Welcome back to the show! Hacker Valley Studio podcast features Host Ron Eddings, as he explores the world of cybersecurity through the eyes of professionals in the industry. We cover everything from inspirational real-life stories in tech, to highlighting influential cybersecurity companies, and we do so in a fun and enthusiastic way. We’re making cybersecurity accessible, creating a whole new form of entertainment: cybertainment.
Episodes
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
It has been way too long in the making. But it's finally here! We have Hacker Valley merchandise available! We have shirts, we have hats, we have sweatshirts that you can purchase.
You are in the Hacker Valley Studio with your hosts Ron and Chris. Welcome back to the show. Today in the studio, we've brought in Nikki Ivey. Nikki is a B2B revenue growth and startup culture leader. She's recognized as a 2020 LinkedIn top voice, and she is the co-founder of SDR Defenders community.
For those that want to get to know Nikki and understand where she come from and what she is up to today, Nikki shares she works with Fortune 500 companies to help them make their outsides match their insides. In short, she helps folks close a gap, so everybody has access to a greater sense of belonging and purpose in the work that they do.
Sadly, Nikki started down this path because she felt she often did not belong or was not often treated like she belonged. Her mom says her first full sentence was, “That's not fair.” She actually studied broadcasting and journalism but then discovered that tech sales was an outlet for all of those things that she cared about.
Nikki cares deeply about culture and has experienced so many issues as she has gone through her career. The one thing she would love to change is people not being the gatekeepers rather be stewards.
Nikki has a lot of advice on “cancelling the cold call” and making connections. She is full of beautiful ideas to make everyone, from top to bottom in a company feel included, important and connected.
Key Takeaways:
:58 Episode starts with Ron and Chris
1:40 Nikki shares her background
2:55 Bringing people into the fold
5:18 Culture issues
7:57 Nikki’s superpower
10:00 Making connections
14:20 Doubling down
19:09 Being genuine
23:11 Building your brand
26:54 Final piece of advice from Nikki
Links:
Nikki on LinkedIn
Nikki on Instagram
Nikki on Twitter
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Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Today in the studio, we have Alexis Robertson, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at a large law firm and a recovering lawyer.
Alexis kicks in with a bit about herself, and shares “I am director of diversity inclusion at a large law firm but spent the first 10 years or so of my career dedicated to laws, going to law school and practicing as a lawyer for about seven and a half years before leaving legal practice closing in on six years ago, I grew up in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, spent most of my life in the Midwest, except for time spent in DC at American University for undergrad and then I went to the University of Michigan for law school. That's me in a nutshell.”
Alexis shares throughout this episode how her health, exercise and food habits all became habit with some very big changes. It isn’t about getting healthy; it is about a long journey of being healthy. You will hear a little bit about her food choices and why she made them, the exercises she partakes in, and how she balances it all.
Key Takeaways:
1:27 Welcome
2:23 Alexis shares her background
3:25 Serendipity
5:33 Self-improvement journey
12:41 Healthy mentality with food
17:20 Next steps
21:12 Getting back on track
24:07 Fitness journey
28:16 Looking forward
31:13 Advice to others
33:17 Staying in touch with Alexis
Alexis on LinkedIn
Alexis on Instagram
The Path & The Practice Podcast
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Learn more about our sponsor ByteChek.
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
In this episode, we talk to our special guest, Natasha Barnes. Natasha is the Associate Director and the CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellow of Protiviti. She is a certified mindfulness workplace facilitator and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
Natasha is part of a movement to answer the question of does corporate America have a role to play in advancing racial equity within our nation, and essentially improving our overall societal well-being.
Technology serves as a way to propel the conversation forward, and recognizing global interconnectedness.
Listen in for all of Natasha’s insights!
Key Takeaways:
1:02 Welcome back
2:16 Natasha shares her background
3:11 Natasha’s journey through wellness
4:23 Mindfulness purpose
6:28 Instructing others
10:27 Corporate role
10:52 Four pillars
15:06 Her journey
17:24 Creating solutions
19:24 Progress
21:39 Equity through mindfulness and technology
26:48 Impact
Natasha on LinkedIn
CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion
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Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.
Sponsored by ByteChek
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
In this episode, we've brought in a special guest, Kelsey Hightower. Kelsey is Principal Engineer at Google, and also co-author of Kubernetes: Up and Running: Dive into the Future of Infrastructure.
To start the show, Kelsey shares he considers himself a self-taught engineer. He started his life out as a small business owner and then moved to a system administrator. Now, he is at Google.
Kelsey’s fascination with cyber started post High School. Rather than go to college, he jumped into, tech support, consulting, dropping cat five cable, but about 2004ish he really digs into the world of open source and all the things that you can do with it as a user and as a contributor.
When it comes to community and customers, Kelsey felt they were one in the same. However, in the last five years or so, he has kind of changed that a little bit, thinking everyone is probably in your community. The willing the ones that are willing to pay you money, we call those customers.
And then the conversation turns to comedy, and his journey through comedy management and performances. Along with this comes discussion about acquiring skills.
Finally, Kelsey shares advice to listeners!
Key Takeaways:
1:00 Welcome back
2:18 Kelsey shares his background
3:31 Community and customers
4:40 Professional purpose
6:00 Retirement thoughts
10:31 Journey in comedy
14:35 Getting better
16:28 Propelling forward
20:12 Minimalism
22:18 Immersion journey
25:25 Don’t miss the moment
27:00 Exceeding expectations
37:56 It’s ok to start!
39:25 How to keep up to date with Kelsey
Kelsey on Twitter
Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter.
Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.
Sponsored by Attack IQ
Attack IQ Academy
Wednesday Jun 02, 2021
Wednesday Jun 02, 2021
In this episode, have James Hadley, CEO of Immersive Labs, and we talk about the best ways to learn in cybersecurity.
James starts the show with his background and what he is doing today, which is Immersive Labs. But, he spent a lot of time in different organizations prior to that.
When it came to education, James found he had quite a poor memory, so he would always learn better through doing things rather than reading about things. Things would go in one ear and out the other.
In addition to learning styles, they all discuss measuring education. When it comes to measuring academics, for James it is all about the outcomes you want people to achieve.
They all agree that storytelling is incredibly powerful. James shares a few of his own drawing back on his incredible journey. And, of course, they round out the show with how to stay in touch and up to date with James.
Key Takeaways:
1:02 Welcome back
2:24 James’ background
5:06 Education experience
5:46 Changes
7:18 Measuring education
9:14 Balancing in testing
11:40 Biggest a’ha
13:14 Feedback
15:54 Learner vs. learner
17:37 Skill behind catching the bad guys
19:20 Applying knowledge
21:53 Geeks in the basement
23:47 The best job in cyber
26:30 Advice
27:58 How to stay in touch with James
Links:
James on Immersive Labs
James on LinkedIn
Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter.
Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.
Learn more about our sponsor ByteChek.