Podcasts about cisco

Podcast Show Notes: Pankaj Patel – Redefining Networking and Security in the Age of AI Guest: Pankaj Patel, Founder and CEO of Nile | Former EVP and Chief Development Officer at Cisco | Partner at JC2 Ventures | Senior Advisor at March Capital Episode Overview In this episode, we sit down with Pankaj Patel, one of the most influential leaders in enterprise technology. As the former engineering head of Cisco's $38 billion portfolio with a $6 billion R&D budget, and now the founder and CEO of Nile, Pankaj brings unparalleled insight into the future of networking, AI, and enterprise security. Pankaj shares lessons from building and leading global engineering organizations, the principles he applied to acquisitions and innovation at scale, and why he believes simplicity and security must define the next era of enterprise technology. We also explore how Nile is disrupting the status quo, delivering secure and simple networking as a service, and why Pankaj considers this company the fulfillment of an “unfulfilled mission” in his career. Whether you're a technology executive, founder, or investor, this conversation offers invaluable perspective on how to navigate complexity, embrace AI, and prepare for the enterprise networks of the future. What You'll Learn in This Episode Leadership at scale: What it was like managing 29,000 engineers and a $6 billion R&D budget at Cisco. Acquisition strategy: How Pankaj evaluated companies for acquisition and integration. The AI reality check: Why many legacy companies are calling themselves AI-first, and whether the claims hold up. Simplicity in enterprise tech: Why products have historically been built around complexity, and why simplifying networks is both challenging and essential. Security reimagined: What truly makes a system secure, why humans are often the weakest link, and how AI will transform security. The “unfulfilled mission”: Why Pankaj launched Nile and how the company is disrupting the networking industry. Future of enterprise tech: How networking, AI, and security are converging to reshape the next decade. Investor perspective: What Pankaj looks for in founders and startups as a board member, advisor, and venture partner. Key Questions We Discuss What principles guided your allocation of Cisco's $6 billion R&D budget? What criteria did you use when acquiring companies, and how did you evaluate integration risk? Why has enterprise tech often thrived on complexity, and how is Nile changing that? How do you see AI shaping the future of networking and security? What advice would you give to enterprises overwhelmed by legacy systems? What was the “unfulfilled mission” that led you to launch Nile? How has your leadership style evolved from managing tens of thousands at Cisco to leading a focused startup team? What do you look for in founders when joining boards or investing? How will the convergence of networking, AI, and security define the next 5–10 years? About Pankaj Patel Pankaj Patel is the Founder and CEO of Nile, where he is reimagining the future of networking by delivering secure, simple, and customer-obsessed services. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Cisco, overseeing the company's $38 billion product portfolio. He is also a Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at JC2 Ventures, a Senior Advisor at March Capital, and serves on the boards of several leading technology startups. Connect with Pankaj Patel LinkedIn: Pankaj Patel Nile: https://nilesecure.com Disclaimer The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Please consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation. The views expressed are those of the guest and host and do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. #ai #cybersecurity #nilesecure #siliconvalley #podcast

20,000 people. One huge transformation. Live from Cisco GSX in Las Vegas

The APJC theater is on the rise

Change is never easy… but it's where the magic happens. In this special edition of Shift Happens, host Jeff Edwards sits down with Rhonda Henley live from Las Vegas at Cisco GSX

Take a Network Break! We start with a listener correction on Cisco’s history of wireless certifications, then dig into a couple of red alerts on Microsoft Defender and a backdoor in Outlook. On the news front, Cisco announces new AI agents and SoC packages for Splunk; F5 spends $180 million to buy an AI security... Read more »

Take a Network Break! We start with a listener correction on Cisco’s history of wireless certifications, then dig into a couple of red alerts on Microsoft Defender and a backdoor in Outlook. On the news front, Cisco announces new AI agents and SoC packages for Splunk; F5 spends $180 million to buy an AI security... Read more »

Take a Network Break! We start with a listener correction on Cisco’s history of wireless certifications, then dig into a couple of red alerts on Microsoft Defender and a backdoor in Outlook. On the news front, Cisco announces new AI agents and SoC packages for Splunk; F5 spends $180 million to buy an AI security... Read more »

Welcome to Kat's New Hire Training! And if you yourself need a refresher on marketing and sales interlock, this is the episode for you. Kat and Ian start the show with a quick debate on the worst day of work in the calendar year...Kat's vote is the day after Labor Day, Ian argues for the day after the Super Bowl - drop your vote below. From there, class is in session, and Ian gives Kat a crash course on navigating relationships between marketing and sales before she starts her new role working closely with sales - ahh, the juxtaposition from her previous relationship with sales. AND if you're more interested in exactly what Cisco is selling, check it out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-a107e9a621-item-6caff3e5bb-tab

Please enjoy this encore of Career Notes. Advisory CISO at Cisco, Helen Patton, shares that a combination of dumb luck, hard work and serendipity that got her to where she is today. Growing up in the country in Australia, Helen notes that computers were not really a thing. She happened into technology after moving to the US, as she was the only person in her office under 40. Of course she would be comfortable with computers and able to handle a database conversion, right? That launched her into a career that spanned supporting small nonprofits, working at one of the biggest banks on Wall Street while leading a global team, being the CISO of a major university, and now Advisory CISO at Cisco. Helen recently wrote a book, "Navigating the Cybersecurity Career Path," to help others know when it's time to move on from one role to another role as part of desire to give back to the community. We thank Helen for sharing her story with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Please enjoy this encore of Career Notes. Advisory CISO at Cisco, Helen Patton, shares that a combination of dumb luck, hard work and serendipity that got her to where she is today. Growing up in the country in Australia, Helen notes that computers were not really a thing. She happened into technology after moving to the US, as she was the only person in her office under 40. Of course she would be comfortable with computers and able to handle a database conversion, right? That launched her into a career that spanned supporting small nonprofits, working at one of the biggest banks on Wall Street while leading a global team, being the CISO of a major university, and now Advisory CISO at Cisco. Helen recently wrote a book, "Navigating the Cybersecurity Career Path," to help others know when it's time to move on from one role to another role as part of desire to give back to the community. We thank Helen for sharing her story with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Schulman has been working at network automation for much of his professional life. On today’s Total Network Operations, host Scott Robohn talks with Jeremy about his ongoing quest to get the network engineering bottleneck out of production. They discuss the early days of network automation when engineers tried to adopt tools from compute side... Read more »

Jeremy Schulman has been working at network automation for much of his professional life. On today’s Total Network Operations, host Scott Robohn talks with Jeremy about his ongoing quest to get the network engineering bottleneck out of production. They discuss the early days of network automation when engineers tried to adopt tools from compute side... Read more »

Kiren Sekar is the CPO of Samsara, a company that brings real-time visibility, analytics, and AI to physical operations. Before Samsara, Kiren was an early leader at Meraki, which was acquired by Cisco for $1.2B. In this episode, he walks us through Samsara's origin story: from hardware hacking in a basement to scaling a cross-industry IoT platform. He shares how early customer feedback loops led to the company's first product, why starting with the mid-market was a deliberate choice, and how Samsara kept a startup mindset even as it scaled. In this episode, we discuss: Lessons from Meraki's acquisition by Cisco How Kiren hires for intrinsic motivation Why Samsara was built for operations industries The early hardware prototype and the Cowgirl Creamery insight Building broad vs. niche from day one The shift from founder-selling to a scalable sales motion Organizing product teams around revenue vs. experience How Samsara uses LLMs and AI today What Kiren learned from longtime co-founder Sanjit Biswas Where to find Kiren: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirensekar/ Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson References: Cisco: https://www.cisco.com/ Clay: https://www.clay.com/ Cowgirl Creamery: https://cowgirlcreamery.com/ IBM: https://www.ibm.com/ Meraki: https://meraki.cisco.com/ Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/ Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/ Samsara: https://www.samsara.com/ Sanjit Biswas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjitbiswas/ Uber: https://www.uber.com/ Timestamps: (01:27) Meraki's growth and acquisition by Cisco (03:25) The "evaporating" exit strategy from Meraki (04:42) Identifying the IoT market gaps (07:38) The early keys to success at Samsara (09:39) What does quality mean to Kiren? (10:54) Building a customer-centric roadmap (17:34) Early customer research and the failed fridge monitoring idea (20:57) How a cheese producer helped create Samsara's first prototype (28:06) Balancing depth and breadth in customer profiles (33:45) Developing customer trust to build feedback loops (40:27) How “ease of use” became a growth secret (44:23) Pricing strategies and market positioning (51:51) How Meraki influenced Samsara's GTM strategy (57:19) Helping customers navigate change management (1:00:48) How Samsara's team evolved during rapid growth (1:04:03) What AI means for an IoT giant

