Podcasts about brand stories

In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler brings together motivational comedian and storytelling coach Chris Grimes and structural scalability expert Brad Fisher for a spontaneous, free-flowing conversation about story, leadership, presence, improvisation, personal growth, and the bridges between creativity and organizational transformation. What begins as a playful meeting between two strangers quickly evolves into a deep exploration of how stories shape who we are, how we lead, and how we help others make meaningful transitions in business and in life.Topics Covered• Why asking tell me your story creates instant connection and trust• How deep listening unlocks meaningful conversations• The role of presence and improvisation in leadership and communication• Chris Grimes on The Good Listening To Show and his story framework• Brad Fisher on structural scalability, the second leap, and transforming businesses• How to find your island B and define what you really want next• The power of letting go, delegation, and moving from how to who• Legacy, purpose, creativity, and finding your flow state• Storytelling as a tool for coaching, leadership, and personal transformation• Balancing business growth with authenticity and well-beingTimestamps00:00 Introduction00:56 Why Tell Me Your Story Works01:33 Deep Listening and The Good Listening To Show02:00 Purpose, Flow, and Alchemy02:47 Story as the Golden Thread03:21 Introducing Chris Grimes and Brad Fisher06:10 The Art of Skip Diving08:00 Dog Psychology and Early Notes09:55 First Impressions: Guessing Each Other's Work12:09 What Is a Motivational Comedian14:01 How Improv Changes Communication16:29 Eyes on Springs and Presence18:00 Teaching Spontaneity and the Clock of Now20:00 Tell Me Your Story as a Leadership Tool22:23 Legacy Life Reflections and Capturing Stories24:09 StoryCorps and Shared Human Stories26:34 How the Legacy Framework Works28:00 Brand Stories, Founder Stories, Leadership Stories30:24 Story Structures and 5 4 3 2 133:00 Alchemy, Gold, and the Cake34:09 How Brad Builds Stories With Clients37:01 Brad's Framework and the Second Leap39:00 Stage One Companies vs Stage Two Companies41:00 The Six Scalability42:53 Second Curves and Reinventing Yourself44:56 Courage, Change, and Revealing What's Already There46:12 Leading With Presence and Letting the Team Step Up48:00 Island A vs Island B50:17 Who Not How and Shifting Your Mindset51:00 Chris's Podcast Growth and Distribution53:00 Becoming a Digital Nomad Broadcaster55:00 What to Stop Doing: Busyness vs Flow57:00 Building Support Around the Creative Work59:00 Self-Compassion and Reducing Pressure01:01:00 Following the Soul Chime01:02:00 Building vs Extracting Stories01:03:00 Creativity in the Known and Unknown

In meinem Interview mit Jeanne Topp sprechen wir über ihren Schritt aus der Beamten-Sicherheit in die Selbstständigkeit als Life-Coach für alleinerziehende Mütter. Jeanne kann sich nicht so recht entscheiden, welchen Berufsweg sie einschlagen soll. Von Hutmacherin über Posterin, Kinderärztin, BWL begeistert sie Vieles. Auch Innenarchitektur interessiert sie sehr und sie beschließt, ein 6-wöchiges Praktikum auf dem Bau zu absolvieren. Diese Zeit war sehr hart und hat sie bis heute geprägt. Sie beschließt, Sport zu studieren und wechselt zur Grundschullehramt. 15 Jahre lang arbeitet sie in diesem Beruf. Die Arbeit mit den Kindern, insbesondere die Freude und A-Ha-Momente zu erleben, erfüllt sie. Sie selbst lernt dadurch, die Welt wieder mit anderen Augen zu sehen. Sie gibt sich selbst das Versprechen, ihren Beruf zu verlassen, wenn sie sich nicht mehr abgrenzen kann und abzustumpfen beginnt. Als Corona den Schul-Alltag verändert und sie immer wieder an Systemgrenzen stößt, verliert sie ihren Idealismus. Damit ist der Zeitpunkt gekommen, steigt aus und wagt den Schritt in die Selbstständigkeit. Wir sprechen über ihren Alltag als Lehrerin und was die Arbeit mit ihr gemacht hat. Jeanne beschreibt, welche Zwischenstufe sie bis zu ihrer heutigen Positionierung gehen musste, um sich endgültig zu lösen. Ihr Umfeld reagiert mit Unverständnis und Ablehnung. Nach den Lehrern fokussiert sie sich als Life-Coach auf alleinerziehende Mütter. Jeanne erzählt, wie sie ihren Start in die Selbstständigkeit erlebt hat, was sie herausfordert und wie ihr Umfeld reagiert hat. Besonders prägend war für sie die Selbstverantwortung und ihre neue Beziehung zu Geld. Außerdem beschreibt sie, was sie noch vor hat. Sie sagt: „Lass dir nie einreden, dass du etwas nicht kannst.“Möchtest du mehr über Jeanne und ihre Arbeit erfahren? Hier ist der Link zu ihrer WebseiteVernetz dich mit ihr auf LinkedIn und auf Instagram.Möchtest du mehr über meine Arbeit und über mich erfahren? Dann schau auf meine Webseite und Lebensgeschichten-Verlag oder vereinbare direkt einen Termin mit mir.Verpasse keine meiner Podcast Folgen und abonniere meinen Podcast auf Spotify oder iTunes Hat dir die Folge gefallen? Dann würde ich mich sehr freuen, wenn du meinen Podcast bewertest Vernetze dich mit mir auf LinkedIn und folge mir auf Instagram.Support the show

