Root To CISO
Do you aspire to become a Chief Information Security Officer?
The Root to CISO podcast provides firsthand career stories from experienced CISOs on their journey to success in the cybersecurity industry. Offering valuable guidance for aspiring professionals in the field through personal experiences and practical advice.
Episodes
74 episodes
AI Won't Steal Your Job... But Those Who Use It Might | With Yonesy Nunez | Root To CISO Podcast
Are you worried that AI is going to take your job? This episode is a must listen. Recorded live from the ServiceNow conference, with Yonesy Nunez, CISO at Surf AI, this episode explores how AI is reshaping cybersecurity careers, and...
How to Actually Stand Out in a Competitive Cyber Job Market | Root To CISO Podcast
Breaking into a CISO role, or even landing the interview, requires more than just hitting “apply.” In this bite-sized highlight, Kristina Belnap, Don Baham, and Ben Harris share real-world insights on what actually works (and what doesn’t) in t...
What Top Cyber Leaders Would Tell Their Younger Selves | Root To CISO Podcast
What would today’s cybersecurity leaders tell their younger selves? In this bite-sized highlight, Melina Scotto, Chris Carter, and Will Gregorian share powerful reflections on the lessons that shaped their careers—from practicing patience and a...
Mythos, Glasswing and the CSA Whitepaper | Root To CISO Podcast
Mythos, Glasswing and the CSA Whitepaper | Root To CISO Podcast
Landing Your First Cybersecurity Role | Highlights from the Root To CISO Podcast
In this byte-sized episode of The Root To CISO Podcast, we bring together insights from Margarita Rivera, Greg Rogers, and John Yeoh on what it really takes to land your first cybersecurity role and build toward a future as a CISO. From leverag...
The Professionals Who Win in the AI Era | Root To CISO Podcast
In this Root to CISO Byte Size episode recorded live at RSA, Yonesy Nunez joins the conversation to explore the growing impact of AI on cybersecurity careers. While many professionals feel uncertainty about AI’s role, Yonesy shares a powerful p...
Stand Out by Being Yourself in Cybersecurity | Root To CISO Podcast
In this episode of Root to CISO Byte Size, Dave Ruiz shares why authenticity is one of the most powerful and overlooked drivers of career growth in cybersecurity. Drawing on his background in military service and critical infrastructure, Davey ...
Building Your Career With Smart AI Use | Root To CISO Podcast
In this episode of Root to CISO Byte Size, Ben Harris shares why there has never been a better time to accelerate your learning and career using AI. From rapidly building deep knowledge in new domains to creating personal tools like job search ...
Closing the Skills Gap the Smart Way | Cybersecurity | Root To CISO Podcast
In this episode of Root to CISO Byte Size, Kayne McGladrey shares practical insights on how cybersecurity professionals can align technical skills with business priorities to strengthen their impact. From conducting meaningful skills gap analys...
The New Reality of Cybersecurity Hiring | With Alexis Gerst | Root To CISO Podcast
In this Byte-Size episode of The Root to CISO Podcast, Kris Rides is joined by Alexis Gerst of Defense Unicorns to explore how cybersecurity hiring has fundamentally changed. From AI-driven application floods to identity misrepresentation and i...
How CISOs Create Real Business Value | With CISO Nick Bruno | Root To CISO Podcast
In this bite-size episode of The Root To CISO Podcast, Kris Rides sits down with Nick Bruno to explore how cybersecurity leaders can create meaningful business impact. The conversation focuses on aligning security initiatives with executive pri...
Building Your Cybersecurity Network | With Greg Rogers | Root to CISO Podcast
In this bite-size episode of The Root To CISO Podcast, Kris Rides and Greg Rogers dive into how cybersecurity professionals can get real value from conferences. The conversation focuses entirely on conferences, from starting with local meetups ...
The Mindset That Accelerates a Cybersecurity Career | Root To CISO Podcast
In this Byte-Size episode of Root To CISO, Kris Rides chats with Nick Demeo from the InfoSec World expo floor about making intentional cybersecurity career moves. They explore why mindset, EQ, and situational awareness often matter more than te...
Happy New Year! A Message of Thanks and Remembrance | Root To CISO Podcast
This short message is a pause from our regular programming to reflect, remember, and give thanks. In this episode, Kris shares appreciation for the Root To CISO community and honors members of the cybersecurity industry we’ve recently lost. We’...
Cyber Careers Today: AI, Burnout & What Comes Next | Root To CISO Podcast
Recorded live from InfoSec World in Orlando, this Root To CISO Byte-Size episode features a candid conversation between Kris Rides and Michael Powell on the realities facing today’s cybersecurity professionals. From rapid AI adoption and shadow...
Root to CISO: Rural Risk, AI Skills & Community Defense | Root To CISO Podcast
In this byte-size episode, Kris Rides sits down with longtime friend John Yeoh, Chief Scientific Officer at the Cloud Security Alliance, immediately following their keynote at the North Central Washington Cybersecurity Summit. Together, they ex...
Managing Stress In Cybersecurity | With Anil Karmel | Root To CISO Podcast
In this Byte Size episode, Kris sits down with cybersecurity entrepreneur Anil Karmel to unpack one of the most asked-about topics in the industry: how to manage stress and pressure in high-stakes environments. Recorded live at the North Centra...
AI in Cybersecurity: Opportunities and What to Know | Root To CISO Podcast
In this Byte-Size Episode, Kris Rides chats with cybersecurity leader Jenai Marinkovic, President & Co-Founder of GRCIE, during the North Central Washington Cybersecurity Summit. Together, they explore how AI is transforming every layer of ...
Own the Losses, Share the Wins | Cybersecurity Career Advice | Root to CISO Podcast
In this highlight from The Root to CISO Podcast, host Kris Rides speaks with Amanda Hartle, CSO and CIO at Prove Identity, about one of the most important leadership lessons she’s learned — and the advice she wishes she could give her younger s...
Building Trust and Balance in Cybersecurity Leadership | Root To CISO Podcast
In this episode of The Root to CISO Podcast, host Kris Rides sits down with Andrew Wilder, cybersecurity leader and former CISO at Nestlé, to discuss how he made the leap from enterprise security to his first CISO role. Andrew shares how moving...
You Don’t Need 10 Certifications to Get Hired in Cybersecurity | Root To CISO Podcast
CISO Barbee Mooneyhan joins The Root to CISO Podcast to discuss what truly matters when building a cybersecurity career — and it’s not just degrees or certifications. Barbee explains why hands-on experience, community involvement, ...
Cybersecurity: Soft Skills for Success | Root To CISO Podcast
In this highlight clip, CISO Don Baham shares why soft skills are just as critical as technical expertise in cybersecurity hiring. From problem-solving and emotional intelligence to learning how to “figure things out,” Don explains what truly m...
Breaking Into Cybersecurity: Skills and Certs That Get You Hired | Root To CISO Podcast
In this highlight from The Root to CISO Podcast, Global CISO of Carnival Cruises, Margarita Rivera, shares how she transitioned into cybersecurity without a technical background — and how transferable skills, a strong business mindset, and cont...
Career Growth in Cybersecurity | CISO Wisdom from Lori Anello | Root To CISO Podcast
In this Root to CISO highlight, Lori Anello shares the advice she wishes she could give her younger self: don’t let fear hold you back. From taking risks to embracing opportunities, Lori explains why careers in cybersecurity are never a straigh...