In episode 217, Coffey talks with HRSouthwest Conference keynote speaker Steve Cadigan about the evolving nature of work.They discuss ongoing remote work debates; the evolution from hiring for skills to hiring for learning ability; the need for experimentation in remote team management; AI's role in skills analysis and internal talent mapping; building learning ecosystems between companies and educational institutions; the importance of knowing employee capabilities outside of their role-specific tasks; and HR's evolving role as facilitators of organizational awareness and AI governance.Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.About our Guest:Steve Cadigan is a highly sought-after talent advisor to leaders and organizations across the globe. As Founder of his own Silicon Valley-based firm, Cadigan Talent Ventures, Steve advises a wide range of innovative organizations that include Google, Cisco, Intel, and The Royal Bank of Scotland, Manchester United Football Club, The Country Music Association and the BBC. He is also regularly retained by some leading VC (Venture Capital) and Consulting firms such as Andreesen Horowitz, McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, and Greylock Partners for his counsel on a wide range of talent topics.Since 2021 Steve has been recognized every year as a top 100 thought leader in the world of Talent and People.Steve speaks at conferences and teaches in major universities around the world. His work in helping shape the culture at LinkedIn led Stanford University to build a graduate-level class around this ground-breaking work. Steve is frequently asked to appear on global TV and is a frequent guest on Bloomberg West, CBS, and CNBC.Throughout his career, the teams, cultures, and organizations he has led and helped build have been recognized as exceptional, “world-class” performers by the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine.Before launching his firm, Steve worked as an HR executive for over 25 years at a wide range of companies and industries including ESPRIT, Fireman's Fund Insurance, Cisco Systems, PMC-Sierra, Electronic Arts and capped by serving as the first CHRO for LinkedIn from 2009 through 2012, taking the company from a private firm of 400 employees, through an IPO and helping set it up to be the powerhouse that it has become today. In 2021 Steve received the high honor of being invited by both The University of San Francisco and Stanford University to deliver their commencement speeches.Today Steve serves on the Board of Directors to three companies and also sits on the Advisory Board of several other progressive organizations. His passion is helping leaders and companies build compelling talent strategies.In August of 2021 Steve published a ground-breaking book on the Future of Work titled Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working.Even before its official release it realized #1 on the Amazon list of Hot New Releases. In the summer of 2025 Steve launched a new podcast series called Workquake Weekly.Over his career, Steve has lived in Singapore, Canada, and the United States. He has interviewed, hired, coached and mentored thousands of employees and leaders within a wide range of industries and geographies. This is what sets Steve apart from others who speak about the future of work. Steve has lived deep inside the world of work as an employee AND as an employer. His experiences and achievements give him a unique and authoritative point of view, essential to all discussions about the future of work.Today Steve lives in California with his family. He is the father of four boys and the stepdad to two girls. When he is not speaking, teaching, or writing, you can find Steve coaching basketball, playing tennis, body surfing, driving his kids everywhere, or cheering them on at their activities.Steve graduated from Wesleyan University with a BA in History and received a Master's Degree in HR & Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working : https://a.co/d/3uORSF4Workquake Weekly Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/workquake-weekly/id1815731966Steve Cadigan can be reached at https://stevecadigan.com.About Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.Learning Objectives:1. Shift hiring strategies from evaluating what candidates already know to assessing their capacity to learn new skills quickly, as the shelf life of current competencies continues to shrink.2. Develop comprehensive internal talent mapping systems that identify employees' transferable skills and potential for different roles within the organization, similar to how companies track customer data.3. Create experimental approaches to remote work management rather than rigid policies, to determine what productivity and culture practices work best for specific team dynamics.

In this ethical lab demo, David Bombal and Kyle Winters connect Claude (LLM) to Metasploit through an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server to automate real attacks. Watch AI perform recon, generate a risk report, and execute VSFTPD backdoor, EternalBlue (SMBv1), and UnrealIRCD—dropping benign files on Linux and Windows with simple prompts. Educational use only on intentionally vulnerable VMs. Do not attack systems you don't own or lack permission to test. What you'll see • How MCP bridges an AI to real tools (Metasploit RPC) • AI-driven scanning + auto security report (services, versions, risks) • Prompted exploits: VSFTPD, EternalBlue, UnrealIRCD • Why this lowers barriers for red teams—and what blue teams should do // Sponsored SEGMENT // Big thanks to Cisco for sponsoring this video. // Kyle Winters SOCIAL // LinkedIn: / kyle-m-winters Cisco Blogs:  https://blogs.cisco.com/author/kylewi... // Websites REFERENCE // MetasploitMCP by GH05TCREW: https://github.com/GH05TCREW/Metasplo... Kareem Iskander's MCP blogs: https://blogs.cisco.com/author/kareem... Cisco U.: https://u.cisco.com?ccid=cisco-u&dtid... // Video REFERENCE // MCP Demo using Pythong: • MCP Demo using Python, AI and a self heali... Brute Force SSH: • Brute Force SSH & Build a Honeypot Now (Hy... Hacking LLMs: • Hacking LLMs Demo and Tutorial (Explore AI... // David's SOCIAL // Discord: discord.com/invite/usKSyzb Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbombal Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidbombal LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co TikTok: tiktok.com/@davidbombal YouTube: / @davidbombal Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gE... SoundCloud: / davidbombal Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... // MY STUFF // https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal // SPONSORS // Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com // Menu // 0:00 - Coming up 0:58 - Disclaimer 01:00 - Introducing Metasploit MCP Server (by GH05TCREW) 03:01 - Metasploit MCP Demo 1 05:12 - Metasploit MCP Demo 2 10:59 - Metasploit MCP Demo 3 16:18 - Metasploit MCP Demo 4 19:15 - Metasploit MCP Demo 5 21:45 - How AI is changing cybersecurity 23:07 - Metasploit MCP Demo 5 continued 26:51 - Metasploit MCP server summary 28:00 - Conclusion Please note that links listed may be affiliate links and provide me with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items listed or recommended. Thank you for supporting me and this channel! Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only.

Send us a textTim and Chris dive into the month's most significant tech developments, exploring antitrust rulings, emerging AI security threats, and the financial sustainability of the AI industry.• Google avoids having to sell Chrome in federal antitrust ruling but is barred from exclusive distribution contracts• Cybercriminals deploy "S1ngularity Attack" using LLM prompts to steal credentials from 2,100 GitHub accounts• Cisco reintroduces dedicated wireless certification track with focus on Wi-Fi 6/7 and Meraki technologies• Google Cloud introduces "agentic IAM" services to manage AI agent identities and improve MCP security• Zscaler CEO creates controversy by suggesting customer logs are used for AI training before company clarification• Avaya offers voluntary exit packages to all employees, suggesting potential acquisition or restructuring• OpenAI increases projected spending through 2029 by $80 billion to $115 billion totalShare this episode on social media and tell a friend about the podcast if you enjoyed it. You can find us on all platforms @Cables2Clouds.Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/ Check out the Fortnightly Cloud Networking Newshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/Visit our website and subscribe: https://www.cables2clouds.com/Follow us on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/cables2clouds.comFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cables2clouds/Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cables2cloudsMerch Store: https://store.cables2clouds.com/Join the Discord Study group: https://artofneteng.com/iaatj

We're thrilled to welcome Chris Pupillo (WWT VP of Engineering), Benita Mordi (WWT AI Strategist), and Joel Sprague (Cisco SE) to the Cisco SE Talks podcast. We cut through the noise to discuss customers' biggest questions about AI deployment, from strategy to security. Hear how our Cisco-WWT partnership is tackling the future and addressing our customers' biggest AI pain points head-on!

