S4:E45AI RECAP 🎙 Live with Coach BZ

Hi, I'm John Maxwell. When the top companies in the world are looking for trainers, speakers, and coaches, there's one name that stands above the rest, and that's Maxwell Leadership. Our certified team members have gotten proven results for companies all over the globe, and our reputation, I'm proud to say, is second to none. Some of our members have risen to the top of their profession, including the one you're going to meet today. I proudly introduce you to my friend, Bob Fabien Zinga.

Welcome to the Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach Beezy. If you need to develop into a better leader, this podcast is for you. If you want to achieve a greater level of success, this podcast is for you. His mentor, Dr. John C. Maxwell, said it best: everything rises and falls on leadership. We hope to inspire you today and provide you with an insight that has the potential to positively impact the trajectory of your life. Welcome to the Leadership and Success Podcast.

Imagine gaining the leadership skills that could redefine your career. Join Coach BZ on the Leadership and Success Podcast, where each episode delivers practical insights from world-class speakers, military leaders, and industry experts. We dive deep into what matters most: building resilient teams, leading through uncertainty, authenticity and navigating complexity with clarity and confidence. Every conversation is crafted for aspiring leaders like you who are ready to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact. Don't miss our powerful live sessions and recent highlights. Michelle Hayward on building diverse, high-performing technical teams. Anne Leslie on leading through global complexity and cybersecurity risk. Ron Carpenter AI exploring faith resilience, and AI-powered leadership. Colonel Michelle G.I. Gardner-Intz on commanding influence from the battlefield to the boardroom. Chris Robinson on shifting from drift to drive in life and leadership. And Coach Enrique Acosta Gonzalez on mentorship, legacy, and heart-centered leadership. Ready to level up your leadership journey? Tune in on Spotify, Apple, Audible Podcasts, YouTube Live, and LinkedIn Live. Join the movement toward leadership excellence. Listen now and start transforming your success.

This is just amazing how essential leadership is. And right now in 2025, with all of the disruptions that AI brought and all of that, I am telling you, we are going to need, I think, in the future, people who have leadership skills, people who can lead organizations or software and deploy them and that kind of thing. People who know how to deal with other people. It's like the synergies that you get by working as a team, so much greater. Than the effort of each individual person separately. And I think those are skills that are becoming more and more crucial going forward. So I see leadership changing around the world. As cybersecurity professionals, we'll have to become better leaders, not just good technically in their field. And we've done very well in that, but we cannot be single-focused. We cannot be silos, right? I think going forward, as far as leadership is concerned, influence we need to be able to influence all of the other business leaders across the enterprise, all of the other business— hardware and all of that. So you don't even have to be a country, you don't have to be a nation state, you can just be one individual. You could spend maybe $5,000 or something and you can build something that is powerful enough where you can do a lot of damage. So We are living in a world now where I think with the advancement of AI, emerging technology and all of that, where it is becoming easier and easier for people to use the tools available to them to cause great harm. And the problem with being a CISO is you have to be right 100% of the time, but the bad guy only has to be right one time. If they can succeed just at one time, they could take the entire service down. So it's, It is very, very challenging. It is not easy. But I think as a security leader, you need to do the very best you can to really influence your peers and senior management, senior leadership of your organization. You really need a true seat at the table. In many organizations, I've been here, they say the CISO is an executive, the chief something. But in reality, it's not the C-level anything. It's just a director or a senior director. In reality because they're not even invited at some of the meetings that are critical for the strategic goals of the company, which doesn't make any sense. So I guess you have to bring in your own chair if you have to, but at least you have to be in the room. Even if you don't say anything, you at least need to know what the company is doing, where they are heading so that you can come up with a plan to have mitigation controls in place to safeguard the data of your companies. So I think it's important if you are a CISO to be a real CISO, and that C really needs to mean something. And I think it starts with influencing your peers and all of the other people across your organization, right? You have to be visible and you have to have a desire to be helpful. I don't know if I may have mentioned that earlier, but one of the first jobs I had here in Silicon Valley, it was impossible to find the security team. You couldn't find us anywhere. Because, you know, like in Silicon Valley, in most companies, it's almost like it was architected by the same architect. It's like open space. Everybody has those desks there and working together. Now, senior management, like the CEO, may have his own office or something. But even in many startups, the CEO is even out there with everybody else. But in this company, security was nowhere to be found.

You had to go Welcome everyone to our conversation on cybersecurity leadership in this dangerous digital era. We're exploring how leaders in cybersecurity are evolving, blending technology, leadership, and business acumen to not just defend, but also drive value.

Absolutely, it's such a dynamic field. With threats evolving like AI-enabled attacks and quantum computing on the horizon, It's, um, really interesting how leadership is playing a critical role.

