Inc., today’s guest, Scott Fogarty, helps organisations defend against cyber attacks. We begin by unpacking the importance of being prepared for battle as a business leader with the understanding that cybersecurity is a real fight against other human beings who pose a threat to the safety of our resources. Next, Scott reveals more about his leadership and founder journey, with insights on how to manage and nurture successful teams. We also explore Scott’s mission to get business leaders to take ownership of cyber safety rather than deferring only to their IT professionals. Our conversation dissects two major strategies for online safety, and how Ridgeback’s system uses game theory to prevent attacks before they even begin. Join us for an important discussion about an issue that impacts us all.

Key Points From This Episode:

• BJ and MCFA’s entry into AI and cybersecurity. 
• Why the topic of cyber defense is so important for business leaders. 
• Scott’s journey to leadership.
• How to build a culture of industriousness among teams. 
• Founding Ridgeback Network Defense Inc. 
• Scott’s mission to enlist the time and attention of business leaders to focus on cyber safety.
• Origins of the problem of online safety.
• Two strategies for safety that date back to the origins of online safety: block or detect.
• How Ridgeback implements the principles of game theory.
• What keeps users from understanding cybersecurity needs.
• The biggest challenge he currently faces at Ridgeback: education. 
• How mission-driven team values inform Scott’s approach to hiring and culture. 
• Quick-fire questions on literature, quotes and more.

Quotes:

“[Cybersecurity] is a fight against other human beings who wish to harm us or steal our resources, not a bad weather system.” — Scott Fogarty [0:02:29]

“The reward is not from sitting in your desk and writing emails that command people to do this or that — it’s by drawing on diverse talents and diverse experience and enlisting everybody in a bigger objective.” — Scott Fogarty [0:09:43]

“Composing a mix of folks who get pleasure out of working with one another is a key part of inspiring industriousness.” — Scott Fogarty [0:13:11]

“Cyber is the pervasive undercurrent to geopolitical instability because it’s everywhere and it’s out of public view, but it’s a key method by which criminals, nation states who aren’t freedom-loving, are exercising influence.” — Scott Fogarty [0:17:11]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Scott Fogarty on LinkedIn

Scott Fogarty Email

Ridgeback Network Defense

The Sword of Damocles: A Cybersecurity Paradigm Shift for the Defense

Episode 254

The Sun Also Rises

The Aeneid

The Infinite Game

Leadership Blueprints Links:

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn
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