This episode focuses on a security incident that prompts an honest discussion about transparency, preparedness, and the importance of strong processes. Sean Martin speaks with Viktor Petersson, Founder and CEO of Screenly, who shares how his team approaches digital signage security and how a recent alert from their bug bounty program helped validate the strength of their culture and workflows.Screenly provides a secure digital signage platform used by organizations that care deeply about device integrity, uptime, and lifecycle management. Healthcare facilities, financial services, and even NASA rely on these displays, which makes the security posture supporting them a priority. Viktor outlines why security functions best when embedded into culture rather than treated as a compliance checkbox. His team actively invests in continuous testing, including a structured bug bounty program that generates a steady flow of findings.The conversation centers on a real event: a report claiming that more than a thousand user accounts appeared in a public leak repository. Instead of assuming the worst or dismissing the claim, the team mobilized within hours. They validated the dataset, built correlation tooling, analyzed how many records were legitimate, and immediately reset affected accounts. Once they ruled out a breach of their systems, they traced the issue to compromised end user devices associated with previously known credential harvesting incidents.This scenario demonstrates how a strong internal process helps guide the team through verification, containment, and communication. Viktor emphasizes that optional security features only work when customers use them, which is why Screenly is moving to passwordless authentication using magic links. Removing passwords eliminates the attack vector entirely, improving security for customers without adding friction.For listeners, this episode offers a clear look at what rapid response discipline looks like, how bug bounty reports can add meaningful value, and why passwordless authentication is becoming a practical way forward for SaaS platforms. It is a timely reminder that transparency builds trust, and security culture determines how confidently a team can navigate unexpected events.Learn more about Screenly: https://itspm.ag/screenly1oNote: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.GUESTViktor Petersson, Co-founder of Screenly | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vpetersson/RESOURCESLearn more and catch more stories from Screenly: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/screenlyLinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vpetersson_screenly-security-incident-response-how-activity-7393741638918971392-otkkBlog: Security Incident Response: How We Investigated a Data Leak and What We're Doing Next: https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/11/10/security-incident-response-magic-links/Are you interested in telling your story?▶︎ Full Length Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#full▶︎ Spotlight Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#spotlightKeywords: sean martin, marco ciappelli, viktor petersson, security, authentication, bugbounty, signage, incidentresponse, breaches, cybersecurity, brand story, brand marketing, marketing podcast, brand story podcast, brand spotlight Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode focuses on a security incident that prompts an honest discussion about transparency, preparedness, and the importance of strong processes. Sean Martin speaks with Viktor Petersson, Founder and CEO of Screenly, who shares how his team approaches digital signage security and how a recent alert from their bug bounty program helped validate the strength of their culture and workflows.Screenly provides a secure digital signage platform used by organizations that care deeply about device integrity, uptime, and lifecycle management. Healthcare facilities, financial services, and even NASA rely on these displays, which makes the security posture supporting them a priority. Viktor outlines why security functions best when embedded into culture rather than treated as a compliance checkbox. His team actively invests in continuous testing, including a structured bug bounty program that generates a steady flow of findings.The conversation centers on a real event: a report claiming that more than a thousand user accounts appeared in a public leak repository. Instead of assuming the worst or dismissing the claim, the team mobilized within hours. They validated the dataset, built correlation tooling, analyzed how many records were legitimate, and immediately reset affected accounts. Once they ruled out a breach of their systems, they traced the issue to compromised end user devices associated with previously known credential harvesting incidents.This scenario demonstrates how a strong internal process helps guide the team through verification, containment, and communication. Viktor emphasizes that optional security features only work when customers use them, which is why Screenly is moving to passwordless authentication using magic links. Removing passwords eliminates the attack vector entirely, improving security for customers without adding friction.For listeners, this episode offers a clear look at what rapid response discipline looks like, how bug bounty reports can add meaningful value, and why passwordless authentication is becoming a practical way forward for SaaS platforms. It is a timely reminder that transparency builds trust, and security culture determines how confidently a team can navigate unexpected events.Learn more about Screenly: https://itspm.ag/screenly1oNote: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.GUESTViktor Petersson, Co-founder of Screenly | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vpetersson/RESOURCESLearn more and catch more stories from Screenly: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/screenlyLinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vpetersson_screenly-security-incident-response-how-activity-7393741638918971392-otkkBlog: Security Incident Response: How We Investigated a Data Leak and What We're Doing Next: https://www.screenly.io/blog/2025/11/10/security-incident-response-magic-links/Are you interested in telling your story?▶︎ Full Length Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#full▶︎ Spotlight Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#spotlightKeywords: sean martin, marco ciappelli, viktor petersson, security, authentication, bugbounty, signage, incidentresponse, breaches, cybersecurity, brand story, brand marketing, marketing podcast, brand story podcast, brand spotlight Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Solar Car That Charges Itself While You Live Your LifeGrowing up, I always wondered: why can't cars just recharge themselves as we drive? Turns out, someone finally built exactly that.Robert Hoevers and his team at Squad Mobility created a solar-powered city car that does something brilliantly simple—it charges itself. There's a solar panel on the roof that continuously feeds the battery whether you're parked at the grocery store, sitting in your driveway, or cruising around town.The engineering is impressive, but the user experience is even better. For most people living in sunny climates—anywhere between 45 degrees north and 45 degrees south latitude (roughly Spain to South Africa)—you'll never need to find a charging station. Ever.Here's the reality: the average person drives about 12 kilometers a day for daily errands. School runs, grocery shopping, meeting friends. The Squad solar car has a 150-kilometer maximum range, and the sun replenishes what you use. You just drive it, park it, and forget about charging infrastructure entirely.This is what smart urban mobility looks like. It's street legal with proper crash structures, seat belts, and rollover protection. It tops out at 45 or 70 kilometers per hour depending on which model you choose—fast enough for city streets, not built for highways. In Europe, you only need a moped license for the slower version.The design sits somewhere between a golf cart and a Smart car, which makes perfect sense. Squad isn't trying to replace your family vehicle. They're solving the "second car" problem—those short daily trips where driving a massive SUV feels ridiculous.The market is responding. Squad Mobility has over 5,300 pre-orders and secured 1.5 million euros in European subsidies. They're currently crowdfunding on Republic to bridge the final gap before production starts in about a year.What surprised me most? Ten percent of their pre-orders come from American gated communities and golf cart neighborhoods. These communities already understand the value of compact, efficient vehicles for daily errands. Squad just made them solar-powered and street legal.Yes, you need consistent sunlight. If you live in perpetually cloudy climates, you'll still need to plug in occasionally. But for millions of people in sunny regions tired of hunting for charging stations or paying electricity bills to charge their second car, Squad Mobility built the obvious solution that somehow nobody else did.Sometimes innovation isn't about reinventing the wheel. It's about putting a solar panel on the roof and letting the sun do the work.This is the future of urban mobility, and it's arriving next year. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In meinem Interview mit Sharon Makana sprechen wir über ihre Reisen, ihre Transformationen und das Leben selbst. Sharon wächst in einer multikulturellen Familie auf, in der ihre Eltern lange auf der Suche nach ihrem eigenen Sein sind. Schon früh stellt auch sie sich tiefgehende Fragen – und eckt damit bei anderen Kindern oft an.Artistik und Akrobatik faszinieren sie von klein auf, und ihr erster Berufswunsch ist es, Zirkusartistin zu werden. Sie lernt zu voltigieren und zu jonglieren. Dennoch entscheidet sie sich zunächst für den Weg als Lehrerin – bis sie schließlich mit ihrem Baby nach Thailand auswandert. Dort probiert sie vieles aus, was sie bis heute begleitet, und arbeitet auch wieder als Lehrerin.Als ihr Sohn zehn Jahre alt ist, brechen die beiden zu einer Weltreise auf und werden schließlich auf Hawaii sesshaft. Sharon erzählt, was sie dort erlebt, welchen Jobs sie nachgeht und was sie bis heute an die Insel bindet. Sie berichtet auch von einem ganz besonderen Erlebnis mit Buckelwalen.Heute arbeitet sie auf sehr unterschiedlichen Wegen mit ihren Kund*innen. Sie sagt über sich: „Ich bin Transformationsmanagerin – und so viel mehr.“ Menschen kommen zu ihr, weil sie von Sharons Lebensweg inspiriert sind und sich fragen: Was ist für mich sonst noch möglich? Immer wieder begibt sie sich selbst auf Reisen und bietet besondere, tiefgehende Erlebnisse an.Wir sprechen über die Wendepunkte in ihrem Leben – von denen es einige gab. Einer der wichtigsten war ihre Zeit bei den Tuareg in der Wüste, eine mehr als grenzwertige Erfahrung, die sie tief geprägt hat. Sie beschreibt, was sie dort erlebt hat und wie sehr diese Zeit sie verändert hat.Es geht um Ankommen und Loslassen, um Vergebung und darum, wie sie begann, echte Eigenverantwortung zu übernehmen. Ihr Leitsatz lautet: „Leb dein Leben!“Möchtest du mehr über Michaela und ihre Arbeit erfahren? Hier ist der Link zu ihrer Webseite und folge ihr auf Instagram Hier kannst du ihr Buch bestellen: e-Book https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0FZ44TBTNTaschenbuch https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0FZ4JMSXMHardcover https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0FZ4MS9MJMöchtest du mehr über meine Arbeit und über mich erfahren? Dann schau auf meine Webseite und Lebensgeschichten-Verlag oder vereinbare direkt einen Termin mit mir.Verpasse keine meiner Podcast Folgen und abonniere meinen Podcast auf Spotify oder iTunes Hat dir die Folge gefallen? Dann würde ich mich sehr freuen, wenn du meinen Podcast bewertest Vernetze dich mit mir auf LinkedIn und folge mir auf Instagram.Hier geht's zu den Shownotes Support the show

100 episodes in, one thing is clear: creativity is still human at its core. For our 100th episode, editor and educator Scott Witthaus returns to reflect on the creative industry, the importance of stepping away, the rise of AI, and why our humanity is still our greatest differentiator. This episode touches on finding clarity and inspiration outside of work, the danger of an “always-on” creative culture, and how AI is changing (not replacing) creative work.This is Brand Story, a podcast celebrating the stories of real people who are making an impact on brands, business, and the world around them. Episodes feature guests from a variety of backgrounds who bring their own unique perspectives to the conversation.Brand Story is created and produced by Gravity Group, a full-service brand and marketing agency, and is hosted by Gravity Group President, Steve Gilman.Links and Information From the Episode Here: gravitygroup.com/podcast/the-creative-reset/Continue the conversation on social:For more of Brand Story, check out our LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gravitygroupmarketing), where we'll post previews and highlights of shows, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, plus other marketing news you can use.We're also on: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/gravitygroupFacebook — https://www.facebook.com/gravitygroupmarketing(0:00) Mentoring and Industry Insights(2:58) The Importance of Taking Breaks(6:02) Travel and Storytelling(12:33) Mentoring the Next Generation(15:34) AI's Impact on Creativity(18:01) Human Touch in Storytelling(31:12) The Role of AI in Storytelling(37:09) Human Experience Design and Its Importance(41:45) The Inspiration Series: Human Stories in Advertising(48:11) Giving Back: Nonprofits and Community Engagement

Send us a textLong after most bakeries close, Insomnia Cookies comes to life, satisfying the late-night cravings of students and sweet-tooth fans alike. Founded in 2003 in a University of Pennsylvania dorm room, the brand has transformed a simple idea into a full-fledged movement, growing to more than 350 locations globally and earning millions of devoted fans worldwide. In a recent conversation, Loyalty360 CEO Mark Johnson spoke with David Salama, Chief Digital Officer at Insomnia Cookies, about how the brand is using digital innovation and a redesigned loyalty program to turn transactions into touchpoints, and fans—which the brand calls its ‘Insomniacs'— into a thriving community. By blending technology and creativity, Insomnia Cookies continues to prove that emotional loyalty can be just as powerful (and satisfying) as the perfect chocolate chip cookie. 

Are you leaving money on the table? Marcus breaks down event photography, a high value, high pressure genre that perfectly complements your commercial photography marketing. Learn how to capture the atmosphere and emotion that brands need for their future campaigns.• The Preparation Blueprint: Discover the essential questions you must ask your client before the day begins to guarantee you capture the client's full vision.• The Gear Guarantee: Discover the essential equipment setup you must adopt to guarantee reliability and professional results in unpredictable, low light venues.• The Relationship Advantage: Learn the powerful, simple strategy borrowed from wedding experts that helps you turn venues and speakers into your best source of repeat bookings.

In meinem Interview mit Inga Wolter sprechen wir über ihr Leben als digitale Nomadin und über ihre Wurzeln. Inga wächst in Ostwestfalen in der Nähe von Bielefeld auf. Sie beschreibt ihre Kindheit als unbeschwert und voller Abenteuer. Schon früh träumt sie davon, Reisejournalistin zu werden und ein Buch zu schreiben. Obwohl sie sich auch andere Berufe vorstellen kann, schlägt sie den Weg in den Journalismus ein. Nach ihrem Volontariat arbeitet sie bei verschiedenen Regionalzeitungen.Als sich während der Pandemie die Arbeitsbedingungen verändern und Inga gesundheitliche Probleme bekommt, beschließt sie gemeinsam mit ihrem Mann, etwas zu verändern. Sie starten im Frühjahr 2022 in Ingas Corsa, der ihnen anderthalb Jahre die Treue hält. Ihr Abenteuer beginnt in einer Villa in Barcelona, in der sie mit einer bunt gemischten Gemeinschaft zusammenleben.Sie beschreibt, wie sie diese Anfänge erlebt hat und was es mit ihr gemacht hat, als digitale Nomadin zu leben. Inga reflektiert ihre Rolle und stellt sich die Frage: „Wer bin ich wirklich?“ Dabei beschäftigt sie sich auch damit, welchen Anforderungen sie immer gerecht werden wollte. Dann beginnt sie, sich ihren zweiten Traum zu erfüllen, und fängt an, ihr Buch zu schreiben.Außerdem sprechen wir darüber, wie sie ihre Kunden gewinnt, was ihnen wichtig ist und worauf man achten sollte. Inga erzählt, was sie in den letzten drei Jahren als digitale Nomadin erlebt hat, was sie daran begeistert – und was ihr fehlt. Dazu gehört das Tanzen, das ein wichtiger Teil ihres Lebens ist und auch eine Hauptrolle in ihrem Buch spielt.Ihr Impuls zum Reisen: Reise lieber langsam – und nicht um des Reisens willen. Sie sagt: „Ich glaube, dass wir mehr Erfahrungen machen, wenn wir nicht einen Ort nach dem anderen abklappern und langsamer reisen.“ Möchtest du mehr über Inga und ihre Arbeit erfahren? Hier ist der Link zu ihrer Webseite. Vernetz dich mit ihr auf LinkedInund auf Instagram. Möchtest du mehr über meine Arbeit und über mich erfahren? Dann schau auf meine Webseite  und Lebensgeschichten-Verlag oder vereinbare direkt einen Termin mit mir. Verpasse keine meiner Podcast Folgen und abonniere meinen Podcast auf Spotify oder iTunes Hat dir die Folge gefallen? Dann würde ich mich sehr freuen, wenn du meinen Podcast bewertest Vernetze dich mit mir auf LinkedIn und folge mir auf Instagram.Hier geht's zu den Shownotes Support the show

