What Top Cyber Leaders Would Tell Their Younger Selves | Root To CISO Podcast

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1. 

   19 May 2026 · 7 min

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   In today’s competitive market, having top-tier technical skills and certifications is no longer enough to get you hired or promoted. If nobody knows who you are, your talent goes to waste. In this episode, top cybersecurity leaders and CISOs break down why technical expertise is just the baseline, and why mastering "visibility" through networking and authentic branding is the ultimate career accelerator. Learn how to stop hiding behind your screen, step out of your comfort zone, and bu...

2. 

   12 May 2026 · 29 min

   AI Won't Steal Your Job... But Those Who Use It Might | With Yonesy Nunez | Root To CISO Podcast

   Are you worried that AI is going to take your job? This episode is a must listen. Recorded live from the ServiceNow conference, with Yonesy Nunez, CISO at Surf AI, this episode explores how AI is reshaping cybersecurity careers, and why professionals who adapt now will stay ahead. We break down the growing gap between those embracing AI and those falling behind, the impact on entry-level roles, and how cybersecurity professionals can lead business transformation. If you want to stay r...

3. 

   5 May 2026 · 11 min

   How to Actually Stand Out in a Competitive Cyber Job Market | Root To CISO Podcast

   Breaking into a CISO role, or even landing the interview, requires more than just hitting “apply.” In this bite-sized highlight, Kristina Belnap, Don Baham, and Ben Harris share real-world insights on what actually works (and what doesn’t) in today’s competitive cybersecurity job market. From the power of referrals and building strong networks, to avoiding short tenure red flags and using AI strategically rather than blindly, this episode gives practical advice to help you stand out and posit...

4. 

   21 Apr 2026 · 46 min

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5. 

   14 Apr 2026 · 11 min

   Landing Your First Cybersecurity Role | Highlights from the Root To CISO Podcast

   In this byte-sized episode of The Root To CISO Podcast, we bring together insights from Margarita Rivera, Greg Rogers, and John Yeoh on what it really takes to land your first cybersecurity role and build toward a future as a CISO. From leveraging transferable skills and gaining hands-on experience to understanding how to provide value from day one, this episode breaks down practical strategies for standing out in a competitive market. Whether you're transitioning careers or just starting out...

6. 

   7 Apr 2026 · 11 min

   The Professionals Who Win in the AI Era | Root To CISO Podcast

   In this Root to CISO Byte Size episode recorded live at RSA, Yonesy Nunez joins the conversation to explore the growing impact of AI on cybersecurity careers. While many professionals feel uncertainty about AI’s role, Yonesy shares a powerful perspective: this is one of the greatest opportunities of our time to learn, adapt, and become more multidimensional. From accelerating innovation to removing repetitive work, AI has the potential to help professionals focus on what truly matters. The ke...

7. 

   6 Oct 2026 · 18 min

   Cybersecurity Comes With Pressure. Here's How You Handle It | Root To CISO Podcast

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8. 

   29 Sep 2026 · 39 min

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   Getting the leadership title is one thing. Knowing how to lead when the decisions get harder is another. In Part 2 of our conversation with Yonesy Nunez, Kris Rides digs into what leadership actually looks like once you are responsible for people, risk, business decisions and the problems you inherit. Strong leadership is not about being the person who always says yes, it is not about being the person who always says no either. It is about understanding the problem, knowing the risk, and bein...

9. 

   22 Sep 2026 · 37 min

   How The Experience You Dismiss Could Shape Your Career | Root To CISO Podcast

   What if the job you think is “just a job” is actually the experience that changes your entire career? In this episode of the Root To CISO Podcast, Kris Rides sits down with Yonesy Nunez, to unpack the unconventional career path that took him from folding mail and teaching himself a programming language over one weekend to becoming a cybersecurity executive. Yonesy Nunez didn’t start out planning to become a CISO. He started in accounting, discovered computing, worked multiple jobs while at un...

10. 

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    What career advice only makes sense once you’ve lived through it? In Part 2 of our “advice to your younger self” series, experienced cybersecurity leaders shares these career lessons they wish they had understood earlier, so you can make more informed decisions. From building relationships with people who can advocate for you, to getting comfortable around senior executives, knowing when loyalty is keeping you in the wrong place, and staying open to opportunities you never thought you w...

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