Cybersecurity Growth

From IC to Leader 🎙
Leadership in cybersecurity isn’t just about a title — although sometimes the title forces the issue. Whether you’re an IC, a manager, or a director, there’s a real shift that has to happen when you move from doing security to leading security.
In this episode, Garrett and Shawn dig into the core differences, including the transition from:
SecOps worker → SecOps leader
AppSec worker → AppSec leader
GRC worker → GRC leader
Manager → Executive leader (VP, CISO, SVP)

We talk about what really changes:
Doing it yourself → delegating effectively
Delivering results → setting strategy and holding teams accountable
Celebrating your own wins → celebrating your team’s wins
Being the technical expert → translating security into executive language (revenue, growth, customer trust)

If you’re thinking about what the next step looks like in your career — or you’re already in a role where leadership is expected — this conversation is for you.
Show timeline:
00:00 ...coming up
00:20 introduction & agenda
02:30 progressing in career
03:55 core differences between an IC and a leader
05:30 doing the work or delegating
07:20 you don't have to be a people manager
08:55 when people management isn't right for you
11:40 transitioning to people manger
14:50 is people management a calling?
17:50 delegating and celebrating
20:40 delivering key results and managing strategic objectives
22:50 climbing the corporate ladder
24:10 the real job of the c-level team, including the CISO
33:50 final thoughts and wrap-up
37:44 b-roll and bloopers
Cybersecuritygrowth.com and cybersecuritygrowth.com/webcasts
Live on members.cybersecuritygrowth.com bi-weekly, Fridays at 2:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM PT, 6:30 PM GMT in your pod feeds a few days later.

🔐 Hire a cybersecurity consultant or vCISO:

Welcome to Cybersecurity Growth.
A show for aspiring and existing cybersecurity leaders.
00:00 ...coming up
00:45 introduction & agenda
01:36 sponsorship - Cybersecurity Growth Membership E-Learning & Community
03:15 hot topic - Cybersecurity Jobs: What the Hell Is Going On?
03:36 470K U.S. openings
04:46 Global shortfall of ~3–4 million cybersecurity jobs
10:20 Reddit discussions
12:26 Misaligned candidate expectations
17:34 Outsourcing & offshoring
19:10 AI! AI! AI! AI! AI! AI!
28:00 Talent supply
31:20 Heading for a recession?
38:53 Actionable Advice & Strategies
43:18 sponsorship - Cybersecurity Growth Merch Store
43:46 That’s a Wrap
Cybersecuritygrowth.com and cybersecuritygrowth.com/webcasts
Live on members.cybersecuritygrowth.com bi-weekly, Fridays at 2:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM PT, 6:30 PM GMT in your pod feeds a few days later.

🔐 Hire a cybersecurity consultant or vCISO: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/services
🟢 Free Blogs, Videos and Podcasts: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/webca...
👥 Become a Member of our Self-paced Cybersecurity Training & Community: https://members.cybersecuritygrowth.com/
👕 Get your Cybersecurity Growth Merch: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/store/
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CYBERSECURITY GROWTH SOCIALS
Website: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cybersecgrowth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100066411043800/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cybersecurity-growth
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SHAWN'S MUSIC SOCIALS
Website: https://musicbysv.com/
Spartan Valley (Shawn's artist site): https://spartanvalley.band/
Octavate (Shawn's other music project): https://www.octavate.band/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6SN1n1xhWt0ztYaJbGSwgu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicbysv_
https://www.instagram.com/spartanvalleysv/
https://www.instagram.com/octavate.band/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@musicbysv_
https://www.tiktok.com/@octavate
Facebook:...

Welcome to Cybersecurity Growth. A show for aspiring and existing cybersecurity leaders.
Insights, Trends & Straight Talk from the Expo Floor & Events around town.
00:00 ...coming up
00:22 introduction & agenda
03:03 who are you wearing?
06:28 sponsorship - Cybersecurity Growth Membership E-Learning & Community
08:08 hot topic - RSA Conference 2025 Recap
08:50 The history, what it is, etc
10:45 Innovator Sandbox
14:00 Hot Themes & Industry Buzz
14:20 AI Everywhere
19:13 Sessions & Keynotes
21:50 Parties & Events
22:43 Booth Culture & Vendor Standouts
27:37 sponsorship - Cybersecurity Growth Merch Store
28:41 Recap
32:25 Upcoming Shows
33:29 That’s a Wrap
Cybersecuritygrowth.com and cybersecuritygrowth.com/webcasts
Live on members.cybersecuritygrowth.com bi-weekly, Fridays at 2:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM PT, 6:30 PM GMT in your pod feeds a few days later.

🔐 Hire a cybersecurity consultant or vCISO: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/services
🟢 Free Blogs, Videos and Podcasts: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/webca...
👥 Become a Member of our Self-paced Cybersecurity Training & Community: https://members.cybersecuritygrowth.com/
👕 Get your Cybersecurity Growth Merch: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/store/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CYBERSECURITY GROWTH SOCIALS
Website: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cybersecgrowth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100066411043800/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cybersecurity-growth

SHAWN'S MUSIC SOCIALS
Website: https://musicbysv.com/
Spartan Valley (Shawn's artist site): https://spartanvalley.band/
Octavate (Shawn's other music project): https://www.octavate.band/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6SN1n1xhWt0ztYaJbGSwgu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicbysv_
https://www.instagram.com/spartanvalleysv/
https://www.instagram.com/octavate.band/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@musicbysv_
https://www.tiktok.com/@octavate
Facebook:...