In today's episode of the Cisco Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Jason, a seasoned leader whose career spans technical, strategic, and executive roles. Jason shares his journey from humble beginnings to shaping teams, strategy, and culture at Cisco. Tune in to learn his unwritten rules of success, the CHII leadership principles (Courage, Honesty, Intellect, Intuition), and how to lead with purpose. Whether you're growing in your career or leading teams, Jason's insights are a masterclass in leadership. Thank you for listening!

"We do the hard stuff so our partners can go sell." That's how Brian Cuppett, Senior Vice President of Specialty Technologies at ScanSource, describes the company's newest announcement: a broadened partnership with Zoom. In an interview with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, Cuppett detailed a new resale agreement that allows VARs and partners to transact directly through Zoom's marketplace—expanding beyond the agency model that ScanSource has offered since acquiring Intelisys in 2015. The move opens doors for partners to choose the best fit between resale and agency models, while also combining licenses with physical devices such as phones, headsets, and video collaboration tools. The announcement was made at ScanSource Partner First, where partner response has been immediate. Cuppett said many are eager to shift select accounts from agency to resale to recognize top-line revenue on their books. He tied the deal to a broader company goal of raising recurring revenue from 20% today toward 30–50% in the next few years. Cuppett also outlined ScanSource's Cisco Blueprint program, part of its Evolve initiative, which guides partners through Cisco's upcoming 360 program changes. “We want our partners ready to execute when Cisco's program takes full effect in early 2026,” he explained. The conversation turned to AI, where Cuppett stressed that ScanSource is playing both offense and defense—educating partners on how suppliers like Cisco are using AI to fight cyber threats, while also pointing to innovations in network monitoring, collaboration quality, and even noise-cancellation features like HP Poly's acoustic fence. “AI is not just a technology trend—it's a way to solve real problems for customers,” Cuppett said. He emphasized ScanSource's role as an educator and enabler, ensuring partners can capture opportunities without getting lost in vendor complexity. Learn more at www.scansource.com

This week we talk about cyberespionage, China, and asymmetrical leverage.We also discuss political firings, hardware infiltration, and Five Eyes.Recommended Book: The Fourth Turning Is Here by Neil HoweTranscriptIn the year 2000, then-General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Jiang Zemin (jong ZEM-in), approved a plan to develop so-called “cyber coercive capabilities”—the infrastructure for offensive hacking—partly as a consequence of aggressive actions by the US, which among other things had recently bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade as part of the NATO campaign in Yugoslavia.The US was a nuclear power with immense military capabilities that far outshone those of China, and the idea was that the Chinese government needed some kind of asymmetrical means of achieving leverage against the US and its allies to counter that. Personal tech and the internet were still relatively young in 2000—the first iPhone wouldn't be released for another seven years, for context—but there was enough going on in the cyber-intelligence world that it seemed like a good point of leverage to aim for.The early 2000s Chairman of the CCP, Hu Jintao, backed this ambition, citing the burgeoning threat of instability-inducing online variables, like those that sparked the color revolutions across Europe and Asia, and attack strategies similar to Israel's Stuxnet cyberattack on Iran as justification, though China's growing economic dependence on its technological know-how was also part of the equation; it could evolve its capacity in this space relatively quickly, and it had valuable stuff that was targetable by foreign cyberattacks, so it was probably a good idea to increase their defenses, while also increasing their ability to hit foreign targets in this way—that was the logic here.The next CCP Chairman, Xi Jinping, doubled-down on this effort, saying that in the cyber world, everyone else was using air strikes and China was still using swords and spears, so they needed to up their game substantially and rapidly.That ambition seems to have been realized: though China is still reportedly regularly infiltrated by foreign entities like the US's CIA, China's cybersecurity firms and state-affiliated hacker groups have become serious players on the international stage, pulling off incredibly complex hacks of foreign governments and infrastructure, including a campaign called Volt Typhoon, which seems to have started sometime in or before 2021, but which wasn't discovered by US entities until 2024. This campaign saw Chinese hackers infiltrating all sorts of US agencies and infrastructure, initially using malware, and then entwining themselves with the operating systems used by their targets, quietly syphoning off data, credentials, and other useful bits of information, slowly but surely becoming even more interwoven with the fabric of these systems, and doing so stealthily in order to remain undetected for years.This effort allowed hackers to glean information about the US's defenses in the continental US and in Guam, while also helping them breach public infrastructure, like Singapore's telecommunications company, Singtel. It's been suggested that, as with many Chinese cyberattacks, this incursion was a long-game play, meant to give the Chinese government the option of both using private data about private US citizens, soldiers, and people in government for manipulation or blackmail purposes, or to shut down important infrastructure, like communications channels or electrical grids, in the event of a future military conflict.What I'd like to talk about today is another, even bigger and reportedly more successful long-term hack by the Chinese government, and one that might be even more disruptive, should there ever be a military conflict between China and one of the impacted governments, or their allies.—Salt Typhoon is the name that's been given to a so-called '“advanced persistent threat actor,” which is a formal way of saying hacker or hacker group, by Microsoft, which plays a big role in the cybersecurity world, especially at this scale, a scale involving not just independent hackers, but government-level cyberespionage groups.This group is generally understood to be run out of the Chinese Ministry of State Security, or MSS, and though it's not usually possible to say something like that for certain, hence the “generally understood” component of that statement, often everyone kind of knows who's doing what, but it's imprudent to say so with 100% certainty, as cyberespionage, like many other sorts of spy stuff, is meant to be a gray area where governments can knock each other around without leading to a shooting war. If anyone were to say with absolute certainty, yes, China is hacking us, and it's definitely the government, and they're doing a really good job of it, stealing all our stuff and putting us at risk, that would either require the targeted government to launch some sort of counterstrike against China, or would leave that targeted government looking weak, and thus prone to more such incursions and attacks, alongside any loss of face they might suffer.So there's a lot of hand-waving and alluding in this sphere of diplomacy and security, but it's basically understood that Salt Typhoon is run by China, and it's thought that they've been operating since at least 2020.Their prime function seems to be stealing as much classified data as they can from governments around the world, and scooping up all sorts of intellectual property from corporations, too.China's notorious for collecting this kind of IP and then giving it to Chinese companies, which have become really good at using such IP, copying it, making it cheaper, and sometimes improving upon it in other ways, as well. This government-corporation collaboration model is fundamental to the operation of China's economy, and the dynamic between its government, it's military, its intelligence services, and its companies, all of which work together in various ways.It's estimated that Salt Typhoon has infiltrated more than 200 targets in more than 80 countries, and alongside corporate entities like AT&T and Verizon, they also managed to scoop up private text messages from Kamala Harris' and Donald Trump's presidential campaigns in 2024, using hacks against phone services to do so.Three main Chinese tech companies allegedly helped Salt Typhoon infiltrate foreign telecommunications companies and internet service providers, alongside hotel, transportation, and other sorts of entities, which allowed them to not just grab text messages, but also track people, keeping tabs on their movements, which again, might be helpful in future blackmail or even assassination operations.Those three companies seem to be real-deal, actual companies, not just fronts for Chinese intelligence, but the government was able to use them, and the services and products they provide, to sneak malicious code into all kinds of vital infrastructure and all sorts of foreign corporations and agencies—which seems to support concerns from several years ago about dealing with Chinese tech companies like Huawei; some governments decided not to work with them, especially in building-out their 5G communications infrastructure, due to the possibility that the Chinese government might use these ostensibly private companies as a means of getting espionage software or devices into these communications channels or energy grids. The low prices Huawei offered just wasn't worth the risk.The US government announced back in 2024 that Salt Typhoon had infiltrated a bunch of US telecommunications companies and broadband networks, and that routers manufactured by Cisco were also compromised by this group. The group was also able to get into ISP services that US law enforcement and intelligence services use to conduct court-authorized wiretaps; so they weren't just spying on individuals, they were also spying on other government's spies and those they were spying on.Despite all these pretty alarming findings, in the midst of the investigation into these hacks, the second US Trump administration fired the government's Cyber Safety Review Board, which was thus unable to complete its investigation into Salt Typhoon's intrusion.The FBI has since issued a large bounty for information about those involved in Salt Typhoon, but that only addresses the issue indirectly, and there's still a lot we don't know about this group, the extent of their hacking, and where else they might still be embedded, in part because the administration fired those looking into it, reportedly because the administration didn't like this group also looking into Moscow's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, and Salt Typhoon's potential interference with the 2024 presidential election, both of which Trump won.The US government has denied these firings are in any way political, saying they intend to focus on cyber offense rather than defense, and pointing out that the current approach to investigating these sorts of things was imperfect; which is something that most outside organizations would agree on.That said, there are concerns that these firings, and other actions against the US's cyberthreat defensive capabilities, are revenge moves against people and groups that have said the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden, was the most secure and best-run election in US history; which flies in the face of Trump's preferred narrative that he won in 2020—something he's fond of repeating, though without evidence, and with a vast body of evidence against his claim.The US has also begun pulling away from long-time allies that it has previously collaborated with in the cyberespionage and cyberdefense sphere, including its Five Eyes partners, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.Since Tulsi Gabbard was installed as the Director of National Intelligence by Trump's new administration, US intelligence services have been instructed to withhold information about negotiations with Russia and Ukraine from these allies; something that's worrying intelligence experts, partly because this move seems to mostly favor Russia, and partly because it represents one more wall, of many, that the administration seems to be erecting between the US and these allies. Gabbard herself is also said to be incredibly pro-Russian, so while that may not be influencing this decision, it's easy to understand why many allies and analysts are concerned that her loyalties might be divided in this matter.So what we have is a situation in which political considerations and concerns, alongside divided priorities and loyalties within several governments, but the US in particular right now, might be changing the layout of, and perhaps even weakening, cybersecurity and cyberespionage services at the very moment these services might be most necessary, because a foreign government has managed to install itself in all kinds of agencies, infrastructure, and corporations.That presence could allow China to milk these entities for information and stolen intellectual property, but it could also put the Chinese government in a very favorable position, should some kind of conflict break out, including but not limited to an invasion of Taiwan; if the US's electrical grids or telecommunications services go down, or the country's military is unable to coordinate with itself, or with its allies in the Pacific, at the moment China invades, there's a non-zero chance that would impact the success of that invasion in China's favor.Again, this is a pretty shadowy playing field even at the best of times, but right now there seems to be a lot happening in the cyberespionage space, and many of the foundations that were in place until just recently, are also being shaken, shattered, or replaced, which makes this an even more tumultuous, uncertain moment, with heightened risks for everybody, though maybe the opposite for those attacking these now more-vulnerable bits of infrastructure and vital entities.Show Noteshttps://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/china-used-three-private-companies-hack-global-telecoms-us-says-rcna227543https://media.defense.gov/2025/Aug/22/2003786665/-1/-1/0/CSA_COUNTERING_CHINA_STATE_ACTORS_COMPROMISE_OF_NETWORKS.PDFhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/us/politics/trump-loomer-haugh-cyberattacks-elections.htmlhttps://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250826-has-the-us-shut-its-five-eyes-allies-out-of-intelligence-on-ukraine-russia-peace-talkshttps://www.axios.com/2025/09/04/china-salt-typhoon-fbi-advisory-us-datahttps://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/chinese-spies-hit-more-than-80-countries-in-salt-typhoon-breach-fbi-reveals-59b2108fhttp://axios.com/2025/08/02/china-usa-cyberattacks-microsoft-sharepointhttps://www.axios.com/2024/12/03/salt-typhoon-china-phone-hackshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/world/asia/china-hack-salt-typhoon.htmlhttps://www.euronews.com/2025/09/04/trump-and-jd-vance-among-targets-of-major-chinese-cyberattack-investigators-sayhttps://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12798https://www.fcc.gov/document/implications-salt-typhoon-attack-and-fcc-responsehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Typhoonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_global_telecommunications_hackhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_interference_in_the_2024_United_States_electionshttps://www.theregister.com/2025/08/28/how_does_china_keep_stealing/https://www.nsa.gov/Press-Room/Press-Releases-Statements/Press-Release-View/Article/4287371/nsa-and-others-provide-guidance-to-counter-china-state-sponsored-actors-targeti/https://chooser.crossref.org/?doi=10.2307%2Fjj.16040335https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberwarfare_and_Chinahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volt_Typhoon This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

