The Future of Artificial Intelligence with Jeff Gardner

Jeff Gardner, CISO at Germantown Technologies, comes to Hacker Valley Studio this week to talk about the future of cybersecurity and what up-and-coming hackers may encounter on their journey into an ever-evolving industry. With a specific focus and interest in artificial intelligence, or AI, Jeff’s discussion in this episode covers the current perception of AI in tech, the timeline of when we may see highly-intelligent AI come into play, and what the future of AI looks like from a cybersecurity standpoint. 

Timecoded Guide:

[03:54] Focusing on numerous areas during his day job as CISO and understanding the necessity of a strong team of trusted cyber professionals

[09:00] Getting excited about current and upcoming technology in cyber while remaining realistic about present day limitations and needs 

[15:53] Automating security analyst tasks and finding the quality control balance between machine knowledge and human intuition

[22:50] Breaking down the concept of “bad AI” and understanding how to address the issues that may arise if AI is used for nefarious purposes

[28:22] Addressing the future of unique thought and creativity for computers and for human beings 

Sponsor Links:

Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and AttackIQ for bringing this episode to life! 

Want to learn more about how Mindbody enhanced their asset visibility and increased their cybersecurity maturity rating with Axonius? Check out axonius.com/mindbody 

AttackIQ - better insights, better decisions, and real security outcomes. Be sure to check out the Attack IQ Academy for free cybersecurity training, featuring Ron and Chris of Hacker Valley Studio, at academy.attackiq.com

What are some of the things that you are expecting the next generation to be doing when it comes to bypassing security in a way that they won't get caught?

Jeff, like many hackers and security pros in the industry, started his journey in cyber by hacking different systems from his own computer as a kid just because he could get away with it. While that type of hacking still exists, there are new ways for systems to manage and counteract these threats and attacks, as well as expose who is behind it. The new generation of hackers will learn in different ways on different technology, and Jeff is confident that what they choose will come because of where the security industry is already going, with devices that use machine learning and pattern learning, as well as the continuing development of AI. 

“When it comes to artificial intelligence and all the myriad of models and neurons and all that, we're still pretty much at single neuron, maybe double neuron systems. But, as things evolve, it's gonna be harder and harder to bypass those defenses.” 

What is your perspective of AI not being here and available for us yet?

In Jeff’s opinion, the biggest thing missing from our current AI to really make it the intelligence we claim it is, is creativity. We have smart technology, we have technology that can automate tasks and can be told very easily what to do, all through feeding in data and processes. However, Jeff points out that most of what we call artificial intelligence in the cyber and tech industries doesn’t have the creativity or the human intuition to match the human brain. We’re in an exciting escalation of technology and intelligence, but we aren’t at true AI yet. 

“I think one of the things that's missing from AI, and it's being solved rapidly, is creativity. We train it through models, but those models are only the data that we give it. How smart is the system if you just give it a plethora of data and have it come to its own conclusions?” 

How far away do you think we are from highly intelligent AI?

Although the futuristic AI that appears in science fiction movies and books isn’t here yet, Jeff believes we aren’t far off from a level of computer technology that we have never seen before. With the quantum leaps in technology that we’ve continued to see, namely in computers starting to solve math problems we’ve never even thought of or engage with art in a way we’ve never dreamed possible. What we see now is the tip of the iceberg, but the future holds massive potential for what AI will look like and what automation of certain tasks will look like, with accuracy rates for analysis technology continuing to narrow to 99.9% accuracy rates. 

“When you can get to that level of processing speed, you can do things we can't even dream of, and that's what they're doing now. They're solving math problems in ways that humans have never thought of, they're creating art in ways that humans couldn't imagine.”

How do we create AI for good? 

The fear of the “evil” or “bad” artificial intelligence comes up frequently when we discuss what the future of AI may look like from a security standpoint. However, Jeff is confident that the issue is not as black and white as our fears make it. For starters, when we understand the purpose behind what “bad” AI might be programmed to do, we can put other measures in place to combat it. On the other hand, the struggle of good vs bad, right vs wrong has been a problem in hacking and in cyber since the first white hats and black hats came into existence. The fear of bad AI is a philosophical discussion instead of just a technical conversation.

“I think it all comes down to, like you said, purpose. What's the purpose of the bad AI? What's it trying to do? Is it trying to hack our systems and steal the data? Is it trying to cause physical harm?”