Welcome to Cybersecurity Growth. A show for aspiring and existing cybersecurity leaders.
Highlight reel of the 2025 Verizon DBIR. Organized into 10 clear areas of focus, to help you quickly identify data points that you can use to quickly build business cases and focus on risk areas.
Dive into our recap of Black Hat, DEF CON and BSides Las Vegas from the summer of 2025.
00:00 ...coming up
00:12 introduction & agenda
02:53 who are you wearing?
04:36 sponsorship - Cybersecurity Growth Membership E-Learning & Community
06:01 hot topic - Hacker Summer Camp 2025 Recap
07:28 BSidesLV
08:38 Pros Vs Joes CTF
09:34 Great for noobs but industry heavies still there
11:29 Compliance ≠ Security: Passing audits (PCI, GDPR) does not guarantee real protection against attackers.
13:58 Black Hat USA
17:40 AI! AI! AI! AI! AI! AI! AI!
21:24 Biz hall much smaller than usual
24:24 RunZero booth/CTF
27:22 Party Crashing
29:07 VulnCheck - this is how you do parties at BlackHat
34:37 DEF CON
37:55 DARPA AIxCC
43:26 DEF CON Soundtrack
45:41 Villages
52:05 Very large vendor area this year - good/bad?
56:11 Recap
57:34 sponsorship - Cybersecurity Growth Merch Store
58:15 upcoming shows
59:09 That’s a Wrap
* Cybersecuritygrowth.com and cybersecuritygrowth.com/webcasts
* Live on members.cybersecuritygrowth.com bi-weekly, Fridays at 2:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM PT, 6:30 PM GMT in your pod feeds a few days later.
🔐 Hire a cybersecurity consultant or vCISO: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/services
🟢 Free Blogs, Videos and Podcasts: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/webcasts/
👥 Become a Member of our Self-paced Cybersecurity Training & Community: https://members.cybersecuritygrowth.com/
👕 Get your Cybersecurity Growth Merch: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/store/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CYBERSECURITY GROWTH SOCIALS
Website: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cybersecgrowth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100066411043800/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cybersecurity-growth

SHAWN'S MUSIC SOCIALS
Website: https://musicbysv.com/
Spartan Valley (Shawn's artist site): https://spartanvalley.band/
Octavate (Shawn's other music project): https://www.octavate.band/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6SN1n1xhWt0ztYaJbGSwgu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicbysv_
https://www.instagram.com/spartanvalleysv/
https://www.instagram.com/octavate.band/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@musicbysv_
https://www.tiktok.com/@octavate
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnValleMusic
https://www.facebook.com/SpartanValley
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/musicbysv/
Twitter: https://x.com/SpartanValleySV
https://x.com/MusicBySV
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCtSunTJ6P4SmOp7xVZcwPhg
https://www.youtube.com/@UCZJ97aWQYeNXymaJ47wfNCg
https://www.youtube.com/@UCkZM2hGPY25KdDV15kSGSgg

Welcome to Cybersecurity Growth. A show for aspiring and existing cybersecurity leaders.
Highlight reel of the 2025 Verizon DBIR. Organized into 10 clear areas of focus, to help you quickly identify data points that you can use to quickly build business cases and focus on risk areas.
00:00 ...coming up
00:13 introduction & agenda
05:21 who are you wearing?
07:51 this week in cyber - Prepping for Hacker Summer Camp?
09:05 sponsorship - Cybersecurity Growth Membership E-Learning & Community
10:29 hot topic - 2025 Verizon DBIR Highlights
10:48 1. Largest dataset to date
13:12 2. System Intrusions explode
17:05 3. Third‑party risk doubles
21:57 4. Edge/VPN vulnerabilities skyrocket
24:48 5. Credential chaos reigns
30:43 6. Ransomware relentless—but payments drop
32:19 7. Human factor still deadly
36:32 8. Espionage rising
37:46 9. Secrets & GenAI pose new threats
42:06 10. Eye-popping BEC losses
43:50 Why This Matters
10:29 Final takeaway
50:32 sponsorship - Cybersecurity Growth Merch Store
51:00 upcoming shows
52:01 That’s a Wrap
* Cybersecuritygrowth.com and cybersecuritygrowth.com/webcasts
* Live on members.cybersecuritygrowth.com bi-weekly, Fridays at 2:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM PT, 6:30 PM GMT in your pod feeds a few days later.
🔐 Hire a cybersecurity consultant or vCISO: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/services
🟢 Free Blogs, Videos and Podcasts: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/webcasts/
👥 Become a Member of our Self-paced Cybersecurity Training & Community: https://members.cybersecuritygrowth.com/
👕 Get your Cybersecurity Growth Merch: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com/store/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CYBERSECURITY GROWTH SOCIALS
Website: https://cybersecuritygrowth.com
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cybersecgrowth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100066411043800/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cybersecurity-growth

SHAWN'S MUSIC SOCIALS
Website: https://musicbysv.com/
Spartan Valley (Shawn's artist site): https://spartanvalley.band/
Octavate (Shawn's other music project): https://www.octavate.band/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6SN1n1xhWt0ztYaJbGSwgu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicbysv_
https://www.instagram.com/spartanvalleysv/
https://www.instagram.com/octavate.band/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@musicbysv_
https://www.tiktok.com/@octavate
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnValleMusic
https://www.facebook.com/SpartanValley
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/musicbysv/
Twitter: https://x.com/SpartanValleySV
https://x.com/MusicBySV
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCtSunTJ6P4SmOp7xVZcwPhg
https://www.youtube.com/@UCZJ97aWQYeNXymaJ47wfNCg
https://www.youtube.com/@UCkZM2hGPY25KdDV15kSGSgg