The Next Chapter: Life After CISO with Justin Somaini, Partner YL Ventures

Join David Malicoat on the Professional CISO Podcast as he dives into an insightful conversation with Justin Somaini, a security leader in the venture capital space and partner at YL Ventures. Discover Justin’s journey from his roots as a military brat to an experienced penetration tester, and learn why he believes in the need to professionalize the role of the CISO. The episode covers the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the importance of NIST CSF, and offers essential advice for current and aspiring CISOs navigating the industry’s challenges. Don’t miss out on this engaging discussion that highlights the passion and dedication of cybersecurity professionals.

Episode 13

Strategic Leadership in Cybersecurity: A Conversation with Benjamin Dulieu

Welcome to The Professional CISO Podcast, hosted by David Malicoat. In this exciting episode, we sit down with Benjamin Dulieu, the CISO at Duck Creek Technologies, to explore his incredible journey from the Marine Corps to becoming a top cybersecurity leader. Ben shares invaluable insights on leadership, the importance of structured processes, and how CISOs can earn their seat at the executive table.

Key Takeaways:

Leadership and Trust: Effective leadership in cybersecurity hinges on building trust and understanding team dynamics. Business Integration: CISOs must align their objectives with business goals and think like a COO with a tech focus. Structured Processes: Turning complex challenges into manageable, repeatable processes is crucial for efficiency and improvement. Professionalizing the Role: The CISO role is evolving to become more integrated with business strategy and operations. Notable Quotes: “If human beings in a war zone can be turned into a process, you’re kidding yourself if you think technology can’t be.” “You’re running your own business as a CISO within the company. Start thinking like a COO with a technological mindset.”

Episode 12

CISO Interview Chronicles: One CISO’s Path to the Final Three at a Fortune 500

In this exclusive episode of the Professional CISO Podcast, the script is flipped as David Malicoat, our usual host, becomes the guest. With his mentor, Robert Pace, taking over the hosting duties, David opens up about his recent experience interviewing for a CISO position at a Fortune 500 company. From the initial approach to making it to the final three candidates, David shares his mental state throughout the process and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. This episode is a must-listen for both seasoned CISOs and those aspiring to make the jump to high-level positions.

Key Takeaways:

Initial Interest: David discusses how he was first approached for the position and his initial thoughts and feelings about the opportunity. Application Process: Insights into the preparation of his resume and the mindset of staying calm and collected while waiting for responses. Interview Stages: Detailed breakdown of the multiple interview stages, including virtual screenings, leadership evaluations, and the importance of stakeholder management. Emotional Regulation: Techniques David used to manage stress and maintain focus during the high-stakes process, emphasizing the role of support from friends, family, and mentors. Learnings and Reflections: The importance of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and staying true to oneself throughout the interview process. Final Thoughts: Reflections on reaching the final three candidates, handling the outcome, and maintaining a positive outlook for future opportunities.

Episode 11

Cloud Security, Veterans, and Leadership. A Discussion.

This week’s guest is Allen Rountree, Deputy CISO of IBM Public Cloud. David talks to Allen about Leadership in cybersecurity, being fluent in the language of risk, and risk specific to cloud computing. Allen and David both served in the Marine Corps and both served in the Marine Corps Security Forces (MCSF), so they have very similar early starts in their service careers. In this conversation, they also cover specific advice for veterans looking to get into cybersecurity.

Episode 10

The first rule of Digital Fight Club is to TALK about Digital Fight Club!

This week’s guest is Mike Pratt, Host and Owner of Digital Fight Club (DFC). Your host, David Malicoat, talks to Mike about how DFC started and how the show made it into the consciousness of the cybersecurity community. David reveals his history with DFC, as well as some back story on how DFC Cyber came together. Finally, Mike and David talk about the new developments with DFC and how it is gaining national attention with a full Hollywood production ready for television. DFC is back at the Grenada Theater in Dallas, Texas on June 27, 2024 for the recording of Season 1, Episode 1.

Episode 9

Evolving Leadership Navigating the Future of Cybersecurity with Ryan Bachman

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Professional CISO Podcast hosted by David Malicoat. David meets up with Ryan Bachman, currently the Executive Vice President and Global Chief Information Security Officer at General Motors Financial. They discuss Bachman’s career journey, from his early fascination with technology to his current role. Additionally, they highlight the significance of building trust and service within an organization and discuss the future trajectory of the CISO role in the corporate world as the responsibilities of the CISO role expand.

Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Valence Security. Take steps to secure your SaaS apps and more at https://www.valencesecurity.com/