---------------

Links:

Stay in touch with Jeff Gardner on LinkedIn

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Learning to Lead Future Tech Leaders with Dr. Stacey Ashley

Leadership expert, Dr. Stacey Ashley, joins us at the Hacker Valley Studio to talk about her journey from the corporate world of leadership to her current roles in consulting and coaching. As a speaker, author, and educator for leaders, especially executive and C-level leaders, Dr. Ashley shares foundational skills needed to go from expert to leader, mindset shifts that need to occur regarding our perspective on our own leadership responsibilities, and experiences that inspired her to become an author. 

Timecoded Guide: 

[02:58] Developing stronger leadership capabilities and understanding the value of scaling work with her decision to become an author  

[09:51] Jumping over the hurdles and obstacles to becoming a better leader through mindfulness, practice, and checking the privilege of your executive role 

[13:45] Knowing when to get off the treadmill of busyness and focusing on setting better boundaries for yourself as a leader 

[20:53] Cultivating the next level of leadership with a focus on mentoring, role modeling, and coaching  

[25:40] Providing advice for future leaders and understanding the values of awareness and of developing your listening skills  

Sponsor Links: 

Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and AttackIQ for bringing this episode to life! 

Want to learn more about how Mindbody enhanced its asset visibility and increased its cybersecurity maturity rating with Axonius? Check out axonius.com/mindbody

AttackIQ - better insights, better decisions, and real security outcomes. That's why we partnered with them to create free cybersecurity trainings! Check it out at  academy.attackiq.com 

What have been some of the challenges that you've seen, out of yourself or from others, to start to cultivate that leadership ability? 

There’s a common path to leadership in many industries, especially tech and cyber, where becoming good at your job skyrockets you into leadership spaces and executive roles. While this is often an achievement worth being proud of, Dr. Ashley warns that we rarely mentor and teach these newly appointed leaders how to lead. Expert skills are important to have, but not being able to satisfy your executive role and your leadership responsibilities with developed leadership skills leads to confusion and dissatisfaction amongst employees and clients who aren’t receiving the type of leadership guidance normally delivered by someone in that role. 

“It's great to have those specialist skills, but it's not enough. If you're going to lead people, if you're going to lead a program of work, if you're going to be a thought leader, or an influencer, or any of those things, you need to have more skills.” 

What are some of the common obstacles that people have that keeps them from being the best leader that they can be? 

Dr. Ashley is the first to admit that tech leadership issues and obstacles are hardly a one size fits all. However, a commonality she sees is a focus on busyness instead of on active leadership practices. Being “busy” does not translate into high levels of productivity, especially for leaders in prominent company or industry roles. She advises that a better focus for leaders and aspiring executives is to practice their leadership skills and prioritize finding a coach or mentor, instead of just filling up their schedule with unnecessary busy work. 

“This whole concept of busy isn't actually very effective. Busy is just doing stuff for the sake of doing stuff. One of the things that I find that great leaders do is that they're really clear about where they make a difference, where they add value, where they can make a real contribution. They don't focus on being busy, they focus on the important stuff.”  

What sort of creative license do you give for those people that just want to be helpful, but are over taxed when it comes to their job?  

We all want to better prioritize our tasks and to feel less overwhelmed by our work, but setting boundaries often feels mean or unrealistic for those used to being helpful and people pleasing. Dr. Ashley sees this a lot in her work, where she often advises people to consider how they’re saying no and what ways they’re presenting what they’re working on. By showing people that you have important tasks that rely on your focus to attend to, you’re inviting them to see your time in a much more understanding light and you will invite them to consider that they should try on their own for a solution and prioritize their own tasks before they can engage with you again. 

“I think if we let people know that we're doing something else, and that it has a big impact, then they're much more understanding. Also, we're giving that other person some time to see if they can figure that thing out on their own rather than relying on us.” 

What are some of the tenants that you follow for cultivating the next level of leadership? 

Dr. Ashley believes that one of our key responsibilities as leaders is to grow this next generation of leaders and help them develop the best leadership skills imaginable. She advocates for this by focusing on three core tenants. The first being mentorship, meaning you’re willing to share your knowledge, wisdom, and experiences all on a personal mentorship front. The second is role modeling, where you’re showing how to be a good leader, representing what that looks like for everyone in your business. The third? Coaching, which she bases a large majority of her career around. Being able to coach and provide a customizable approach for future leaders allows them to address what they need to learn and where they need to grow. 