Every marketer talks about "telling better stories," but what does that really mean for your brand?In this episode of The Unified Brand Podcast, we break down the strategic anatomy of brand storytelling — why it's far more than poetic taglines or clever About pages, and how it's the key to building loyalty that lasts.We explore:Why storytelling works on a psychological and emotional level4 core brand story pillars: Origin, Mission, Arc, and Customer RoleHow brands like Patagonia, Nike, and Hiut Denim embed narrative in everything they doThe biggest mistake brands make with storytelling (and how to fix it)How to embed story-driven messaging across every touchpoint, from TikToks to packagingIf you want your brand to be unforgettable—not because it's loud, but because it's real—this episode is your guide to making story your greatest brand asset.

Send us a textAs customer expectations shift and loyalty programs across industries evolve, Carnival Cruise Line is setting a new course for what engagement can look like at sea. Building on over 50 years of guest passion and brand recognition, the company is introducing an entirely new loyalty framework that mirrors the sophistication of leading airline and hotel programs, while keeping the fun, inclusive spirit that defines the Carnival experience. At the helm of this transformation is Sidharth Krishna, Vice President of Loyalty, who brings deep expertise from the airline industry and a clear vision for the future of cruising: one where guests can earn, engage, and celebrate loyalty in more ways than ever before. 

When “Normal” Doesn't Work: Rethinking Data and the Role of the SOC AnalystMonzy Merza, Co-Founder and CEO of Crogl, joins Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli to discuss how cybersecurity teams can finally move beyond the treadmill of normalization, alert fatigue, and brittle playbooks that keep analysts from doing what they signed up to do—find and stop bad actors.Merza draws from his experience across research, security operations, and leadership roles at Splunk, Databricks, and one of the world's largest banks. His message is clear: the industry's long-standing approach of forcing all data into one format before analysis has reached its limit. Organizations are spending millions trying to normalize data that constantly changes, and analysts are paying the price—buried under alerts they can't meaningfully investigate.The conversation highlights the human side of this issue. Analysts often join the field to protect their organizations, but instead find themselves working on repetitive tickets with little context, limited feedback loops, and an impossible expectation to know everything—from email headers to endpoint logs. They are firefighters answering endless 911 calls, most of which turn out to be false alarms.Crogl's approach replaces that normalization-first mindset with an analyst-first model. By operating directly on data where it lives—without requiring migration or schema alignment—it allows every analyst to investigate deeper, faster, and more consistently. Each action taken by one team member becomes shared knowledge for the next, creating an adaptive, AI-driven system that evolves with the organization.For CISOs, this means measurable consistency, auditability, and trust in outcomes. For analysts, it means rediscovering purpose—focusing on meaningful investigations instead of administrative noise.The result is a more capable, connected SOC where AI augments human reasoning rather than replacing it. As Merza puts it, the new normal is no normalization—just real work, done better.Watch the full interview and product demo: https://youtu.be/7C4zOvF9sdkLearn more about CROGL: https://itspm.ag/crogl-103909Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.GUESTMonzy Merza, Founder and CEO of CROGL | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monzymerza/RESOURCESLearn more and catch more stories from CROGL: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/croglBrand Spotlight: The Schema Strikes Back: Killing the Normalization Tax on the SOC: https://brand-stories-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/the-schema-strikes-back-killing-the-normalization-tax-on-the-soc-a-corgl-spotlight-brand-story-conversation-with-cory-wallace [Video: https://youtu.be/Kx2JEE_tYq0]Are you interested in telling your story?▶︎ Full Length Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#full▶︎ Spotlight Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#spotlight Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking Free from Data Normalization: A Smarter Path for Security TeamsTraditional security models were built on a simple idea: collect data, normalize it, and analyze it. But as Director of Product Marketing Cory Wallace explains in this conversation with Sean Martin, that model no longer fits the reality of modern security operations. Data now lives across systems, clouds, and lakes—making normalization an inefficient, error-prone step that slows teams down and risks critical blind spots.Rethinking How Analysts Work with DataCory describes how schema drift, inconsistent field naming, and vendor-specific query languages have turned the analyst's job into a maze of manual mapping and guesswork. Each product update or schema change introduces a chance to miss something important—something an attacker is counting on. Crogl's new patent eliminates this problem by enabling search and correlation across unnormalized data, creating a unified analytical view without forcing everything into one rigid format.From Data Chaos to Analyst EmpowermentThis shift isn't just technical—it's cultural. Instead of treating SOC analysts as passive alert closers, Crogl's model empowers them with meaningful context from the start. Alerts now come with historical data, cross-referenced fields, and prebuilt queries, giving analysts the information they need to make decisions faster and more confidently.Efficiency with IntelligenceWallace explains how this approach saves time, reduces training burdens, and cuts dependency on multiple query languages. It helps overworked teams move from reactive triage to proactive investigation. By removing unnecessary layers of data transformation, organizations can accelerate incident resolution, minimize risk, and help analysts focus on what matters most—catching what others miss.At its core, the conversation highlights how removing the barriers of data normalization can redefine what's possible in modern security operations.Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/Kx2JEE_tYq0Learn more about CROGL: https://itspm.ag/crogl-103909Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.GUESTCory Wallace, Director of Product Marketing at CROGL | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corywallacecrogl/RESOURCESLearn more and catch more stories from CROGL: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/croglPress Release: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/11/05/3181815/0/en/Crogl-Granted-Patent-for-Analyzing-Non-Normalized-Data-for-Security.htmlForbes Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinwarren/2025/11/05/tackling-cybersecurity-data-sprawl-without-normalizing-everything/LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7391913358817517569-QaCHAre you interested in telling your story?▶︎ Full Length Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#full▶︎ Spotlight Brand Story: https://www.studioc60.com/content-creation#spotlight Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The more experienced and accomplished my guests are, the more they tend to care deeply about the little things. They're the ones who could "wing it" and actually get away with it, and yet, they don't. In their speeches, stories, messages, and everywhere they show up, they focus on the tiny details that make their words resonate.My guest in this episode is the perfect picture of this phenomenon. It's David Burkus.David is the bestselling author of 5 books, including his latest, a national bestseller: Best Team Ever: The Surprising Science of High-Performing Teams. David's TED Talks have amassed more than 4 million views, and he's given nearly 300 keynote speeches around the world.In this episode, we hear and dissect a story about the CEO of Ford which David tells on stages. He's made it his own, finding details nobody else has and crafting a narrative nobody else can. Plus, we discuss:Why you shouldn't purely or even mainly tell stories from inside your own industryHow to calibrate your voice for different audience sizesAnd the tiniest details which add up to make the biggest impact when you communicateI've always appreciated his thoughtfulness about speaking and storytelling behind-the-scenesThis is an ADDICTING exploration of the craft of business storytelling... with the wise and wonderful David Burkus!***ABOUT ME, JAY ACUNZOI help experts and entrepreneurs win more and better clients, at higher prices, with less friction. To do that, I help transform your thinking into clear, captivating ideas, speeches, and IP. Stop chasing attention. Become the one others seek.I'm a former marketing leader at Google and HubSpot and globally touring speaker and author. I've spent 20 years building the exact thought leadership I now help clients create—as a practitioner-peer, not a coach with templates.Work with me 1:1, book me to speak, or explore free resources at jayacunzo.comDon't market more. Matter more.Think resonance over reach.Don't be the best. Be their favorite.***ENJOY THE SHOW? PLEASE SAY THANKS!Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Leave a rating on Spotify Thanks for listening!