Right, exactly. The article lays it out very clearly. It's like, um, technology on one side, top-notch leadership in the middle, and then solid business acumen on the other. Without all three, you're kind of stuck. It's essential to see that cybersecurity isn't just about firewalls and patches anymore.

Yeah, you know, it used to be that a CISO was just a tech guy with an eye on the network, but now they have to be Well, a strategist who actually speaks the boardroom language.

Exactly. And what really strikes me is that evolution. Originally, most cybersecurity leaders came up as technicians, but now they're required to demonstrate how security initiatives actually shorten sales cycles, strengthen trust, and even boost revenue. It's like they have to bridge the technical with the strategic.

That reminds me of the Silicon Valley startup example mentioned. Cutting the deal cycle from 3 or 4 months down to just 30 days by integrating security into initial customer conversations. Now that's impressive.

Totally. And it's like, um, securing the digital world isn't just a technical mission, but one that demands a holistic approach. Mission first, people always. This mantra really underpins it all. When leaders truly care for their team, Suddenly everyone's motivated and even the most mundane tasks start to contribute to a bigger picture.

Right. And you see that in both military and corporate settings. In the Navy, they instill values like honor, courage, and commitment at a molecule level. In the business world though, those values sometimes just sit on posters and don't translate into real behavior.

Exactly. And that's where servant leadership comes into play. When leaders invest in their people and let them have some skin in the game, those team members become true champions of security. They're not just doing the bare minimum. They're all in.

You know, there's also that interesting point about cybersecurity influence being, well, the currency of leadership. Without direct authority, since a CISO often must rely on influencing other departments, emotional intelligence and clear communication become absolutely crucial.

Absolutely. It's like John Maxwell said, leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. And if you're not communicating risks in ways that resonate with business impacts, like revenue loss or brand trust, then you're just not cutting it. It all boils down to being a translator between technical issues and higher-level business strategy.

Exactly. And I do wonder, though, don't you think sometimes that overemphasis on business metrics might you know, sideline the real technical risks? I mean, if you always frame it in terms of revenue, could that dilute the seriousness of a potential catastrophic breach?

That's a fair challenge, and I get where you're coming from. But actually, it's not about diluting risks. It's about contextualizing them. When you say, "This vulnerability could delay revenue recognition," rather than quoting a CVE number, It, um, makes it tangible for executives who might not be familiar with the technical jargon. It's a strategic translation that brings everyone on the same page.

I see what you mean, and it does make the value of the cybersecurity investment more apparent to non-tech stakeholders.

Exactly. And you know, the article also touches on one more key point, the need for continuous learning. In this rapidly evolving space, Staying curious and adapting is non-negotiable. Today's best practices can quickly become yesterday's news.

Right. And that holds true even for leaders themselves. It's like you have to be a constant student too, learning about new AI capabilities, emerging quantum risks, and even refining your own leadership style to keep up.

Yes, exactly. It's like having an AI twin coach for cybersecurity. Um, one that helps you learn and adapt continuously. And speaking of AI, the piece really dives into how adversaries are using AI too, making the stakes even higher. Recognizing that threat means you've got to harness AI defensively too.

Yeah, and, um, it's not just AI, it's also the supply chain risks. The SolarWinds example completely changed how we view upstream vulnerabilities, didn't it?

Absolutely. The interconnectivity of today's global network means one weak link in the supply chain can jeopardize an entire corporation, if not more. That's why security leadership now isn't isolated. It's integrated across all functions, almost like a team sport.

Right.

Each department has to be a stakeholder in security.

Totally. And that connection is where culture comes into play. When leadership models the behavior they want to see, when core values are lived out authentically, it transforms an organization. When leaders care about their people, then teams are motivated to go that extra mile.

Definitely. It's like the examples where military teams are ready to, um, sacrifice for the common mission. That level of loyalty and trust, when replicated in a corporate setting, really sets the stage for effective cybersecurity. And you know, it's that one team, one fight mentality.

I really appreciate that idea because so many times we see tech leaders working in silos while the real impact comes from collaboration across every part of the organization.

Exactly. And another interesting take from the article is how even when resources are constrained, doing more with less becomes a test of true leadership. It's not just about having the budget. It's about being resourceful, building those cross-functional relationships, and using your influence to secure what you need.

Yeah.

It's the art of maximizing impact with what you have.

For sure. And that's tough because sometimes the security team is seen as a cost center rather than a value creator. Shifting that mindset, especially among board members and other C-suite executives, is a huge part of the challenge.

Absolutely, and that's why real communication is so critical. Transforming abstract risks into tangible business impacts, and even demonstrating that through clear KPIs, like the startup example where they reduced the deal cycle, is powerful. Mhm. That speaks the language of the board and investors alike.