“I don't know if every leader recognizes this, but every day, you are role modeling. You may not be role modeling great stuff, but you are role modeling. And so, you have a responsibility every day to recognize your role modeling.” 

--------------- 

Links: 

Stay in touch with Dr. Stacey Ashley on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram 

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter  

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter 

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop 

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord 

Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio 

Making Corporate Leadership Human with Ginny Clarke

We invite our friend, Ginny Clarke, to Hacker Valley this week to talk about conscious leadership and self-awareness as a way to take our organizations to the next level. Using her prior experience at tech giants like Google and her five dimensions of leadership, Ginny explains how we can better hold the leaders in our lives accountable, what will benefit our civilization the most for future generations in the workplace, and where we should focus our efforts for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Timecoded Guide:

[05:34] Losing her parents at a young age, connecting to a spiritual guide to cope with grief and stress, and getting back in touch with ourselves in order to connect with others

[12:03] Seeing and validating the past experiences of our fellow humans, healing ourselves in order to heal organizations, and acknowledging the role of mental health in the health of our companies

[16:34] Understanding diversity, equity, and inclusion beyond just hiring, and stopping yourself from waiting for an organization to step up to an opportunity that belongs to underrepresented communities

[22:38] Shifting the metrics of how we value organizations and leadership, and seeing where the accountability issues of CEOs for what they really are

[27:48] Leaving a legacy through creativity and inspiring others to recognize how they have the power to change the world

Sponsor Links:

Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life!

Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone.

With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution: uptycs.com. 

How do we move current leadership statistics to something much healthier?

With a depth of experience in recruiting executive leaders in a variety of organizations, Ginny shares a striking and horrifying statistic with us: 18% of leaders are considered good. Only 18% feels incredibly low, especially when a large portion of companies claims to hire the best leaders based on pedigree-level qualifications. In Ginny’s opinion, leaders are not held to a high enough standard in the workplace, and aren’t measured on their performance beyond basic financials. With so much more at stake, Ginny warns that companies are only as strong as their leaders, and are even weaker when they never hold those leaders accountable.

“That’s why we have organizations that are, I dare say, quite fragile. It’s because of the lack of leadership. They might have a lot of money, they might have really intelligent, well-educated people, but to the extent, those organizations don't have actual leaders for whom they are holding accountable for their leadership competencies.”

How do we show up better for others and really see the whole human?

We cannot improve our society as long as we continue to see ourselves as completely separate from it. This, among other world-changing views, guides Ginny towards seeing people beyond just their outward appearance, viewing them as a whole human, composed of all of their experiences. There is so much fear, anxiety, and bias, especially in the world of hiring and recruiting, and Ginny hopes to show up better for others through better accountability for our leaders and a stronger connection to ourselves.

“We, as a civilization, can't fix it as long as we're seeing it as separate from ourselves. So, that's where the self-love comes from, and the support and the sharing and the non-dualistic orientation, which defies everything about tech, right? Tech is all about the binary, the ones and zeros, and here, I'm talking about something that is far more inclusive than that.”

What have you learned from this big effort that we have going on with diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Ginny, much like many of us in tech, cares about efforts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, but believes that many companies talk the talk without ever walking the walk. When working with recruiters in large companies, Ginny discovered that many don’t understand how to implement diversity in an impactful way in their organizations, beyond appearances and statistics. Encouraging colleagues to be true to their authentic selves in the workplace, she believes that now is the time to embrace diversity at work beyond the limitations of waiting for company leaders to embrace them.

“I think there's been organizational malpractice as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I think you got a lot of people who actually don't want to understand it, they're not going to the root cause. They're throwing money at it, they're hiring a chief diversity officer and saying, ‘Okay, you fix it.’”

What do you think people can do today to start to make an impact and move the world in a positive direction?

The secret to changing the world? Ginny believes that it’s acknowledging that you have the power to change it at all. On her own spiritual journey, Ginny has discovered there’s so much more to our impact on our surroundings beyond our everyday actions at work. Using examples of heightened vibrations, inspired creativity, and personal accountability, Ginny explains that your ability to change the world has never been as powerful as it is right now, as our society and civilization continue to shift towards new forms of leadership and new developments in organizations are the world. 