In meinem Interview mit Michaela Ortmayer sprechen wir darüber, warum Helfen für sie ein zentraler Antrieb in ihrem Leben und ihrer Arbeit ist.Ihr beruflicher Weg führte sie von der Berufsberatung zur Radiologieassistentin – ein Beruf, der sie tief geprägt und viele positive Erlebnisse mit sich gebracht hat. Als sie schwanger wird, muss sie diesen Job aufgeben und widmet sich zunächst ihrer Familie. Nach der Trennung steht sie als alleinerziehende Mutter von drei Kindern vor der Frage, wie sie ein sicheres Einkommen schaffen kann.Sie steigt als Industriekauffrau wieder ins Berufsleben ein, taucht in die Welt der Zahlen ein und lernt verschiedene Branchen kennen. Doch irgendwann spürt sie, dass diese Arbeit sie verändert und ihre Gesundheit leidet. Also beschließt sie, etwas zu ändern – und stößt dabei auf das Lachyoga. Schnell entdeckt sie ihre Begeisterung dafür und beginnt, ihr neues Wissen weiterzugeben.Als sie darüber einen Vortrag halten soll, steht ihr ihre Redeangst im Weg. Mithilfe eines Hypnotiseurs kann sie dieses Thema in wenigen Sitzungen lösen – eine Erfahrung, die sie so beeindruckt, dass sie selbst eine Hypnose-Ausbildung beginnt.Heute ist Michaela nebenberuflich selbstständig und meistert den Spagat zwischen Familie, Teilzeitjob und eigener Praxis. Wir sprechen über ihre größten Herausforderungen, über den inneren Erfolgs-Verhinderer, den sie entdeckt hat, und darüber, welche Ängste und Vorbehalte viele Menschen gegenüber Hypnose haben.Außerdem erzählt sie, wie eine Hypnosesitzung wirklich abläuft, welche Rolle Wasser in ihrem Leben spielt und welche Pläne sie noch hat.Möchtest du mehr über Michaela und ihre Arbeit erfahren? Hier ist der Link zu ihrer Webseite. Vernetz dich mit ihr auf LinkedIn und auf Instagram. Hier findest du ihren eigenen Podcast/VideocastSpotify YouTube  Möchtest du mehr über meine Arbeit und über mich erfahren? Dann schau auf meine Webseite und Lebensgeschichten-Verlag oder vereinbare direkt einen Termin mit mir.Verpasse keine meiner Podcast Folgen und abonniere meinen Podcast auf Spotify oder iTunes.Hat dir die Folge gefallen? Dann würde ich mich sehr freuen, wenn du meinen Podcast bewertest Vernetze dich mit mir auf LinkedIn und folge mir auf Instagram.Hier geht's zu den ShownotesSupport the show

Send us a textWhen you walk into a Newk's Eatery, you're greeted by the warmth of an open kitchen, the sound of sizzling steak and shrimp on the grill, and the fresh aroma of house-made salad dressings crafted from scratch. Founded in 2004, Newk's has carved out its place in the fast casual dining space by staying true to two core principles: hospitality and freshness. Every detail, from the open kitchen to the made-from-scratch recipes, is designed to make guests feel welcome and cared for. In this edition of Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Brand Stories, we sat down with Chris Cheek, Chief Development Officer at Newk's Eatery,to talk about how the brand blends heartfelt hospitality with innovative technology to build customer loyalty. From its scratch kitchen to its evolving digital tools and franchise strategy, Newk's is proving that genuine connection, not just convenience, is the secret ingredient to long-term loyalty. 

Manuja Ranasinghe of 50 Acres Tea: Wellness in a Cup (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 909) On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Manuja Ranasinghe, founder of 50 Acres Tea, a premium tea brand based in Metro Atlanta. Manuja recounts his journey from Sri Lanka, which included a lengthy corporate career […] The post Manuja Ranasinghe of 50 Acres Tea: Wellness in a Cup appeared first on Business RadioX ®.

Data is everywhere. But making sense of it? That's where the real work begins. In episode 99 of Brand Story, Laura Grover, Senior Vice President and Head of Client Solutions at EDO, Inc., shares why traditional metrics like reach and clicks don't always tell the full story. She also discusses how AI is reshaping search and measurement, what marketers can learn from sports audiences, and why curiosity is still the most valuable skill in a data-driven world.This is Brand Story, a podcast celebrating the stories of real people who are making an impact on brands, business, and the world around them. Episodes feature guests from a variety of backgrounds who bring their own unique perspectives to the conversation.Brand Story is created and produced by Gravity Group, a full-service brand and marketing agency, and is hosted by Gravity Group President, Steve Gilman.Links and Information From the Episode Here: https://www.gravitygroup.com/podcast/marketings-measurement-reset/Continue the conversation on social:For more of Brand Story, check out our LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gravitygroupmarketing), where we'll post previews and highlights of shows, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, plus other marketing news you can use.We're also on: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/gravitygroupFacebook — https://www.facebook.com/gravitygroupmarketing(00:00) Introduction to Laura Grover, EDO, and Marketing Measurement(03:06) The Importance of Meeting Clients Where They Are(05:57) Evolution of Advertising Metrics(09:01) The Role of AI in Search and Measurement(11:55) Measuring NFL Advertising Effectiveness(15:08) The Impact of Women's Sports on Advertising(18:00) Programmatic Advertising and Client Success Stories(20:25) Maximizing Creative and Media Efficiency(24:12) The Evolution of Measurement in Advertising(27:40) Confidence in Analytics and Asking Questions(29:08) Advice for Newcomers in Measurement(32:44) The Importance of Generalist Skills in Measurement(34:56) Harnessing AI for Creative Analysis(36:12) Outcomes as a New Standard of Measurement

Send us a textBill Blankschaen is a Multiple NYT/USA Today bestselling author & founder and Chief Story Architect of StoryBuilders, a creative team of story-tellers who share his passion for helping people live a story worth telling and serving them with excellence in genuine, high-trust relationships. In his new book, Your Story Advantage, with a foreword Lewis Howes from he shows a proven path to build instant credibility that positions you as the go-to expert in your field, he's worked with John C. Maxwell, Dean Graziosi, & many more.-Quick Episode Summary:Bill Blankschaen shares story-driven breakthroughs, courage, and writing advice.-SEO Description:Discover how to unlock your story's power with bestselling author Bill Blankschaen on Passing The Torch. Insights on storytelling, impact, and finding purpose.-Chapters:00:00 "Your Story Advantage Unveiled"04:18 "Your Breakthrough Starts With Story"06:54 "Finding Purpose Through Reflection"11:23 "Intentional Living and Storytelling"13:08 "Passion and Sharing Experiences"17:02 "Coasting Leads to Decline"20:47 Podcasting for Personal Growth23:22 "Turning Podcast into a Book"27:58 "Ideal Audience in Nonfiction"29:27 Leveraging Your Story for Success32:40 Capturing Authentic Author Voice36:27 Creative Writers and Teamwork42:06 "Embrace Your Story Now"43:14 "Share Your Story Easily"Connect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartin More Amazing Stories: Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You Insecure Episode 81: Kurt Warner – Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way Episode 90: Michelle 'MACE' Curran – How to Turn Fear into Fuel

When you're an expert in something, it's tempting to assume the role of your communication is to deliver something in an academic way. Instruct, advise, and teach. Sometimes, this devolves into shoving a wall of smarts *at* the world. But you need to translate what you know into language that causes others to care. That's something today's guest embraced 10 years ago, and the combination of his ideas and his influence have put him in rare company.Today's guest is David C. Baker, a 7-time author which the New York Times once called "the expert's expert." His business, Punctuation, and his seminal books like The Business of Expertise and Selling Your Professional Service Firm help business owners achieve their next milestones with clarity and confidence. Today, we hear from David about why the EASY part of our work as experts is the insight. The hard part is wrapping insight into something delicious others want to eat.Plus, he shares a rare kind of story he wrote, and we break it down together, and you'll get a fascinating look inside the thought process and creative practice of one of the world's top voices in the business of expertise.This is a great one with the great David C. Baker!***ABOUT ME, JAY ACUNZOI help experts and entrepreneurs win more and better clients, at higher prices, with less friction. To do that, I help transform their thinking into resonant, repeatable ideas that define categories, build movements, and make them the favorite voice in their space—not just another option. Stop chasing attention. Become the one others seek. I'm a former marketing leader at Google and HubSpot and globally touring speaker and author. I've spent 20 years building the exact thought leadership I now help clients create—as a practitioner-peer, not a coach with templates.Work with me 1:1, book me to speak, or explore free resources at jayacunzo.comDon't market more. Matter more.Think resonance over reach.Don't be the best. Be their favorite.***ENJOY THE SHOW? PLEASE SAY THANKS!Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Leave a rating on Spotify Thanks for listening!

Send us a textStep into Moe's Southwest Grill and the first thing you'll hear is the signature shout: “Welcome to Moe's!” As part of the GoTo Foods platform company, Moe's taps into enterprise resources in technology, culinary innovation and guest insights that help the brand translate flavorful energy into long-term loyalty. But what really keeps guests coming back isn't just the burritos, bowls and queso, it's the energy, the personality and the way the brand makes loyalty feel fresh and fun. In this edition of Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Brand Stories, we sat down with Mike Smith, Chief Brand Officer at Moe's Southwest Grill, to talk about how the brand is blending bold flavors with bold ideas. With more than 7 million members in Moe's Rewards, Smith shares how the team is reimagining loyalty with flexibility, personalization, and plenty of brand personality. 

When creativity hits a wall, what keeps you moving? For creative director and educator Brian Thibodeau, it's curiosity, empathy, and a relentless drive to connect. In episode 98 of Brand Story, he and host Steve Gilman explore how art, teaching, and storytelling fuel a creative life and how empathy helps drive good design.This is Brand Story, a podcast celebrating the stories of real people who are making an impact on brands, business, and the world around them. Episodes feature guests from a variety of backgrounds who bring their own unique perspectives to the conversation.Brand Story is created and produced by Gravity Group, a full-service brand and marketing agency, and is hosted by Gravity Group President, Steve Gilman.Links and Information From the Episode Here: https://www.gravitygroup.com/podcast/keeping-creativity-alive/Continue the conversation on social:For more of Brand Story, check out our LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gravitygroupmarketing), where we'll post previews and highlights of shows, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, plus other marketing news you can use.We're also on: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/gravitygroupFacebook — https://www.facebook.com/gravitygroupmarketing(00:00) Introduction to Brian Thibodeau(01:52) The Quarantine Portraits Project(08:30) Navigating the Creative Path(11:06) Creative Collaborations and Projects (17:00) Disney, Nissan, Rogue One, and the Nissan Rogue(21:43) Exploring Ecotourism and Creative Assignments(22:52) The Importance of Teaching and Mentorship(34:18) End of Day Art: A Creative Movement

When passion meets purpose, branding magic happens, and Leandro Petersen knows it better than most. As Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer for the Argentine Football Association (AFA), he's helping turn Argentina's fútbol legacy into a global brand phenomenon. In this special bilingual episode, Petersen joins Steve Rosa and Michelle Spriegel to talk about building one of the most recognizable brands in sport — from global partnerships and new markets to the storytelling and strategy that keep Argentina's fútbol heartbeat strong. In Argentina, fútbol more than a sport, it's almost part of their national DNA. And at the center of it all is the Argentine Football Association (AFA), where Petersen leads the charge in transforming that cultural heartbeat into a global business powerhouse. From Lionel Messi's worldwide influence to AFA's expansion across markets like China, India and the U.S., Petersen shares how strategy, storytelling and pure passion are driving Argentina's global rise. The conversation dives into how AFA plans for their new high-performance center in Miami, and what it takes to keep the magic alive both on and off the pitch. Looking ahead, Petersen has his eyes set on FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. With soccer's popularity surging in North America, he sees a massive opportunity to grow AFA's reach during the tournament. From brand activations to fan engagement initiatives, Petersen's focus is on making Argentina not just the team to watch, but the experience to feel throughout the summer of 2026. At its heart, this conversation is about how passion, heritage and purpose can transform a team into a timeless global brand. Argentina's story is proof that when emotion meets execution, the result isn't just victory, it's legacy. Have an idea for a guest? Reach out at brandslam@addventures.com.