Yeah, and I think that really reaffirms the point that cybersecurity is, um, an enabler for business rather than just a defensive shield. When leaders build security into the business framework, they're actually driving growth.

That's right. And it requires a mindset shift, moving from just patching vulnerabilities to driving strategic initiatives. It's like being both the guardian and the innovator at the same time.

Yes.

It's the new paradigm of cybersecurity leadership.

Now, I want to touch on the point of diversity that was raised too. Having a team with diverse thoughts, not just in demographics, but in experience and background, is essential in breaking the echo chamber and spotting blind spots.

Absolutely. It's like, um, you need a diverse toolbox. Without diversity, everyone thinks the same way, and then you can miss critical threats. Having that variety of perspectives makes your decision-making as robust as possible, and it also fosters psychological safety so people can Um, speak up without fear.

Right. Creating an environment where people feel comfortable raising concerns and challenging assumptions can be a game changer when facing unpredictable cybersecurity threats.

Exactly. And that loops back around to servant leadership. You know, leadership isn't about being the smartest person in the room. It's about orchestrating the smartest moves, learning from mistakes, and empowering others. If you're too caught up in being right, you'll miss the opportunity to learn and grow with your team.

I totally agree. And on that note, what would you say is the one immediate action a cybersecurity leader should take tomorrow morning?

Well, I would say, um, lean into AI, understand it, experiment with it in safe environments, and use it to bolster your defenses. At the same time, elevate your role by translating technical risks into business impacts. And of course, invest in your people because ultimately it's the human element that makes the difference. That trifecta is key.

Yeah, right. It's really about being proactive, not reactive, and recognizing that as much as the threats are evolving, the opportunities are as well. If you harness the right strategies, you not only prevent crises but also enable growth.

Exactly. It's like setting the stage where security becomes an intrinsic part of the business DNA. Empathy, communication, and continuous learning—these are not optional extras. They're the very foundation of effective cybersecurity leadership. And it's, um, pretty inspiring when you think about it. You?

Absolutely inspiring indeed. But you know, I do want to challenge one point. Sometimes I've seen leaders focus too much on hooking up with technology trends and not enough on the deep-rooted cultural change that's needed. How do you balance that? Good question.

I'd say it's all about balance. Yes, you must stay abreast of emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing, but that's only half the battle. The real challenge is creating a resilient culture where people are trusted, empowered, and treated as true partners. Yeah, without that, no tech will cover the gaps.

I see your point. Technology might be cutting edge, but without a solid foundation of leadership and culture, It's like building a house on sand. Right on.

And look, the takeaway here is clear. Cybersecurity leaders today must be versatile. They need to guide not solely with technical acumen, but with a blend of strategic insight, empathy, and business savvy. Mm-hmm. That's how you secure not only networks, but also trust and growth.

Well said. This blend of servant leadership, continuous learning, and strategic thinking is really the recipe for success in an ever-dangerous digital world.

Exactly. And remember, mission first, people always. Leaders who live up to that inspire their teams to exceed expectations even in the most challenging times. Yeah. And that's what makes a true cybersecurity leader.

Well, it's been an enlightening chat. Thanks for breaking down these crucial aspects with such clarity and passion.

Thank you for joining in. It's, um, All about staying curious, being resourceful, and always leading with integrity. Until next time, keep pushing the boundaries of leadership in cybersecurity. Absolutely.

Stay safe and stay strategic.

We still need to make sure we put those security things in place. Right. When I was there, I kid you not, we were being attacked hundreds of thousands of times, almost a million times every single day. So What we were able to do to show to the commandant of the base there is, okay, look, we get attacked this much and this is only what came through, but look at what our technology is able to stop. And I was able to prove that by going through the logs of our IPS. And then we updated our whitelist often and we did a lot of things to prevent exploitation of our crown jewel of our data. But what I'm saying is, try to think outside of the box and think of ways where you can prove that, yes, the budget you are spending in the security program, it is adding a lot of value, and this is the value it is adding. I think that makes a huge, huge difference.

Relevance and value, right?

And it's not just for security. It's for any organization in the business. Absolutely.

You have to be able to show that.

We are not immune from that. We can't just use fear.

Oh, there's bad things going to happen. We actually have to show it over time if we want to be sustainable.

Yeah, I want to talk about fear, right? There is a thing called fear, uncertainty, and what is the—

Thank you for listening to the Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach BZ. If you like what you heard, please subscribe to our channels and come back for more wisdom nuggets on how you may develop into a better leader and achieve greater levels of success. Leadership is the most critical skill. The world will always need leaders to lead others, deploy the next disruptive technology, or execute a business strategy. You may as well decide on counting yourself among the 21st century leaders. See you right here next time on the Leadership and Success Podcast with Coach BZ.