George Kurian's journey from a modest upbringing in Kerala, India, to becoming CEO of NetApp is an extraordinary story. George worked cafeteria shifts and construction jobs to pay his way through Princeton before climbing the ranks at Oracle, McKinsey, and Cisco. In this episode, George opens up about the weight of being a “rookie CEO” responsible for 12,000 people, the discipline of saying no to 97% of ideas, and the humility it takes to lead through uncertainty. He and Ilana explore resilience, focus, and the future of AI, while revealing how diverse experiences and family values shaped his leadership philosophy. George Kurian is CEO of NetApp, a Fortune 500 data infrastructure and cloud services company. Under his leadership, NetApp has strengthened its cloud-first and data services strategy, growing into a $20 billion company. In this episode, Ilana and George will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:20) Family Role Models and Upbringing (06:00) Landing a Princeton Scholarship and Learning to Survive (09:20) Lessons from Oracle and McKinsey (13:50) Why George Left Cisco to Join NetApp (16:45) How Cafeteria Work Inspired NetApp's Engineering Process (19:40) The ‘30-30-30' Rule for Driving Organizational Change (22:40) George's Journey to Becoming CEO Overnight (26:30) First-Time CEO Challenges and Leadership Struggles (30:40) Why a CEO Should Say “No” to 97% of Ideas (33:10) Betting on Cloud Partnerships Instead of Competing (37:15) The Power of Choosing Your Path and Tackling Hard Problems George Kurian is CEO of NetApp, a Fortune 500 data infrastructure and cloud services company. Before joining NetApp in 2011, he had built a diverse tech career that included leadership roles at Oracle, McKinsey, Cisco, and Akamai. Under his leadership, NetApp has strengthened its cloud-first and data services strategy, growing into a $20 billion company. Connect with George: George's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/georgekuriannetapp Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Watch the free training at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training

Ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about distribution?