Send us a textFor more than a century, Hasbro has been a household name in toys and games, with a portfolio spanning over 1,500 intellectual properties, from childhood classics like Candy Land to iconic titles like Monopoly and Clue. But in today's entertainment landscape, nostalgia alone isn't enough. To thrive, the brand has leaned into partnerships, fandom, and digital innovation that bring their intellectual properties to life in new and engaging ways. Lindsey Camell, Head of Partnerships and Location-Based Experiences for North America, is at the center of that effort. Her team oversees partnerships that bring Hasbro's IP to unexpected places, from McDonald's Happy Meals to cereal boxes to even family entertainment centers and resorts. With loyalty woven into its DNA through decades-long activations like McDonald's Monopoly, Hasbro is exploring how gamification, personalization, and cultural relevance can keep its brands connected to consumers for life. 

From cage fights to handcrafted Italian eyewear, Johnny Riche built Rockwell with grit, loyalty, and a fighter's mindset. In this episode, he shares how combat sports shaped his leadership style, how Rockwell scaled without selling out, and why passion—not credentials—is the real edge in business. We talk team culture, product pivots, affiliate strategy, and the kind of partnerships that start with a handshake and end with a brand that lives 24/7.

Send us a textFor decades, car rental has been viewed as a transactional necessity. Simply a checkpoint on the travel journey rather than a meaningful part of it. Beth Gibson, Vice President, Avis First, sees that as a missed opportunity. With the recent launch of Avis First, she's leading a bold initiative to shift perceptions and elevate expectations, introducing a first-of-its-kind rental experience built around convenience, care, and concierge-level service.  Available to all travelers through the Avis app, the program also provides added advantages for loyalty members, including faster booking and recognition through the existing Avis Preferred program. This isn't about perks. It's about purpose and a relentless focus on what travelers actually value. It isn't just a new tier; it's a fundamental shift in the company's approach to customer engagement. With nearly 18 years at Avis Budget Group, Gibson's deep operational knowledge, frontline empathy, and relentless commitment to the customer have uniquely positioned her to lead this transformation. 

“A story is a singular arc of transformation. A narrative is the thread that ties all your stories together.” — Rain BennettIs telling your brand story enough to build a loyal audience?In this episode, Rain Bennett breaks down the essential but often misunderstood difference between brand story and brand narrative. While most marketers focus on crafting engaging stories, Rain explains why the real secret to lasting brand trust lies in building a clear, consistent narrative thread that connects everything you do, from vision to product to marketing and sales.He uses powerful metaphors—from Hamilton to the Bible to Christmas lights—to help you see the structure of your storytelling system in a new way.You'll also learn how the Chief Storytelling Officer is the guardian of that narrative, ensuring every department speaks in harmony. If you've ever felt like your content is scattered or your message is missing the mark, this episode will show you how to realign your storytelling, as well as your business.In this episode, you will learn to:Distinguish between brand story and brand narrative—and why both are essentialUse narrative as a strategic compass for every department in your businessBuild trust and loyalty by aligning all stories under one cohesive threadCreate a system (not just content) to sustain long-term brand impactStep into the Chief Storytelling Officer role and protect your narrative across platformsFor more storytelling tips and tricks,Visit my website rainbennett.com or thestorytellinglabpodcast.comFollow me on TikTok @rainbennett.storyellerFollow me on Twitter @rainbennettFollow me on Instagram @rainbennettFollow me on Facebook @thestorytellinglab Subscribe to my Youtube Channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's the truth about brand. It isn't one-dimensional. The strongest brands create experiences across every sense, building memories that last long after a purchase. In episode 97 of Brand Story, Simon Hill, President, FutureBrand North America, shares how the best brands stand out in markets where products often look the same. We explore the frameworks FutureBrand uses to align leaders and global teams, how emotion tips decisions, and why consistency across every sense matters more than ever.This is Brand Story, a podcast celebrating the stories of real people who are making an impact on brands, business, and the world around them. Episodes feature guests from a variety of backgrounds who bring their own unique perspectives to the conversation.Brand Story is created and produced by Gravity Group, a full-service brand and marketing agency, and is hosted by Gravity Group President, Steve Gilman.Links and Information From the Episode Here: gravitygroup.com/podcast/transforming-brandsContinue the conversation on social:For more of Brand Story, check out our LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gravitygroupmarketing), where we'll post previews and highlights of shows, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, plus other marketing news you can use.We're also on: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/gravitygroupFacebook — https://www.facebook.com/gravitygroupmarketingChapters:(00:00) Introduction & Simon Hill Welcome(01:22) Leading the London 2012 Olympic Bid(04:50) Lessons from Global Brand Campaigns(09:10) Shifting from Advertising to Brand Strategy(13:05) Working Closely with CEOs & Leaders(15:53) Making Brands Experiential & Human(18:33) The Transformation Ladder(23:40) The Future of Branding & Human Experience(27:06) Being Open to The Power of Brand(29:16) The Power of Human Insight(32:48) Swimming the English Channel for Charity(34:10) Fear, Adventure & Resilience(36:30) Embracing Competition & Growth(38:07) This Chapter of Life Investment(38:58) Advice to My Younger Self

Very excited for this one, my friend: I'm releasing a recording of a coaching call I had with entrepreneur Michelle Florendo, who runs a business called Powered by Decisions. You'll hear us walk through frameworks you can use to turn messy or scattered thinking into a clear and differentiated premise Michelle can use to strengthen her messaging and thought leadership.First, I share a primer on premise development. What's a premise, and what makes a premise effective?Then, you'll hear the full call with me and Michelle.Michelle is a decision engineer, which is an entire academic field of research and knowledge which frankly most of us need to understand more about!This is a fascinating look inside my process with clients and the process of turning your expertise into repeatable, powerful IP.Learn more about Michelle's work at poweredbydecisions.com.***ABOUT MEHello! I'm Jay Acunzo. I help experts and service providers clarify their ideas and create sustainable momentum. Together, we turn your expertise into a distinct premise, clear message, owned IP, and signature speeches. Stop chasing attention. Become the one others seek.You've done lots of things. Now it's time to [be] a thing. It's time to stop chasing attention and become the one others seek.Work with me 1:1, book me to speak, or explore free resources at jayacunzo.comNow here's a technique called "laddering down your message" which I use with clients and my own message to the world. You can understand me in three simple phrases, in order. Try crafting your own!Don't market more. Matter more. (

Send us a textIn a time when restaurant brands are redefining what value and connection mean to their guests, McAlister's Deli is standing out by blending purpose-driven hospitality with operational precision and digital intelligence. In this edition of Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Brand Stories, we sat down with Danielle Porto Parra, Chief Brand Officer at McAlister's Deli, to explore how the brand is weaving emotional branding, personalized loyalty, and a culture of hospitality into every guest experience. From their famed sweet tea to an enterprise-backed tech stack powering personalized offers, McAlister's Deli is on a mission to nourish connections in every sense of the phrase.  

The cybersecurity industry operates on a fundamental misconception: that consumers want to understand and manage their digital security. After 17 years at F-Secure and extensive consumer research, Dmitri Vellikok has reached a different conclusion—people simply want security problems to disappear without their involvement.This insight has driven F-Secure's transformation from traditional endpoint protection to what Vellikok calls "embedded ecosystem security." The company, which holds 55% global market share in operator-delivered consumer security, has moved beyond the conventional model of asking consumers to install and manage security software.F-Secure's approach centers on embedding security capabilities directly into applications and services consumers already use. Rather than expecting people to download separate security software, the company partners with telecom operators, insurance companies, and financial institutions to integrate protection into existing customer touchpoints.This embedded strategy addresses what Vellikok identifies as cybersecurity's biggest challenge: activation and engagement. Traditional security solutions fail when consumers don't install them, don't configure them properly, or abandon them due to complexity. By placing security within existing applications, F-Secure automatically reaches more consumers while reducing friction.The company's research reveals the extent of consumer overconfidence in digital security. Seventy percent of people believe they can easily spot scams, yet 43% of that same group admits to having been scammed. This disconnect between perception and reality drives F-Secure's focus on proactive, invisible protection rather than relying on consumer vigilance.Central to this approach is what F-Secure calls the "scam kill chain"—a framework for protecting consumers at every stage of fraudulent attempts. The company analyzes scam workflows to identify intervention points, from initial contact through trust-building phases to final exploitation. This comprehensive view enables multi-layered protection that doesn't depend on consumers recognizing threats.F-Secure's partnership with telecom operators provides unique advantages in this model. Operators see network traffic, website visits, SMS messages, and communication patterns, giving them visibility into threat landscapes that individual security solutions cannot match. However, operators typically don't communicate their protective actions to customers, creating an opportunity for F-Secure to bridge this gap.The company combines operator-level data with device-level protection and user interface elements that inform consumers about threats blocked on their behalf. This creates what Vellikok describes as a "protective ring" around users' digital lives while maintaining transparency about security actions taken.Artificial intelligence and machine learning have been core to F-Secure's operations for over a decade, but recent advances enable more sophisticated predictive capabilities. The company processes massive data volumes to identify patterns and predict threats before they materialize. Vellikok estimates that within 18 to 24 months, F-Secure will be able to warn consumers three days in advance about likely scam attempts.This predictive approach represents a fundamental shift from reactive security to proactive protection. Instead of waiting for threats to appear and then blocking them, the system identifies risk patterns and steers users away from dangerous situations before threats fully develop.The AI integration also serves as a translation layer between technical security events and consumer-friendly communications. Rather than presenting technical alerts about blocked URLs or filtered emails, the system provides context about threats in language consumers can understand and act upon.F-Secure's evolution reflects broader industry recognition that consumer cybersecurity requires different approaches than enterprise security. While businesses can mandate security training and complex protocols, consumers operate in environments where convenience and simplicity drive adoption. The embedded security model acknowledges this reality while maintaining protection effectiveness.The company's global reach through operator partnerships positions it to address cybersecurity as a systemic challenge rather than an individual consumer problem. By aggregating threat data across millions of users and multiple communication channels, F-Secure creates network effects that improve protection for all users as the system learns from new attack patterns.Looking forward, Vellikok anticipates cybersecurity challenges will continue evolving in waves. Current focus on scam protection will likely shift to AI-driven threats, followed by quantum computing challenges. The embedded security model provides a framework for adapting to these changes while maintaining consumer protection without requiring users to understand or manage evolving threat landscapes. Learn more about F-Secure: https://itspm.ag/f-secure-2748Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more. Guest: Dmitri Vellikok, Product and Business Development at F-Secure  On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitrivellikok/ResourcesCompany Directory:https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/f-secure Learn more about creating content with Sean Martin & Marco Ciappelli:  https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programs Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's one thing for a solopreneur with a microphone to tell you to trust your own lived experiences to differentiate, resonate, and tell stronger stories. But what happens when there are millions of dollars at stake and millions of viewers consuming your work? Meet Jordan Geary, an Emmy Award-winning producer and storytelling expert. As the Senior Creative Producer of Current Series at Sesame Workshop, he helped shape iconic live-action and animated shows, including Ghostwriter and Helpsters for Apple TV+, Sesame Street Mecha Builders and Bea's Block for HBO Max, and over 300 Sesame Studios shorts for YouTube.In this episode, we hear and discuss a personal story of his, and you'll also hear:How Sesame Workshop ensures their stories connect (it actually involves ONE specific kind of moment they intentionally include each time)The questions you can ask yourself to resonate more consistentlyThe 1 thing Jordan previously believed about storytelling which his career experiences have forced him to rethinkLearn more about Jordan's work at jordangeary.com or follow him on Instagram.***ABOUT MEHello! I'm Jay Acunzo. I help experts and service providers clarify their ideas and create sustainable momentum. Together, we turn your expertise into a distinct premise, clear message, owned IP, and signature speeches. Stop chasing attention. Become the one others seek.You've done lots of things. Now it's time to [be] a thing. It's time to stop chasing attention and become the one others seek.Work with me 1:1, book me to speak, or explore free resources at jayacunzo.comNow here's a technique called "laddering down your message" which I use with clients and my own message to the world. You can understand me in three simple phrases, in order. Try crafting your own!Don't market more. Matter more. (

Send us a textIn a rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape, where customer choice and switching costs continue to shift, TELUS is rising above the noise. As Canada's fastest-growing national telco, TELUS is redefining what it means to maintain loyalty—not just through connectivity, but by embedding value into every facet of the customer experience.  In this edition of Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Brand Stories, Loyalty360 spoke with Jacob Pullia, who leads the national TELUS Rewards program. Pullia discusses the launch of the unified national program, the strategic partnerships driving deeper engagement, and how TELUS is adapting loyalty to match the needs of a price-sensitive, digitally enabled consumer base.  

Get Auto DS for $1 for the next 30 days: https://platform.autods.com/register?ref=Mzg1Mjg2NA==Start your business today with Shopify: https://shopify.com/calumjohnsonDownload the "How to build a brand" workbook for the Caleb Ralston episode: https://calum.bio/pages/caleb-ralstonFollow Us!https://www.instagram.com/calumjohnson1/https://x.com/calum_johnson9https://www.instagram.com/calebralston/Timestamps00:00 Intro04:51 The biggest mistake with AI content (you sound like a robot!)09:56 The one lesson from Gary Vee that changed Caleb's career13:03 Alice in Wonderland & your brand's direction (powerful metaphor)15:27 How to reverse-engineer your brand outcome19:46 The Brand Journey Framework (4 must-ask questions)23:40 Why one clear goal beats chasing 10 outcomes25:14 The Brand Story Framework (3 steps to stand out)29:13 Find your contrarian belief (the secret sauce*)34:22 The exercise: flip industry clichés into your unique truth37:50 The power of polarizing beliefs40:09 Gary Vee's “Document, Don't Create” explained45:20 The 70/20/10 rule for testing content (and loving the flop)54:27 Why chasing virality traps most creators57:14 Storytelling 101: why vulnerability beats perfection1:02:40 Hooks that GRAB attention in 1 second1:06:50 How to find your audience's painful problem1:13:27 Every story needs this final piece (the storytelling framework)1:19:08 AI and the future of brand (what stays timeless)1:28:34 Why in-person connection is the ultimate moat1:33:00 What to focus on for the next 12 months (the one thing)1:36:00 Pushing through the “Dip” when you want to quitAbout Caleb RalstonCaleb Ralston has spent 16 years building brands, helping entrepreneurs like Gary Vaynerchuk and Alex Hormozi scale audiences of over 30 million followers and hundreds of millions in sales. In this episode, he shares the frameworks behind unforgettable personal brands: that includes the Brand Journey, the Brand Story framework, and the power of contrarian beliefs. From testing content that “flops” to building trust that converts, Caleb lays out a timeless playbook for anyone serious about standing out in a noisy, AI-driven world

Bad bosses are everywhere. We've all worked with them, and if we're honest, we've all had moments where we've been them. In episode 96 of Brand Story, Mita Mallick, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Best Selling Author, returns to the podcast to talk about her new book, The Devil Emails at Midnight. We explore why toxic behaviors are so persistent in the workplace, how leaders can recognize when they're slipping into bad habits, and what it takes to build cultures that people actually want to be part of.This is Brand Story, a podcast celebrating the stories of real people who are making an impact on brands, business, and the world around them. Episodes feature guests from a variety of backgrounds who bring their own unique perspectives to the conversation.Brand Story is created and produced by Gravity Group, a full-service brand and marketing agency, and is hosted by Gravity Group President, Steve Gilman.Links and Information From the Episode Here: https://www.gravitygroup.com/podcast/the-devil-emails-at-midnight/Continue the conversation on social:For more of Brand Story, check out our LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gravitygroupmarketing), where we'll post previews and highlights of shows, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, plus other marketing news you can use.We're also on: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/gravitygroupFacebook — https://www.facebook.com/gravitygroupmarketing(00:00) Introduction(2:37) Why Write About Bad Bosses(6:56) Owning Our Own Mistakes(9:00) The Archetypes of Bad Bosses - Spotlight Stealer(13:52) The Archetypes of Bad Bosses - Medusa(19:30) The Archetypes of Bad Bosses - The Grieving Boss(25:02) Common Behaviors of Bad Bosses - Toxic Positivity(30:25) The Devil Emails At Midnight(33:30) Self Awareness & Humility(35:43) What's Next & Final Takeaways

What if the only thing standing between your business and rapid growth is the story you're telling—or not telling—about yourself?  In this episode of Life After Corporate, Deb Boulanger sits down with Mariana Henninger, Emmy award-winning filmmaker and emotion-led marketing expert, to reveal how women entrepreneurs can leverage emotion-led marketing and brand storytelling to create a magnetic personal branding presence. Whether you're overwhelmed by social media marketing or wondering how to harness video marketing to build trust in a crowded market, this conversation unpacks actionable trust-building strategies that help entrepreneurs become instantly recognizable and unforgettable.  Are you ready to transform your entrepreneur visibility and turn cold audiences into loyal clients with just one powerful story?   Go to LifeAfterCorporate.com/podcast for the full notes.   Connect with Deb Boulanger To Watch the Show, click HERE For Full Notes, Go to LifeAfterCorporate.com/podcast Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and Instagram,  Read More about Life After Corporate HERE     Connect with Mariana Henninger Website: http://brandmagnetic.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/brandmagnetic LinkedIn: Mariana Henninger | LinkedIn   More Episodes To Enjoy! Go to: LifeAfterCorporate.com/podcast 228. How to Scale to 7 Figures Without Burnout: A 90-Day Path with Sailynn Doyle 227. How Heidi Solomon-Orlick Built GirlzWhoSell and Redefined Success After 60 226. How Cinthia Pacheco Built a SEO-Driven Digital Marketing Agency   Tweetable Quotes from Mariana Henninger: “They should feel like you care about them individually as people and you care more than growing your business.” “Your story is not about you at this moment. You have all of the rest of your marketing to tell, all of your other anecdotes and stories.”   SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this podcast to other growing entrepreneurs! Ready to turn insights into action? Don't just listen—join the movement! The Life After Corporate Community is where ambitious women like you connect, collaborate, and get the strategies, tools, and high-level support to grow a thriving, profitable business. Join us now and start making the powerful connections that will elevate your success! Connect with me on Instagram, LinkedIn, or checkout our website at www.lifeaftercorporatepodcast.com  

If you're an expert in something, chances are, you share content about that something. But so does everyone around you. Merely sharing your expertise makes you a commodity. I can get it anywhere, and I guess you're anywhere. That's why I routinely say, you need to stop creating content and start creating IP. Your IP is built on top of your premise, the core idea informing the rest, but more experts should also develop their signature frameworks, or what our guest today calls "contextual models." Your contextual models help turn complexity into simplicity, so people go, "Wow, I get it, and I see how much more there is to know. Take me through it."Today's wonderful guest (and a master of contextual modeling) is Neen James. She's a leadership strategist who has worked with brands like Viacom, Comcast, and the Four Seasons, a fantastic keynote speaker, and the author of multiple books, including Folding Time, Attention Pays, and her latest: Exceptional Experiences: Five Luxury Levers to Elevate Every Aspect of Your Business.In our episode, Neen shares how she develops her frameworks, then delivers a signature story from her speeches and her new book which we dissect and celebrate piece by piece.This is a rare and generous look at the process of one of my favorite business authors and speakers.***ABOUT ME - IN 3 PHRASESDon't market more. Matter more. (

How do you stand out in a crowded market where products all look the same? By building a brand that's authentic, consistent, and audience-first.In episode 95 of Brand Story, we speak with Phyllis Rothschild, CMO of Pete & Gerry's Organics, to explore how she helped turn a commodity into a mission-driven brand that people trust and stay loyal to. From redefining what loyalty really means to balancing creativity with consistency, this conversation highlights the marketing principles that make any brand stronger.This is Brand Story, a podcast celebrating the stories of real people who are making an impact on brands, business, and the world around them. Episodes feature guests from a variety of backgrounds who bring their own unique perspectives to the conversation.Brand Story is created and produced by Gravity Group, a full-service brand and marketing agency, and is hosted by Gravity Group President, Steve Gilman.Links and Information From the Episode Here: gravitygroup.com/podcast/building-brand-loyaltyContinue the conversation on social:For more of Brand Story, check out our LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gravitygroupmarketing), where we'll post previews and highlights of shows, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, plus other marketing news you can use.We're also on: Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/gravitygroupFacebook — https://www.facebook.com/gravitygroupmarketing(00:00) From Consulting to CMO(04:42) The Heart of Brand Loyalty(07:23) Mission Meets Marketing(11:44) Packaging & Brand Identity(13:19) Two Brands, One Family(16:26) Consumer Experience & Health Consciousness(18:52) Cutting Through Confusion(21:52) Educating at Shelf(24:25) Opportunities & Threats in Premium Eggs(29:00) Building Loyalty Beyond Discounts(30:34) Navigating Risk & Adventure in Marketing(34:55) Finding Joy in the Journey

One of the hallmarks of great business storytellers is something called the catalyst story. They don't just shove their expertise at you like a wall of smarts. They take you on a journey. Often, in a speech, a book, or even just a single piece or post, they can retrace their own journey of discovery to ensure the audience cares and understands. Because you might be at letter Z of your understanding of something, but others start at A. You need to meet them in that reality, then move them to something better, beat by beat. That often starts at the start, with a story to catalyze it all. Today, we'll hear and analyze a great one, shared with us by the great Chris Ducker. Chris is a serial entrepreneur most known for founding the business Youpreneuer and his book, Rise of the Youpreneur, which helped people become known leaders in their industries.Over the past two decades, Chris has started, grown, bought, and sold a number of multi-million pound businesses, and his latest book is The Long-Haul Leader: The Strategies to Work Smarter, Live Better, and Achieve Lasting Success.He's spoken on countless stages, guested on infinite shows, and created a huge body of work online, but today, it's a closer look at his process like never before.***ABOUT ME - IN 3 PHRASESDon't market more. Matter more. (

You've got your pitch deck. Your talking points. Your “why us” slide.But if you're telling the wrong story in meetings, none of that matters.In this episode, Stacy's diving into the two MVPs of storytelling for fund managers: the job story and the brand story. Think of them like the hammer and wrench in your toolbox, you need both, but you've gotta know when to use each.Inside this bite-sized episode, you'll learn: • What makes a job story different from a brand story (and why that mix-up matters) • Why every fund or strategy deserves its own tailored story • How constantly tweaking your brand story for the room can make your message… fuzzyThis is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week.Want More Help With Storytelling? +  Subscribe to my newsletter to get a weekly email that helps you use your words to power your growth:https://www.stacyhavener.com/subscribe  - - -Make The Boutique Investment Collective part of your Billion Dollar Backstory. Gain access to invaluable resources, expert coaches, and a supportive community of other boutique founders, fund managers, and investment pros. Join Havener Capital's exclusive membership. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus

In this weeks episode of Delivering #marketingjoy Kirby Hasseman sits down with Greg Logan to discuss the power of emotional connection in branding, crafting compelling brand stories, the connection that movies have to marketing, and the role of conflict in marketing. Watch now!

Event Recap: Kieran Human at Black Hat USA 2025 — ThreatLocker Unveils Configuration Defense, Achieves FedRAMP Status & MoreThreatLocker introduced DAC configuration monitoring and achieved FedRAMP certification at Black Hat 2025, strengthening zero trust capabilities while expanding government market access through practical security solutions.Zero trust security continues evolving beyond theoretical frameworks into practical business solutions, as demonstrated by ThreatLocker's latest announcements at Black Hat USA 2025. The company introduced Defense Against Configuration (DAC), a monitoring tool addressing a critical gap in zero trust implementations.Kieran Human, Special Projects Engineer at ThreatLocker, explained the challenge driving DAC's development. Organizations implementing zero trust often struggle with configuration management, potentially leaving systems vulnerable despite security investments. DAC monitors configurations continuously, alerting administrators to potential security issues and mapping findings to compliance frameworks including Essential 8.The tool addresses human factors in security implementation. Technical staff sometimes create overly permissive rules to minimize user complaints, compromising security posture. DAC provides weekly reports to executives, ensuring oversight of configuration decisions and maintaining security standards across the organization.ThreatLocker's approach distinguishes itself through "denied by default, allowed by exception" methodology, contrasting with traditional endpoint detection and response solutions that permit by default and block threats reactively. This fundamental difference requires careful implementation to avoid business disruption.The company's learning mode capabilities address deployment concerns. With over 10,000 built-in application profiles, ThreatLocker automates policy creation while learning organizational workflows. This reduces manual configuration requirements that previously made zero trust implementations tedious and time-intensive.FedRAMP certification represents another significant milestone, opening government sector opportunities. Federal compliance requirements previously excluded ThreatLocker from certain contracts, despite strong customer demand for their zero trust capabilities. This certification enables expansion into highly regulated environments requiring stringent security controls.Customer testimonials continue validating the approach. One user reported preventing three breaches after implementing ThreatLocker's zero trust solution, demonstrating measurable security improvements. Such feedback reinforces the practical value of properly implemented zero trust architecture.The balance between security and business functionality remains crucial. Organizations need security solutions that protect assets without hampering productivity. ThreatLocker's principle of least privilege implementation focuses on enabling business requirements with minimal necessary permissions rather than creating restrictive environments that impede operations.Human described working closely with CEO Danny Jenkins, emphasizing the collaborative environment that drives product innovation. His engineering perspective provides valuable insights into customer needs while maintaining focus on practical security solutions that work in real-world environments.As zero trust adoption accelerates across industries, tools like DAC become essential for maintaining security posture while meeting business demands. The combination of automated learning, configuration monitoring, and compliance mapping addresses practical implementation challenges facing security teams today.Learn more about ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.Guest: Kieran Human, Special Project Engineer at ThreatLocker | On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieran-human-5495ab170/ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from ThreatLocker: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/threatlockerLearn more and catch more stories from our Black Hat USA 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/bhusa25Learn more about ITSPmagazine Brand Story Podcasts: https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-story

At Black Hat 2025, Sean Martin sits down with Ofir Stein, CTO and Co-Founder of Apono, to discuss the pressing challenges of identity and access management in today's hybrid, AI-driven environments. Stein's background in technology infrastructure and DevOps, paired with his co-founder's deep cybersecurity expertise, positions the company to address one of the most common yet critical problems in enterprise security: how to secure permissions without slowing the pace of business.Organizations often face a tug-of-war between security teams seeking to minimize risk and engineering or business units pushing for rapid access to systems. Stein explains that traditional approaches to access control — where permissions are either always on or granted through manual processes — create friction and risk. Over-provisioned accounts become prime targets for attackers, while delayed access slows innovation.Apono addresses this through a Zero Standing Privilege approach, where no user — human or non-human — retains permanent permissions. Instead, access is dynamically granted based on business context and automatically revoked when no longer needed. This ensures engineers and systems get the right access at the right time, without exposing unnecessary attack surfaces.The platform integrates seamlessly with existing identity providers, governance systems, and IT workflows, allowing organizations to centralize visibility and control without replacing existing tools. Dynamic, context-based policies replace static rules, enabling access that adapts to changing conditions, including the unpredictable needs of AI agents and automated workflows.Stein also highlights continuous discovery and anomaly detection capabilities, enabling organizations to see and act on changes in privilege usage in real time. By coupling visibility with automated policy enforcement, organizations can not only identify over-privileged accounts but also remediate them immediately — avoiding the cycle of one-off audits followed by privilege creep.The result is a solution that scales with modern enterprise needs, reduces risk, and empowers both security teams and end users. As Stein notes, giving engineers control over their own access — including the ability to revoke it — fosters a culture of shared responsibility for security, rather than one of gatekeeping.Learn more about Apono: https://itspm.ag/apono-1034Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.Guest:Ofir Stein, CTO and Co-Founder of Apono | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofir-stein/ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from Apono: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/aponoLearn more about ITSPmagazine Brand Story Podcasts: https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-storyKeywords: sean martin, ofir stein, apono, zero standing privilege, access management, identity security, privilege creep, just in time access, ai security, governance, cloud security, black hat, black hat usa 2025, cybersecurity, permissions

In an era where organizations depend heavily on commercial applications to run their operations, the integrity of those applications has become a top security concern. Saša Zdjelar, Chief Trust Officer at ReversingLabs and Operating Partner at Crosspoint Capital, shares how protecting the software supply chain now extends far beyond open source risk.Zdjelar outlines how modern applications are built from a mix of first-party, contracted, open source, and proprietary third-party components. By the time software reaches production, its lineage spans geographies, development teams, and sometimes even AI-generated code. Incidents like SolarWinds, Kaseya, and CircleCI demonstrate that trusted vendors are no longer immune to compromise, and commercial software can introduce critical vulnerabilities or malicious payloads deep into enterprise systems.Regulatory drivers are increasing scrutiny. Executive Order 14028, Europe's Cyber Resilience Act, DORA, and U.S. Department of Defense software sourcing restrictions all require greater transparency, such as a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). However, Zdjelar cautions that SBOMs—while valuable—are like ingredient lists without recipes: they don't reveal if a product is secure, just what's in it.ReversingLabs addresses this gap with a no-compromise analysis engine capable of deconstructing any file, of any size or complexity, to assess its safety. This capability enables organizations to make risk-based decisions, continuously monitor for unexpected changes between software versions, and operationalize controls at points such as procurement, SCCM deployments, or file transfers into critical environments.For CISOs, this represents a true technical control where previously only contractual clauses, questionnaires, or insurance policies existed. By placing analysis at the front of the software lifecycle, organizations can reduce reliance on costly manual testing and sandboxing, improve detection of tampering or hidden behavior, and even influence cyber insurance rates.The takeaway is clear: software supply chain security is a board-level concern, and the focus must expand beyond open source. With the right controls, organizations can avoid becoming the next headline-making breach and maintain trust with customers, partners, and regulators.Learn more about ReversingLabs: https://itspm.ag/reversinglabs-v57bNote: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.Guest: Saša Zdjelar, Chief Trust Officer at ReversingLabs and Operating Partner at Crosspoint Capital | On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasazdjelar/ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from ReversingLabs: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/reversinglabsLearn more about ITSPmagazine Brand Story Podcasts: https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-storyKeywords: Black Hat 2025, Black Hat USA, sean martin, saša zdjelar, software supply chain security, commercial software risk, binary analysis, software bill of materials, sbom security, malicious code detection, ciso strategies, third party software risk, software tampering detection, malware analysis tools, devsecops security, application security testing, cybersecurity compliance

At Black Hat USA 2025, Sean Martin, co-founder of ITSPmagazine, sat down with Brett Stone-Gross, Senior Director of Threat Intelligence at Zscaler, to discuss the findings from the company's latest ransomware report. Over the past five years, the research has tracked how attack patterns, targets, and business models have shifted—most notably from file encryption to data theft and extortion.Brett explains that many ransomware groups now find it more profitable—and less risky—to steal sensitive data and threaten to leak it unless paid, rather than encrypt files and disrupt operations. This change also allows attackers to stay out of the headlines and avoid immediate law enforcement pressure, while still extracting massive payouts. One case saw a Fortune 50 company pay $75 million to prevent the leak of 100 terabytes of sensitive medical data—without a single file being encrypted.The report highlights variation in attacker methods. Some groups focus on single large targets; others, like the group “LOP,” exploit vulnerabilities in widely used file transfer applications, making supply chain compromise a preferred tactic. Once inside, attackers validate their claims by providing file trees and sample data—proving the theft is real.Certain industries remain disproportionately affected. Healthcare, manufacturing, and technology are perennial top targets, with oil and gas seeing a sharp increase this year. Many victims operate with legacy systems, slow to adopt modern security measures, making them vulnerable. Geographically, the U.S. continues to be hit hardest, accounting for roughly half of all observed ransomware incidents.The conversation also addresses why organizations fail to detect such massive data theft—sometimes hundreds of gigabytes per day over weeks. Poor monitoring, limited security staffing, and alert fatigue all contribute. Brett emphasizes that reducing exposure starts with eliminating unnecessary internet-facing services and embracing zero trust architectures to prevent lateral movement.The ransomware report serves not just as a data source but as a practical guide. By mapping observed attacker behaviors to defensive strategies, organizations can better identify and close their most dangerous gaps—before becoming another statistic in next year's findings.Learn more about Zscaler: https://itspm.ag/zscaler-327152Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.Guest:Brett Stone-Gross, Senior Director of Threat Intelligence at Zscaler, | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-stone-gross/ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from Zscaler: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/zscalerLearn more about ITSPmagazine Brand Story Podcasts: https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-storyKeywords: sean martin, brett stone-gross, ransomware, data extortion, cyber attacks, zero trust security, threat intelligence, data breach, cyber defense, network security, file transfer vulnerability, data protection, black hat, black hat usa 2025, zscaler

In an industry where technology often takes the spotlight, Deidre Diamond, Founder and CEO of CyberSN, and Carraig Stanwyck, CEO and former Fortune 200 CISO, are making the case for a shift in focus—one where people, not just tools, drive operational success.Deidre's journey began in cyber talent matching, where she saw firsthand the persistent workforce challenges organizations face—burnout, retention struggles, and a lack of career planning. These challenges inspired the creation of a workforce risk management practice designed to quantify and address the human side of cybersecurity. The approach goes beyond staffing—it maps skills, capabilities, and job alignment in real time, enabling leaders to strategically plan their workforce instead of reacting to turnover.Carraig's perspective as a leader building teams across government, startup, and enterprise environments reinforces the message: “If you get the people right, everything else comes together.” Even leaders already committed to employee engagement often lack the visibility to fully understand capability gaps, skill utilization, and role misalignment. Carraig describes how moving from static spreadsheets to a dynamic platform revealed hidden opportunities—such as repositioning talent into roles that better matched their strengths—while also giving executives a clear capability-to-staffing view.This real-time insight changes everything. Leaders can create accurate job descriptions based on actual needs, build stronger business cases for budgets, and proactively plan for growth. The results aren't just operational—employees feel invested in, leading to greater fulfillment, better retention, and improved professional efficacy.Both Deidre and Carraig emphasize that this approach isn't just about solving today's staffing needs. It's about preparing for a future where emotional intelligence, creative collaboration, and adaptability will be more critical than ever. As AI takes on repeatable tasks, the human ability to think strategically, work cohesively, and innovate will define success.The takeaway is clear: cybersecurity's greatest asset isn't a piece of technology—it's a workforce that's understood, empowered, and aligned with the mission.Learn more about CyberSN: https://itspm.ag/cybersn-476941Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.Guests:Deidre Diamond, Founder and CEO of CyberSN | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deidrediamond/Carraig Stanwyck, CEO at 3 Tree Tech and former Fortune 200 CISO | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carraig-stanwyck/ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from CyberSN: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/cybersnLearn more about ITSPmagazine Brand Story Podcasts: https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-storyKeywords: marco ciappelli, deidre diamond, carraig stanwyck, cybersecurity, workforce management, talent retention, job descriptions, skills gap, leadership, employee engagement, career development, black hat, black hat usa, black hat 2025, workforce risk management

Mike Wayne, responsible for global sales at BlinkOps, joins ITSPmagazine host Sean Martin to discuss how organizations can harness agentic AI to transform security operations—and much more.The conversation begins with a clear reality: business processes are complex, and when security is added into the mix, orchestrating workflows efficiently becomes even more challenging. BlinkOps addresses this by providing a platform that not only automates security tasks but also extends across HR, finance, sales, and marketing. By enabling automation in areas like employee onboarding/offboarding or access management, the platform helps organizations improve efficiency, reduce risk, and free human talent for higher-value work.Mike explains that while traditional SOAR tools require heavy scripting and ongoing maintenance, BlinkOps takes a different approach. Its security co-pilot allows users to describe automations in plain language, which are then generated—90% complete—by the system. Whether the user is a SOC analyst or an HR manager, the platform supports low-code and no-code capabilities, making automation accessible to “citizen developers” across the organization.The concept of micro agents is central. Instead of relying on large, complex AI models that can hallucinate or act unpredictably, BlinkOps uses focused, purpose-built agents with smaller context windows. These agents handle specific tasks—such as enriching security alerts—within larger workflows, ensuring accuracy and control.The benefits are tangible. One customer's triage agent processed 400 alerts in just eight days without direct human intervention, while another saved $1.8 million in manual endpoint deployment costs over a single month. Outcomes like reduced mean time to respond (MTTR) and faster time to automation are key drivers for adoption, especially when facing zero-day vulnerabilities where speed is critical.BlinkOps runs as SaaS, hybrid, or in secure environments like GovCloud, making it adaptable for organizations of all sizes and compliance requirements.The takeaway is clear: AI-driven automation doesn't just improve security operations—it creates new efficiencies across the enterprise. As Mike puts it, when a process can be automated, “just blink it.”Learn more about BlinkOps: https://itspm.ag/blinkops-942780Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.Guest: Mike Wayne, Vice President, Global Sales at BlinkOps | On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejwayne/ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from BlinkOps: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/blinkopsLearn more about ITSPmagazine Brand Story Podcasts: https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-storyKeywords: sean martin, mike wayne, blink ops, ai automation, agentic ai, micro agents, security automation, soc automation, workflow automation, zero day response, alert triage, enrichment agent, low code automation, cyber security ai, enterprise automation, black hat usa, black hat 2025

Your Amazon Brand Story module might be costing you sales. In this episode of Built by Business, Andy breaks down why most sellers use the Brand Story feature wrong and how to fix it to build trust, drive conversions, and increase your listing performance.   Learn the three reasons your Brand Story isn't working, and follow Andy's simple 3-block fix to turn it into a high-converting sales asset. From proof-driven visuals to smart layout decisions, this episode will show you how to unlock the real potential of Brand Story and A+ Content.   Claim your Free Amazon Brand Audit at www.weavos.io