“I want to activate and stimulate people's imagination. You know, young kids have imagination and that creativity, that spawns, that manifests, that takes hold, that becomes real, and that's how we change the world, so that it's good for all and that becomes the objective. That's my legacy. It's creating good for all.”

Guest Bio:

Ginny was most recently Director of Executive Recruiting at Google from August 2016 until November 2020. In this role, she led the Diversity, Non-tech Recruiting, and the Leadership Internal Mobility teams. Before Google, Ginny was a Partner at Spencer Stuart, the global executive search firm, where she co-founded and led the firm’s Global Diversity Practice.  Currently, Ginny runs Ginny Clarke, LLC, her own talent and leadership consulting business. She is also an active keynote speaker, host and creator of podcast Fifth Dimensional Leadership, and the author of Career Mapping: Charting Your Course in the New World of Work (2011). 

---------------

Links:

Stay in touch with Ginny Clarke on her website, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Co-founding Revelstoke through Communication with Bob Kruse

We invite Bob Kruse, Co-Founder and CEO of Revelstoke Security, down to Hacker Valley Studios this week to talk about his journey from investment banking to cybersecurity sales to owning and operating his company with Josh McCarthy. With a focus on communication and peoples skills, Bob discusses how to be a leader in the cybersecurity community, including building strong relationships with staff members, connecting with cyber experts, and developing successful security teams.

Timecoded Guide:

[03:40] Selling software to cybersecurity practitioners and managing the skepticism around marketing to an audience that’s taught to doubt and question

[08:12] Gaining inspiration for Revelstoke Security from the entrepreneurs in his family and his experience starting his cyber business with his partner Josh McCarthy

[12:51] What being an early-stage startup looked like for Revelstoke and lessons learned from their first pitches to cybersecurity investors

[15:01] Comparing and contrasting being someone in cybersecurity sales to being a CEO of his very own company 

[20:58] Looking towards the future of Revelstoke Security as they expand into new markets and continue to build their business around providing solid cybersecurity jobs

Sponsor Links:

Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life!

Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone.

With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution: uptycs.com. 

Were there any speculations like, "Hey, can this guy really go from sales to being a CEO at a tech company?" 

Bob’s focus throughout his career in cybersecurity has completely revolved around sales. From his first cybersecurity role at Oracle Corporation to his recent position at Demisto, Bob’s prominence and impact on the cyber industry has always had sales at the center. Co-founding Revelstoke, Bob encountered skepticism and wariness from investors, curious if he would be able to transition into a cybersecurity CEO. Thanks to his knack for knowledge and his confident partner Josh, Bob has defied expectations and built up his own confidence in his new role.

“It's about having a co-founder that compliments you, that you can implicitly trust, and implicitly trusts you. You can have the best technology in the world and the best idea in the world, but if you don't have a trusted relationship…it's not going to be successful.” 

Between your previous life in sales, and now, being a founder and CEO, what are some of the parallels? 

With so much experience in sales on his resume, we were curious which parts of Bob’s journey to CEO were similar to previous positions he’s held. It turns out, just like we’ve discussed on Hacker Valley Red, communication has been a key element no matter Bob’s position in cyber. No matter who he’s talking to, or what side of the house he’s marketing towards, people skills continue to be his forte. Being able to have discussions with employees, investors, and potential clients relies heavily on honest authentic communication skills, even though his business knowledge has had to grow immensely since becoming CEO.

“Today, I still lean on my people skills, and over-communicate. I try to have one-on-ones with everybody in the company. I welcome every new hire we have, and it's increasingly important, obviously, as we have a widely distributed team.”

Where has your focus on introductions and networking come from? 

We know Bob as an introduction master, and he’s even helped us with meeting some of the biggest guests we’ve invited to Hacker Valley. With so many cyber security experts in his network from all corners of the cybersecurity industry, we had to ask Bob where he learned the value of making those connections. It turns out— it’s always been that way for Bob Kruse, from the days of his early childhood working at his father’s business. Connecting others, communicating with them, and learning how to help has been his passion for his entire life.

“When somebody needs your help, it's a compliment. I've always found it as a compliment in that I have something they don't, and I can impart on them some sort of an introduction, or a reference, or some knowledge.”

What impact or impression are you hoping to leave on the world with Revelstoke?