Selling has always been at the heart of business growth—but how we sell, who sells, and what customers expect has changed dramatically. On this episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I spoke with Tsahala David, CEO of Great Revenue, a sales consulting firm that helps B2B software companies grow smarter and faster. With an extraordinary background—MIT MBA, tech founder, and sales leadership roles at IBM and Salesforce—Tsahala has seen sales from every angle. Her story and insights reveal not just how to grow revenue but how to thrive in a new era of sales transformation From Startup Founder to Sales Leader Tshala's journey began in Israel, where she completed military service and studied psychology before shifting into computer science. After founding her own tech company in her twenties, she confronted an early challenge many entrepreneurs face: defining her role. At first reluctant to call herself “CEO,” she quickly realized that imposter syndrome had to be shed—because if you're running the business, you are the CEO That early startup experience gave her first-hand knowledge of the uphill battle founders face in selling products, building teams, and convincing investors. Seeking more tools, she went to MIT for her MBA, then built a 20-year career in sales at global giants like IBM and Salesforce, closing multi-million-dollar deals with clients like Wells Fargo and Cisco. At Salesforce, she learned what she calls the “power of sparkle”—the way a company can attract talent, customers, and attention by combining strategy with personality and brand charisma. These lessons now fuel her work at Great Revenue, where she helps companies align their sales strategies with today's market realities. Common Mistakes in Startup Sales One of Tsahala's most valuable contributions is diagnosing the mistakes founders and sales leaders make at different growth stages. Early-stage startups often believe that signing a few reseller “partners” means they have a sales team. But, as Tshala warns, relying on partners who only earn commission when they sell means sales rarely happen. The real cost isn't money—it's lost time, and in startups, six months of delay can kill your competitive advantage Later-stage companies often get compensation plans wrong. She shared a case where salespeople were paid less for online orders than phone orders. Predictably, reps discouraged online buying and insisted clients call them—hurting profitability and wasting resources. The lesson? Follow the money. Salespeople respond to incentives, so design compensation plans with the outcomes you want Sales management is another weak spot. Too often, managers don't require reps to prepare for pipeline meetings. Tshala recommends using simple forms that force reps to answer key questions—deal size, decision makers, last contact, close date. This not only helps managers track progress but also helps sellers spot gaps in their deals The Role of AI in Sales Naturally, our conversation turned to AI in sales. Tsahala sees tools like ChatGPT as game-changers for research and preparation. Instead of spending hours digging through reports, salespeople can instantly access a company's strategy, leadership, and metrics. But there's a catch: weak sellers often use AI as a crutch, staying at a generic level. Strong sellers know to go deeper, asking sharper questions and tailoring insights to the customer's specific needs. AI, Tshala argues, empowers strong sellers but won't rescue weak ones The future belongs to those who combine technology with human curiosity, empathy, and problem-solving. Shifts in Buyer Behavior Another theme we explored was the dramatic shift in how buyers engage with sellers. Older generations may remember sitting across the table until a contract was signed. But today's buyers often don't work in offices, don't answer phones, and rely on digital channels to research solutions. Events are no longer centralized; instead, buyers connect through fragmented online communities—from LinkedIn groups to Discord servers. That means marketing now owns much of the top of the funnel, while sales must focus on converting leads and building trust. Sellers today must immerse themselves in buyers' digital worlds, positioning themselves not just as vendors but as collaborators in problem-solving Key Takeaways for Sales Leaders As we wrapped up our conversation, Tsahala emphasized that sales is a profession, not a side hustle. Everyone thinks they know how to sell—after all, we've all sold something, even if just a used car or lemonade stand. But true sales success requires expertise, structure, and strategy. Here are her top three lessons for sales leaders and entrepreneurs: Don't go it alone. Sales consulting isn't optional—it's an investment in avoiding costly mistakes. Design incentives wisely. Compensation plans drive behavior. Align them with your business goals. Embrace change. Buyer behavior, sales roles, and technology are evolving. Those who adapt will thrive Why This Matters Now We are living through a great transformation in sales. Marketing and sales are no longer siloed; collaboration is essential. AI accelerates preparation but cannot replace human insight. And customer expectations continue to evolve. For CEOs, founders, and sales leaders, Tsahala David's message is clear: if you want revenue growth, you must rethink your approach to sales. Invest in your people, design smart processes, and leverage technology thoughtfully. Sales isn't just about closing deals anymore—it's about creating value, building trust, and collaborating with buyers in ways that meet them where they are. Watch our interview on YouTube Listen + Subscribe: Available wherever you get your podcasts—Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube, and more. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share with someone navigating their own leadership journey. Reach out and contact us if you want to see how a little anthropology can help your business grow.  Let's Talk! From Observation to Innovation, Andi Simon, PhD CEO | Corporate Anthropologist | Author Simonassociates.net Info@simonassociates.net @simonandi LinkedIn

Scott Mason chats with Joe Blewett of Jetsxfactor.com to review the All-22 film of new Jets DB Andre Cisco! Joe discusses Cisco's overall skillset, strengths and weaknesses, how the coaches may approach working with him, potential fit in the Jets' defense ......and much more! Check out the Play Like A Jet store and get your "Play Like A Jet" logo shirt RIGHT NOW! Hoodies, hats, mugs, etc.....also available! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/19770068-play-like-a-jet-logo-shirt?store_id=717242 To advertise on Play Like A Jet, please contact: Justin@Brokencontrollermedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Kat and Ian for 17 minutes of great advice on advancing your career, and five minutes of Ian ranting about his therapist - it's a safe space here, okay? From being the "life of the corporate party" to sending a message to the wrong person via work chat, Kat and Ian go through all the "don'ts" of growing your career. Tune into this episode for tips, laughs, and vents - the three consistencies of 404. If you've made it this far and are actually looking for information on Cisco's solutions, you can check them out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-a107e9a621-item-6caff3e5bb-tab Oh! And now you can WATCH 404 on our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@404ScriptNotFound

Catch Up Cisco 9.3.25 by Talented Slackers

Alex Goryachev discusses his book his Wall Street Journal best-selling book “Fearless Innovation.” Alex is serving as Innovator-in-Residence at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Tulane University. Prior to that he was the Managing Director of Global Innovation Programs and Strategy at Cisco. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? https://DigitalTransformationPodast.net/guest Do you want to be a sponsor? https://DigitalTransformationPodcast.net/sponsor  

In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, recorded at Mountain Connect 2025 in Denver, host Brad Hine sits down with Robin Olds, Senior Business Development Manager at Cisco Systems. Together, they explore Cisco's pivotal role in shaping the future of broadband—from reimagining network architecture with routed optical networking to advancing AI-driven connectivity and capacity management. Robin shares insights into Cisco's broadband initiatives, including support for rural and tribal providers, engagement with federal funding programs like BEAD and ReConnect, and the company's long-standing legacy in internet innovation. They also discuss how service providers can prepare for the growing demands of AI, streaming, and bandwidth-intensive applications by moving compute closer to the network edge.

Alex Goryachev is a Forbes-recognized innovation expert and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. In this episode, he shares his expertise on harnessing the power of AI to drive transformative change. With hands-on experience at top brands like Cisco, Dell, IBM, and Pfizer, Alex cuts through the hype and delivers authentic, actionable insights on overcoming AI resistance and sparking innovation.   Links: Alex's Website: https://www.alexgoryachev.com/

 Imagine a world where quantum computers seamlessly share entangled particles across data centers, solving problems beyond the reach of classical systems. This may be possible soon thanks to a groundbreaking quantum networking entanglement chip capable of generating 200 million entangled photon pairs per second at room temperature. Cisco is redefining networking again, doing everything from detecting eavesdroppers on classical networks to laying the foundation for a quantum internet … and potentially scaling quantum computing. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a wide-ranging chat with Reza Nejabati and Ramana Kompella from Cisco. For more information on Cisco's quantum research, visit https://research.cisco.com/quantum-research.   Visit Protiviti at www.protiviti.com/US-en/technology-consulting/quantum-computing-services  to learn more about how Protiviti is helping organizations get post-quantum ready.  Follow host Konstantinos Karagiannis on all socials: @KonstantHacker and follow Protiviti Technology on LinkedIn and X: @ProtivitiTech.             Questions and comments are welcome!  Theme song by David Schwartz, copyright 2021.  The views expressed by the participants of this program are their own and do not represent the views of, nor are they endorsed by, Protiviti Inc., The Post-Quantum World, or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, shareholders, or subsidiaries.  None of the content should be considered investment advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. Thanks for listening to this podcast. Protiviti Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, including minorities, females, people with disabilities, and veterans.  

How do you build and defend a network where attacks are not just expected-they're part of the curriculum? In this episode, Hazel talks with Jessica Oppenheimer, Director of Security Operations at Cisco, about the ten years she's spent in the Black Hat Network Operations Center (NOC).Explore the technical challenges of segmenting and monitoring a network designed for experimentation, live hacking, and hands-on training, including how malicious and benign behaviors are distinguished in real time. Jessica shares how the NOC leverages Cisco technologies like the new machine learning-powered SnortML engine to detect zero-days, outliers, and advanced attack patterns that traditional rule sets miss.Learn how automation, contextual analysis, and collaborative response drive decision-making in this high-stakes environment, and how those lessons now influence security at global events like the Olympics and the Super Bowl.For more details, check out the Cisco blog wrap detailing all our Black Hat NOC activity https://blogs.cisco.com/security/bhusa-2025-noc

Liz Centoni takes us on the extraordinary journey through her 25-year career at Cisco, where she's currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer, leading a global team of 21,000 employees. Rather than viewing her long tenure at one company as stagnation, Liz describes finding multiple "lily pads" across 13 different roles, allowing her to constantly reinvent herself while building diverse skills and leadership capabilities.With refreshing candor, Liz addresses the challenges women in technology face, sharing personal experiences of having ideas ignored until repeated by male colleagues. "It took me a long time to realize that it was not about how I was saying it, it was who was hearing it," she reflects. This authenticity extends to her leadership approach, where building trust through consistent communication, clear priorities, and genuine empathy creates alignment across her organization.As an executive at the forefront of technological innovation, Liz offers valuable insights into how AI is transforming customer experience. She distinguishes between traditional AI applications and newer agentic systems that can take autonomous action, creating opportunities to solve persistent customer problems at scale. Rather than viewing AI as a job replacement, Liz sees it as freeing teams from repetitive tasks to focus on more complex, creative problem-solving.Perhaps most powerful is Liz's reflection on what it means "to be bolder," drawing from Viktor Frankl's philosophy that between stimulus and response lies a space where we choose our actions. For Liz, boldness means expanding that space, taking ownership of choices, and recognizing personal agency in every situation – a perspective that offers a powerful framework for approaching leadership challenges with authenticity and courage.Ready to transform your approach to career development and leadership?Tune in now here or on your favorite streaming channels.Subscribe to the To Be Bolder podcast for more conversations with inspiring leaders who are breaking barriers and creating meaningful change.Support the show When you subscribe to the podcast, you are supporting our work's mission, allowing us to continue highlighting successful women in a variety of careers to inspire others helping pay our wonderful editor, Chris, and helping me in paying our hosting expenses.

Take a Network Break! We start with follow-ups regarding the 7-year-old Cisco bug, risks of AI agents, and Anthropic forcing you to opt out or have your chats saved for five years. Then we highlight a serious vulnerability (which is being exploited in the wild) in Citrix NetScaler ADC and Netscaler Gateway systems. On the... Read more »

Take a Network Break! We start with follow-ups regarding the 7-year-old Cisco bug, risks of AI agents, and Anthropic forcing you to opt out or have your chats saved for five years. Then we highlight a serious vulnerability (which is being exploited in the wild) in Citrix NetScaler ADC and Netscaler Gateway systems. On the... Read more »

Take a Network Break! We start with follow-ups regarding the 7-year-old Cisco bug, risks of AI agents, and Anthropic forcing you to opt out or have your chats saved for five years. Then we highlight a serious vulnerability (which is being exploited in the wild) in Citrix NetScaler ADC and Netscaler Gateway systems. On the... Read more »

In this episode, we talk with Anne Sena, Director of Operations and Technology at St. David's School. Anne shares her compelling journey from a fast-paced corporate career at Cisco to impactful leadership in an independent school, offering key insights on managing institutional change, building trust with faculty, and navigating an expanding technology role.St. David's SchoolAnne's LinkedIn ProfileATLIS / NAIS AI Collaboration ResourcesBurnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, book by sisters Emily and Amelia NagoskiOver Work: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life, book by Bridget SchultzATLIS Leadership Institute, education and networking program designed to prepare and support technology leaders in independent schools as they grow into their positions and expand their influence.Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included), by Pooja Lakshmin, M.D.Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time, by Brigid SchulteThe Secret of My Success, 80's film with strong female character in corporate environment

Welcome to Building Brand You™, the podcast that helps you accelerate your success by unlocking your greatest asset – you.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Authenticity is the foundation of a successful personal brand so raise your hand for opportunities that resonate with your deepest self. Every interaction and action contributes to your brand. Every contact - from social media comments to professional meetings - leaves a trace and reinforces your personal brand. Your personal brand is a reflection of your evolving self. It's not a fixed entity but a dynamic representation of who you are, your values, and your professional journey. Being able to discern and choose clients and collaborations that align with your values, the difference you want to make, and your ways of working is one of the biggest benefits of understanding your personal brand.   ABOUT OUR GUESTS: With nearly two decades of entrepreneurial experience, Astrid navigated from the world of language training and intercultural collaboration to my current role as a seasoned change lead. As a trusted guide, she helps executive teams navigate complexity and transformation with clarity and heart. A lifelong polyglot and global citizen, Astrid worked across continents, connecting people and ideas. Her belief is that change is a craft, and curiosity is its most powerful tool. She is never without a fountain pen to capture new ideas. When she's not working, you can find her exploring new cultures, enjoying good food, and staying active through a variety of sports.   CONNECT WITH ASTRID VAN WANUM: Email - Astrid.vanwanum@sparkyourpotential.nl LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/astridvanwanum Instagram - @sparkyourpotential   Beth Topolovsky, is the founder and CEO of Spark Group AB, a consulting firm helping companies transform their product management practices to drive growth and to work with a product-led culture.  She has over 25 years of executive management and technical experience from Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, and KLA-Tencor in Silicon Valley.  Beth took an assignment to turn around an acquisition of Cisco's located in Stockholm, Sweden and has been anchored there since.  She has a deep interest in corporate transformations and enjoys nothing more than to see teams thriving and excelling beyond their greatest imagination.   CONNECT WITH BETH TOPOLOVSKY: Email - beth@sparkgroup.se LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-topolovsky Website - http://www.sparkgroup.se/   Susan brings decades of experience in business development, small business and project management, treasury/financial reporting, team leadership, analysis and design, system implementation, communications and more. She was Treasurer and COO of a small litigation firm for more than 30 years, and was the interface with creditors, financiers, accountants, other law firms, the judiciary and professional organizations. Susan was also staff mediator, manager and mentor (which is no minor role, as anyone who operates a successful small business is aware!). She is a real estate investor in the affordable housing sector, having managed multiple renovation projects. She was an analyst for a leading financial services firm redesigning their world-wide trading system, where she was responsible for branch operations. And she coordinated special projects for the international public relations department of a Fortune 50 multinational corporation. A graduate of New York University, Susan holds her B.A in Economics with honors, as well as a Certificate in Financial Management from Cornell University. Susan sits on the NY Advisory Committee for a long-established nonprofit, raising funds and awareness to meet its mission. She was the Treasurer and Board Member for a young nonprofit that shelters homeless youth, where she established their system of books and records and compliance procedures. Susan also volunteered with various community organizations, schools and ad hoc committees in her local area. She is an Ambassador for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and an advocate for vulnerable populations. She speaks Spanish and is learning Italian. Brooklyn, NY is where Susan calls home.   CONNECT WITH SUSAN TEICHMAN: Email - susan@reflexsolutionsllc.com LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-teichman-174383198 Website - http://www.reflexsolutionsllc.com/ ABOUT KYM HAMER: Kym is an international leadership and personal branding thought leader, an executive coach, and a programme design and facilitation practitioner. She is also the creator of Building Brand You™ - a methodology helping organisations, teams, and individuals to build reputation, presence, and gravitas. Kym works with leaders - both individually and in organisational development initiatives - to inspire and engage thinking styles and behaviour that achieve results and leave legacy. In 2020, just one year after launching her business, she was nominated by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 100 Women B2B Leadership influencers and is currently in the Top 15 Personal Branding and Top 10 Marketing Influencers in the world. For 5 years running Kym has also been one of Thinkers360's Top 10 Thought Leaders on Entrepreneurship and in 2023, 2024 and 2025, was recognised as one of their Top Voices globally. She has been part of Homeward Bound Projects faculty since 2020, a global initiative reaching 1.8 billion people, equipping women and non-binary people with a STEMM background to lead conversations for a sustainable future. She is currently the Program Design and Faculty Lead for the 10th on-line cohort and was part of the on-board faculty who voyaged to Antarctica in 2023 and 2025, to deliver the initiative's immersive component. In between all of these things, you'll find her curled up in a corner with her nose in a book.   Building Brand You™: JOIN the BBY Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingbrandyou SUBSCRIBE to the BBY Podcast on: (Apple) - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/building-brand-you/id1567407273 (Spotify) - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ho26pAQ5uJ9h0dGNicCIq CONNECT WITH KYM HAMER: LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kymhamer/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kymhamerartemis/ Request to join the BBY Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingbrandyou  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kymhamerartemis TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kymhamer Thinkers360 - https://bit.ly/thinkers360-kymhamer-BBY Find out about BBY Coaching - https://calendly.com/kymhamer/bbychat/   HOSTED BY: Kym Hamer   DISCLAIMER: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Building Brand You™ podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved. They do not necessarily represent any other entities, agencies, organisations, or companies. Building Brand You™ is not responsible and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information in the podcast available for listening on this site. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute legal advice or services

AB sits down with Jorge Ramirez, GM's Global Director Automation, Chief Manufacturing Cybersecurity Officer, to discuss how GM leverages Cisco technology extensively across its global manufacturing plants to enhance operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and network visibility.

AI isn't just buzz — it's about to unleash 2,142 zettabytes of data (yep, that's all the sand on all the beaches… times 2,142

Aviation Career Foundation & PhilosophyDarren Pleasance's aviation journey began serendipitously at age 13 in Livermore, California, sparked by witnessing model airplane flying in a local park (02:32)Boy Scouts aviation merit badge provided first airplane flight experience with troop leader who was also a flight instructorAirport proximity advantage allowed daily after-school bicycle rides to Livermore Airport for hands-on learningMentorship network development through open hangar visits led to free flight instruction from CFI named DougAccelerated certification timeline: solo at 16, private at 17, commercial instrument flight instructor at 18College funding strategy utilized flight instruction income to pay for education expensesLife decision framework established early: "When faced with difficult decision, choose one that makes for better story" (07:03)McKinsey departure decision after 14 years applied this principle to join Google despite financial spreadsheet analysisAlaska bush pilot choice over completing engineering master's degree exemplified same philosophyCareer diversification approach created multiple aviation experiences: corporate jets, glider towing, competition aerobatics, bush flyingMedical Certification Challenges & AdaptationsColor vision deficiency discovery at age 16 during first medical examination created major career obstacle (09:16)Initial medical restriction: "not valid for night flight or color signals" threatened professional pilot aspirationsDemonstrated ability waiver process required FAA flight examination demonstrating ability to distinguish aviation-relevant colorsTesting requirements included: identifying plowed vs. unplowed fields, recognizing taxiway centerline lights, runway edge lights, beacon colorsAirline career impact: even with eventual first-class medical clearance, airlines wouldn't hire pilots with any medical history complicationsBlessing in disguise outcome: forced exploration of diverse aviation opportunities including John Travolta corporate pilot work, competition aerobatics, P-51 flyingCorporate Experience IntegrationMcKinsey consulting foundation provided comprehensive business function exposure across marketing, sales, finance, organizational strategy (05:58)High-tech specialization and sales/marketing focus opened door to Google global team leadership opportunity14-year tenure built expertise in helping management teams improve business performance worldwideDiverse client experience across multiple industries and business functions created versatile skill setGoogle and Cisco leadership roles combined with continuous aviation involvement maintained dual expertise (12:51)Weekend flying commitment included teaching aerobatics at Bedford Airport's Executive Flyers AviationCompetition aerobatics involvement led to EAA board connections and industry networkingP-51 flying experience enhanced aviation credibility and public profileAOPA Leadership Vision & QualificationsUnique qualification combination merged deep aviation passion with Fortune 500 business leadership experience (12:51)200+ employee organization requires substantial business management capabilitiesPublic speaking requirements for member events, donor relations, political advocacy, airport community relationsAviation credibility essential for representing pilot community interests and understanding operational challengesAdvocacy experience needed for communicating aviation value to non-pilot stakeholdersCurrent aircraft ownership maintains grassroots GA connection through Sea Ray amphibious aircraft and RV-6 ownership (15:11)Recent flying examples: Priest Lake, Idaho seaplane fly-in participation, formation flying with friendsBackcountry flying engagement demonstrates continued hands-on small aircraft experienceCost-conscious operations understanding through Rotax-powered aircraft ownershipComprehensive Member Service PortfolioBase membership value proposition at $89 annually provides extensive pilot support services (20:40)Pilot Information Center staffing includes deep maintenance experts available for technical problem-solvingInternational flight planning assistance covers Canada, Bahamas, and worldwide destinations with step-by-step guidanceAircraft purchasing support through aviation finance group connections and escrow service coordinationDocumentation and process guidance for complex aviation procedures and regulatory compliancePilot Protective Services enhancement for additional $85 annually adds critical legal and medical advocacy (21:43)Medical packet review service ensures special issuance applications meet FAA requirements before submissionLegal representation availability for FAA enforcement actions, violations, or incident responsesSpecialized expertise access for navigating complex regulatory interactions and protecting pilot certificatesRisk mitigation approach prevents multi-month delays from incomplete FAA submissionsMedical Certification Support & Modern ChallengesGrowing mental health certification complexity requires specialized AOPA medical services guidance (30:28)Young pilot medication history increasingly common for anxiety, depression, ADHD treatments during teenage yearsHistorical automatic disqualification being replaced with thoughtful case-by-case evaluation by FAADocumentation requirements becoming more complex but achievable with proper preparation and advocacyDr. Susan Northrup leadership as Federal Air Surgeon working to reduce special issuance backlogsProcessing timeline improvements under current FAA medical leadership showing measurable progress (30:28)Six-month to one-year timelines still common for special issuance cases with complex medical historiesBacklog reduction efforts ongoing but substantial volumes still creating extended wait timesProfessional pilot impact demonstrated through airline pilot medical deferral experiences requiring months of career uncertaintyLegislative Advocacy & Infrastructure ProtectionAirport infrastructure comparison highlights US aviation system advantages over international counterparts (35:56)5,000 public use airports in US with only 500 having control towers enables widespread GA access3,500 airports with instrument approaches create weather-independent national transportation networkGermany comparison: only towered airports permitted instrument approaches, severely limiting utility aviationEuropean model limitations restrict general aviation to VFR-only operations at uncontrolled airportsATC privatization opposition based on international precedent analysis and stakeholder influence concerns (33:32)User fee implementation in privatized systems creates barriers to flight training, safety practices, and airport utilizationAirline influence concentration through deeper financial resources shapes privatized ATC board decisionsAirspace allocation shifts favor commercial operations over general aviation access and utilitySafety degradation risks from reduced flight training frequency due to per-operation fee structuresEducational Programs & Future Pilot DevelopmentHigh school aviation program expansion reaching 30,000 students across 1,500 schools nationwide (23:49)Four-year curriculum structure provided free to participating schools regardless of economic constraintsTeacher training programs enable non-pilot educators to deliver aviation content effectivelyCareer pathway diversification beyond traditional airline pilot focus to include corporate, firefighting, medevac, bush flying opportunitiesProfessional development support helps students understand aviation industry breadth and alternative career pathsPilot shortage solution approach emphasizes local flight school importance over centralized training facilities (38:19)Military pilot percentage decline requires civilian-trained pilot pipeline expansion for airline recruitmentLocal flight school network at thousands of airports provides distributed training capacityAirport closure threat directly impacts airline pilot production capability and national transportation infrastructureMember Engagement & Growth StrategyFlight instructor advocacy role critical for membership growth and student pilot introduction to AOPA services (45:41)Historical membership introduction pattern: CFIs recommended AOPA alongside essential equipment and educational materialsCurrent engagement decline among flight instructors requires renewed education about AOPA value propositionStudent pilot free membership for six months provides risk-free introduction to organization benefitsCareer-long value proposition extends beyond private pilot training through professional aviation transitionsPublic advocacy responsibility for aviation community members to educate non-pilot population about airport importance (47:55)Medical evacuation services utilizing local airports for emergency patient transportFirefighting operations depend on airport infrastructure for aerial suppression activitiesEconomic development impact through business aviation supporting local employment and commercePilot training pipeline at local airports directly feeds airline industry personnel requirements

What happens when AI disruption collides with the urgent need for human-centered leadership?In this episode of The Conscious Capitalists' Future-Focused Summer Series, hosts Timothy Henry and Dr. Neha Sangwan are joined by Christine Heckart - tech industry veteran, former CEO of Scalyr, senior executive at Microsoft and Cisco, and now founder of Xapa, an AI-powered leadership development platform. Together, they dive into how leaders can guide their organizations through radical uncertainty, exponential change, and the AI revolution without leaving their people behind.Christine pulls from 30 years in Silicon Valley to reveal why 90% of AI transformation projects are failing - not because of technology, but because of people. She explains how leaders must anchor teams in trust, purpose, and psychological safety, while scaling leadership development across every level of the organization. The conversation highlights why human connection, empathy, and conscious capitalism are the real differentiators in an AI-driven world.This is more than a discussion on technology - it's a playbook for leading with both innovation and heart in a time when businesses face unprecedented change.Listeners will gain insights into:Why most AI transformation projects fail - and how to avoid the trapThe difference between trust and psychological safety (and why both matter)Practical ways to stabilize teams during radical disruptionHow to scale leadership development across every level of the companyWhy empathy and conscious capitalism are now business-critical skillsHow CEOs can balance AI-powered innovation with human judgmentWhy people-first leadership is the key to unlocking AI's potentialWhether you're a CEO wrestling with AI disruption, a leader striving to build resilient teams, or a founder seeking to combine innovation with purpose, this episode offers a powerful guide to leading with clarity, courage, and humanity in a time of radical change.**If you enjoy this podcast, would you consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes only a few seconds and greatly helps us get our podcast out to a wider audience.Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.For transcripts and show notes, please go to: https://www.theconsciouscapitalists.comThis show is presented by Conscious Capitalism, Inc. (https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/) and is produced by Rainbow Creative (https://www.rainbowcreative.co/) with Matthew Jones as Executive Producer, Rithu Jagannath as Lead Producer, and Nathan Wheatley as Editor.Thank you for your support!- Timothy & Neha

In this episode, Kendra Dodson, a SD-WAN technical Leader in RTP Cisco TAC center tells us her stories about SD-WAN : from counter overflow, to packet overfragmentation or sudden config loss, she gives her tips and her thoughts on the future of WAN connections.

Vint Cerf, widely recognized as one of the fathers of the Internet, is today’s special guest on Total Network Operations. He currently serves as Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist at Google. His pioneering work began back in the 1960’s when he was involved in the ARPANET project. Alongside Bob Kahn, Vint co-invented the TCP/IP... Read more »

Vint Cerf, widely recognized as one of the fathers of the Internet, is today’s special guest on Total Network Operations. He currently serves as Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist at Google. His pioneering work began back in the 1960’s when he was involved in the ARPANET project. Alongside Bob Kahn, Vint co-invented the TCP/IP... Read more »

Three Buddy Problem - Episode 60: We dissect a fresh multi-agency Salt Typhoon advisory (with IOCs and YARA rules!), why it landed late, why the wall of logos matters (and doesn't), and what's actually usable for defenders: new YARA, tool hashes, naming ambiguity across reports, the mention of Chinese vendors, and a Dutch note that smaller ISPs were hit. Plus, Costin details his hunting stack and philosophy (historic IOC/malware hoarding, fast pivots, and AI as analyst “wingman”) and a new Chinese APT report that may intersect with LightBasin and the murky PSOA world. We also debate Google's proposed “cyber disruption unit” versus Microsoft's DCU (legal vs. “ethical” takedowns, PR, and business models); react to Anthropic's report on real attacker use of Claude; note Amazon's APT29 watering-hole disruption; and close on a fresh WhatsApp-to-ImageIO zero-click chain and practical phone OPSEC. Cast: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (https://twitter.com/juanandres_gs), Ryan Naraine (https://twitter.com/ryanaraine) and Costin Raiu (https://twitter.com/craiu).

Interesting Technique to Launch a Shellcode Xavier came across malware that PowerShell and the CallWindowProcA() API to launch code. https://isc.sans.edu/diary/Interesting%20Technique%20to%20Launch%20a%20Shellcode/32238 NX Compromised to Steal Wallets and Credentials The popular open source NX build package was compromised. Code was added that uses the help of AI tools like Claude and Gemini to steal credentials from affected systems https://semgrep.dev/blog/2025/security-alert-nx-compromised-to-steal-wallets-and-credentials/ Countering Chinese State-Sponsored Actors Compromise of Networks Worldwide to Feed the Global Espionage System Several law enforcement and cybersecurity agencies worldwide collaborated to release a detailed report on the recent Volt Typhoon incident. https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa25-239a

Today, we're talking to Jeetu Patel, President and CPO at Cisco. We discuss how Cisco is leading the charge in transforming AI infrastructure and security, why addressing the trust deficit in AI is crucial for widespread adoption, and how the unprecedented scale and speed of the AI revolution is reshaping the tech landscape. All of this right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast! To learn more about what Cisco is up to, visit their website here.

On this week's show Patrick Gray and Adam Boileau discuss the week's cybersecurity news, including: Australia expels Iranian ambassador Hackers sabotage Iranian shipping satcoms APT hacker got doxxed in Phrack. Kind of. They're probably Chinese, not DPRK? Trail of Bits uses image-downscaling to sneak prompts into Google Gemini The Com's King Bob gets ten years in the slammer It's a day that ends in -y, so of course there's a new Citrix Netscaler RCE being used in the wild. This week's episode is brought to you by Corelight. Chief Strategy Officer Greg Bell talks through how they've been implementing AI for sifting through your network data. A model-context-protocol server that can rummage in all those packet logs for you while you keep investigating? Yes please. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes Embassy staff flee Canberra in dead of night | news.com.au — Australia's leading news site for latest headlines Swedish security service says Iran uses criminal networks in Sweden | Reuters Risky Bulletin: Hackers sabotage Iranian ships at sea, again - Risky Business Media Microsoft scales back Chinese access to cyber early warning system | Reuters Microsoft Didn't Disclose Key Details to U.S. Officials of China-Based Engineers, Record Shows — ProPublica .:: Phrack Magazine ::. Uncovering the Chinese Proxy Service Used in APT Campaigns Weaponizing image scaling against production AI systems -The Trail of Bits Blog FBI, Cisco warn of Russia-linked hackers targeting critical infrastructure organizations | Cybersecurity Dive CrowdStrike warns of uptick in Silk Typhoon attacks this summer | CyberScoop Kevin Beaumont: "There's a bunch of new Netscal…" - Cyberplace US charges Oregon man in vast botnet-for-hire operation | Cybersecurity Dive South Korea arrests suspected Chinese hacker accused of targeting BTS singer and other celebrities | The Record from Recorded Future News SIM-Swapper, Scattered Spider Hacker Gets 10 Years – Krebs on Security Chinese national who sabotaged Ohio company's systems handed four-year jail stint | The Record from Recorded Future News Nevada state offices close after wide-ranging 'network security incident' | Reuters DSLRoot, Proxies, and the Threat of ‘Legal Botnets' – Krebs on Security Russia weighs Google Meet ban as part of foreign tech crackdown | The Record from Recorded Future News Kremlin-Mandated Messaging App Max Is Designed To Spy On Users Иеромонах РПЦ Макарий призвал помолиться за мессенджер MAX

In this live episode we'll explore how Cisco harnesses the power of MongoDB Atlas Vector Search to enable cutting-edge AI capabilities across various projects. We'll dive into its pivotal role in solutions like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and the Agentic Framework, demonstrating how it serves as the backbone for efficient and scalable data retrieval. Learn how MongoDB Atlas Vector Search empowers Cisco to bridge the gap between unstructured data and intelligent AI-driven insights, fueling innovation across various use cases.