No Password Required

No Password Required: Next Gen - Ep.1 - Michelle McAveety

No Password Required: Next Gen – Ep. 1 - Michelle McAveety Michelle McAveety- Cyber Competitions, Crowd Surfing & Main-Character Energy Welcome to our new spinoff series, No Password Required: Next Generation.  Where we go behind the scenes and interview up-and-coming young professionals in cybersecurity! Whether you’re trying to figure out your career path, looking for a little inspiration, or just want to have a laugh while learning about the industry, this show is for you. Real stories. Real journeys. Next Gen Cyber. About this episode: Michelle McAveety is a Computer Engineering and Math student at USF and the Team Captain of the CyberHerd, the university’s cybersecurity competition team. We get into the chaos and adrenaline of competition life, what it’s like leading in a high-pressure cyber environment, and how she balances it all without losing herself. Spoiler: the answer includes crocheting, blasting heavy metal, going to concerts, and possibly crowd surfing if the vibe is right. Michelle also drops some real advice opening up about the pressure to compare yourself in competitive fields and why staying grounded and focused on your own path is the real win. Follow Michelles journey on linked in! https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcaveety/   Chapters: 00:39 - Who is Michelle?  00:54-  Being in Cyberherd  01:38- Hobbies that bring Michelle Joy!   02:51- Comparison and Growth   

No Password Required Podcast Episode 69 - Sue Serna

Sue Serna - Social Media Security and Governance Leader and Lover of All BeaglesNo Password Required Season 7: Episode 2 - Sue SernaSue Serna is the CEO and Founder of Serna Social and the former head of global social media at Cargill. She brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and security.In this episode, she shares her journey from business reporter to leading her own consultancy serving companies around the world on social media strategy.Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A, joined by guest co-host Rex Wilson of Cyber Florida, welcomes Sue for a candid discussion about the realities of enterprise social media. From managing more than 150 Facebook pages for a single company, to navigating internal politics, agency relationships, and regulatory pressure, Sue explains why social media is far from “free” and why most organizations still under-resource it.Sue dives deep into the gap between social media teams and cybersecurity departments. She outlines how personal account compromises can escalate into enterprise-level incidents, why governance frameworks matter, and how large organizations can regain control of sprawling digital footprints. Drawing from real-world examples, she argues that social media must be treated like finance or HR, a core business function requiring structure, ownership, and accountability.The episode wraps with the Lifestyle Polygraph, where Sue reveals her love of Apollo-era space history, debates iconic Philadelphia traditions, and imagines what magical talent her beagle would bring to Hogwarts.Follow Sue at SernaSocial.com or connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sueserna/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and First Impressions   02:45 The Evolving Role of Social Media in Corporations   04:58 Transitioning from Journalism to Social Media  11:11 Building Social Media from Scratch   13:00 Becoming a CEO and Founder   16:28 The Importance of Networking   16:54 Bridging the Gap Between Social Media and Cybersecurity  20:51 Real-World Social Media Security Incidents  28:35 Navigating Internal Conflicts in Social Media  30:32 The Lifestyle Polygraph Begins   31:17 Nerd Things That Expose Sue: Space and Harry Potter!  35:16 Sue’s Love For Beagles  37:50 Wreckless Intern or Overconfident Executive?  40:42 Hogwarts and Magical Beagles 

No Password Required Podcast Episode 68 — Rob Hughes

Rob Hughes — CISO at RSA and Champion of a Passwordless FutureNo Password Required Season 7:  Episode 1 - Rob HughesRob Hughes, the CISO at RSA, has more than 25 years of experience leading security and cloud infrastructure teams. In this episode, he reflects on his unconventional career path, from co-founding the original Geek.com and serving as its Chief Technologist during the early days of the internet, to leading security and systems design at Philips Home Monitoring.Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A. and Kayley Melton welcome Rob for a wide-ranging conversation on identity, leadership, and the realities of modern cybersecurity. Rob currently leads RSA’s Security and Risk Office, overseeing cybersecurity, information security governance, and risk across both RSA’s products and corporate environment.Rob explains his dream for a passwordless future. He unpacks why passwords remain one of the largest sources of cyber risk, how real-world incidents and password-spraying attacks have accelerated change, and why phishing-resistant technologies like passkeys may finally be reaching a tipping point.  The episode wraps with the Lifestyle Polygraph, where Rob lightens the conversation with stories about gaming with his kids, underrated horror films, and classic cars.Follow Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-hughes-816067a4/Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to No Password Required01:43 Meet Rob Hughes, CISO at RSA02:05 The Role of a CISO in a Security Company05:09 Transitioning to the CISO Role08:00 The Early Days of Geek.com12:14 Launching a Startup During the Dot Com Boom14:30 The Push for a Passwordless Future18:21 Tipping Point for Passwordless Adoption20:20 Ongoing Learning in Cybersecurity26:09 Managing Stress in High-Pressure Environments33:46 The Lifestyle Polygraph Begins34:15 Career Insights in Cybersecurity36:08 Dream Cars and Personal Preferences39:58 Underrated Horror Films41:19 Creating a Cybersecurity Monster

No Password Required Podcast Episode 67 — Gina Yacone

Gina Yacone — Virtual CISO at Trace3 and Roller Derby Penalty Box VisitorLive from B-Sides Jacksonville, No Password Required welcomes Gina Yacone, Virtual CISO at Trace3. Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A. and Sarina Gandy, host and producer of the CyberBay Podcast, host a conversation on Gina’s unconventional career path, leadership under pressure, and the power of community in cybersecurity. With career stops in private investigation, digital forensics, and executive security, Gina brings a people-first, purpose-driven perspective to complex cyber risk.Gina shares how her early work as a private investigator on high-profile criminal defense cases laid the foundation for her success in cybersecurity. She also reflects on raising her hand for big challenges, the rewards and risks of always saying yes, and how authenticity has guided her. She offers insight on why conference hallway conversations can be just as impactful as keynote sessions.A visible advocate for the cybersecurity community, Gina speaks openly about setting healthy mentorship boundaries and building resilient professional networks.The episode wraps with the Lifestyle Polygraph, where Gina lightens the mood with stories from her roller derby days, dream Amazing Race partners, and why John Wick might just be the ultimate executive assistant.Follow Gina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginayacone/ Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity and B-Sides Jacksonville01:16 Gina Yacone's Unique Journey to Cybersecurity06:22 Navigating Burnout in Cybersecurity08:06 The Importance of Raising Your Hand10:04 Adapting Leadership Styles in Different Roles 14:03 Being a Role Model for Women in Cybersecurity16:34 How to Establish a Good Mentee and Mentor Relationship18:50 Feedback and Constructive Criticism22:55  The Value of Hallway Conversations26:19 The Lifestyle Polygraph: Fun and Insights38:54 Conclusion and Future Connections

No Password Required Podcast Episode 66 — Danny Jenkins

Danny Jenkins — Founder of ThreatLocker and the Zero-Trust RevolutionDanny Jenkins is the CEO of ThreatLocker, the leading cybersecurity company that he built alongside his wife. Hosts Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A., and Kayley Melton of the Cognitive Security Institute follow Danny’s journey from a scrappy IT consultant to leading one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies in the world.Danny shares the moment everything changed: watching a small business nearly collapse after a catastrophic ransomware attack. That experience reshaped his mission and ultimately sparked the creation of ThreatLocker. He also reflects on the gritty early days—cold-calling from his living room, coding through the night, and taking on debt before finally landing their first $5,000 customer.Danny explains the origins of Zero Trust World, his passion for educating IT teams, and why adopting a hacker mindset is essential for modern defenders.In the Lifestyle Polygraph, Danny relates his early “revenge tech” against school bullies, the place he escapes to when celebrating big wins, and the movie franchise he insists is absolutely a Christmas classic.Follow Danny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyjenkins/ 00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity and ThreatLocker02:26 The Birth of ThreatLocker: A Personal Journey05:42 The Evolution of Zero Trust Security08:35 Real-World Impact of Cyber Attacks11:25 The Importance of a Hacker Mindset14:46 The Role of SOC Teams in Cybersecurity17:34 Building a Culture of Security20:23 Hiring for Passion and Skill in Cybersecurity23:44 Understanding Zero Trust: Trust No One26:32 Lifestyle Polygraph: Personal Insights and Fun29:41 Conclusion and Future of ThreatLocker