There are a lot of cybersecurity startups that make their way down to Hacker Valley, but Revelstoke Security seems like a different breed, with a strong staff at its core— so strong that they’ve only grown since they began and have yet to lose a single employee. With an impact like that on the cyber job market, we asked Bob what he sees on the horizon for Revelstoke. He made it clear: more jobs. Success, for Bob and Josh at Revelstoke, relies on building strong teams and providing the right jobs for those team members and their families. 

“Success…is starting a company and providing jobs for people, jobs that never existed before you decided to start a company. I want my legacy to be somebody that not only started a successful company financially, but that employed a lot of people and supported a lot of families.”

----------

Links:

Stay in touch with Bob Kruse on LinkedIn and the Business Journal Leadership Trust website.

Learn more about Revelstoke Security on their website.

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Emotions In Cybersecurity with Sherianna Boyle

In the turbulent world of cybersecurity, it can be difficult to not get caught up in the emotions of it all. Fear uncertainty, doubt...not to mention, burnout. It's not surprising cybersecurity is often seen as being a highly stressful field. But is it possible we may be addressing and interpreting our emotions, as practitioners, in the wrong way? Ron and Chris are joined by author and coach, Sherianna Boyle, to talk about the role that emotions play in our daily lives and how to process them correctly. In this episode, Sherianna walks us through:

    -What goes into emotional detoxing

    -The difference between reaction and emotion

    -How breathwork can transform your life

Sponsor Links: 

Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life!

Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone 

With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution uptycs.com/  Be sure to stop by their booth #435 at RSA 2022

Guest Bio:

Sherianna Boyle is an author of nine books  including, Emotional Detox Now: 135 Self-Guided Practices to Renew Your Mind, Heart & Body. She is also the founder of the CLEANSE Method® Emotional Detox Coaching® Cleanse Yoga® servicing clients, businesses, healthcare providers and educators worldwide, virtually or on site. You can hear more from Sherianna, and her work, on her show Emotional Detox Now Podcast. 

Links:

Stay in touch with Sherianna Boyle on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Check out  Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Being THE Cyber Warrior with Derek Scheller

Making an impact in the cybersecurity community as a content creator is no easy task! Just ask Derek Scheller, aka The Cyber Warrior. Derek joins hosts Ron and Chris to talk about how he brings his unique personality and positive messages to inspire folks within, and breaking into, cyber. In this this episode, Derek shares:

• His passion to inspire and motivate others
• How to make your content stand out
• How the WWE has inspired his unique persona
• His thoughts on vulnerability and being authentically yourself
• Tips for making impactful and sticky content

Check out Ron and Chris’ interview with The Cyber Warrior on Security Happy Hour, here! 

Sponsor Links: 

Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life!

Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone

With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution Uptycs.com Be sure to stop by their booth #435 at RSA 2022

Guest Bio:

Derek Scheller is a Senior Security Consultant for Seiso, LLC. In 2017, he retired from the US Army as a Cyber Network Defender and worked in both defensive and offensive operations. When he is not helping clients with their security needs, he is a content creator that aims to help as many people as possible enter the cyber security space. You can find him on YouTube Twitch, LinkedIn, and Facebook under Cyber Warrior Studios, where he posts weekly.

Links:

Stay in touch with Derek Scheller with Cyber Warrior Studios on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Check out more from Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Adapt and Overcome with Amy Bream

Life is full of complexity -- just ask adaptive athlete Amy Bream, this episode's special guest. She was born with one leg, but that didn’t stop her from growing up to become a kickboxer. In 2021, she competed in the CrossFit Games, placing in the top five. And in 2022, she came in first at Wodapalooza — one of the biggest fitness competitions in the world. The key to her success? Controlling what she can. Join her, Ron and Chris as they discuss:

        -How self perception shapes how others interact with you

        -The power of showing up and believing in yourself

        -Amy’s viral moment at the CrossFit Games

        -Her partnership with Axonius

        -Her advice for those struggling to show up in life

Check out Amy's Controlling Complexity video, presented by Axonius: axonius.com/amybream 

Sponsor: 

Thank you to our Axonius, for bringing this episode to life!

Life is complex, but it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone

Links:

Visit Amy Bream on Instagram

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Check out  Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Adventures In The Outerverse with Robin Thurston

The metaverse seems to be the hottest thing in technology today. From virtual environments to avatars, our lives are being digitized more and more. Is there even a reason to go outside anymore? Robin Thurston, CEO of Outside Inc., built his entire company around this very question. What's even more interesting is that he is using web3 technology to help get people reacquainted with the great outdoors. In this episode, Ron and Chris chat with Robin about: 

• Why Outside decided to create the Outerverse 
• How the Outerverse is aimed at getting people outside
• What the Outerverse entails (i.e. NFT marketplace, tokens, creator platform)
• What this means for the future of outdoor content/outdoor content creators

Sponsor Links: 

Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life!

Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone

With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution Uptycs.com Be sure to stop by their booth #435 at RSA 2022

Guest Bio:

Before joining Outside (previously Pocket Outdoor Media), he ran a consumer genetics company called Helix in Silicon Valley before returning to his home state of Colorado. Prior to Helix, Robin co-founded and built MapMyFitness into one of the world’s largest open fitness tracking platforms. Following the acquisition of MapMyFitness by Under Armour, he joined the innovative sports apparel organization and served as Chief Digital Officer, where he led the overall strategic direction of the company’s Connected Fitness and eCommerce business. 

Robin spent the first ten years of his career building a mutual fund classification and ratings platform at Lipper (a Thomson Reuters Company), as well as a risk and compensation platform at both American Century Investments and Wellington Management. He graduated with a MS in Finance from University of Colorado at Denver and lives with his wife and three children in Boulder, Co. He is a lifelong cyclist who started riding and racing in the early 1980’s.

Links:

Stay in touch with Robin Thurston on LinkedIn and Twitter

Visit Outside Inc website 

Visit the Outerverse

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Check out  Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Something To Say In Cyber With Jon DiMaggio

“If you believe in yourself and you're willing to put in that work, it WILL happen.” - Jon DiMaggio

In this episode, Ron and Chris are joined by author and Chief Security Strategist, Jon DiMaggio, to talk about the power of believing in yourself and following through on your dreams. Jon shares the story behind writing his book, The Art of Cyber Warfare, and how he learned to overcome rejection.

Sponsor Links: 

Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life!

Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone

With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution. Check them out at Uptycs.com and be sure to stop by their booth #435 at RSA 2022

Guest Bio:

Jon DiMaggio is the chief security strategist at Analyst1 and has over 15 years of experience hunting, researching, and writing about advanced cyber threats. As a specialist in enterprise ransomware attacks and nation-state intrusions, such as”Ransom Mafia: Analysis of the World’s first Ransomware Cartel”,“Nation State Ransomware” and a “History of REvil”. He has exposed the criminal cartels behind major ransomware attacks, aided law enforcement agencies in federal indictments of nation-state attacks, and discussed his work with The New York Times, Bloomberg, Fox, CNN, Reuters, and Wired. You can find Jon speaking about his research at conferences such as RSA. Additionally, in 2022, Jon authored the book “The Art of Cyberwarfare: An Investigator's Guide to Espionage, Ransomware, and Organized Cybercrime” published by No Starch Press.

Links:

Stay in touch with Jon DiMaggio on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Check out  Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Beyond Gold with Simone Biles

Cybersecurity podcast hosts, Chris and Ron, had the pleasure of sitting down with US Olympic gold medalist, Simone Biles, for a very special interview! You might be wondering, “what does cybersecurity and elite-level gymnastics have in common?” - both have a strong focus on controlling complexity.
Complexity comes in many forms — whether that be staying calm in the face of a malicious cyber attack or performing complex moves on the competition floor. While complexity isn’t something you can prevent, having the right team and mindset can make controlling its outcome much easier! In this episode, Ron and Chris chat with Simone about:

- Her recent life changing event

- How Simone controls the complexity in her life

- Why doing your best is always good enough

- and her partnership with Axonius!

Guest Bio:

Simone Arianne Biles has boundless energy, natural strength and fierce determination, taking those God-given talents to become the greatest gymnast of all time. The 4-foot, 8-inch dynamo is the most decorated American gymnast in history, with 32 medals (19 of them gold) from the World Championship and seven medals (four gold) from the Olympics. She is also the first American woman to win seven national all-around titles and first female gymnast to earn three consecutive World All-Around titles. She is a three-time recipient of the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year and has received widespread recognition, including TIME 100 Most Influential, Forbes 30 Under 30, Ebony Power 100, People Magazine’s Women Changing the World, USA Today 100 Women of the Century, and two-time Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, among others.

Links:

Thank you to our friends at Axonius for making this episode a reality!

Follow Simone on Twitter and Instagram

Watch Simone content and more at Axonius+

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Listen to more interviews like this from  Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio