In today's rapidly evolving professional landscape, particularly in fields like cybersecurity and for those navigating career transitions, mentorship serves as a crucial anchor, providing guidance amidst a sea of information and diverse opinions. Glen, Daniela, and Brian agree that effective mentors do more than just impart knowledge; they challenge conventional thinking, encourage mentees to safely step outside their comfort zones to foster growth, and provide invaluable networking opportunities. Recounting their own experiences, they highlight how impactful mentors deliver honest, constructive feedback—even when it's difficult—and play a pivotal role in developing essential soft skills, such as persuasion and strategic communication, which are often as critical as technical expertise for career advancement.

The nature of mentorship, especially within technology and cybersecurity, has significantly evolved. It's no longer solely about mastering technical intricacies; there's a growing emphasis on cultivating business acumen, understanding organizational strategy, and translating complex technical jargon into clear, business-relevant language. The panel discusses the importance of mentors who can bridge this gap, helping technologists align their work with broader business goals and communicate their value effectively. Furthermore, they explore the benefits of seeking diverse mentoring perspectives, particularly for leadership development, to help individuals cultivate their own authentic style rather than merely replicating that of a single mentor.

Finding the right mentor and engaging productively in the relationship is a two-way street. While mentorship can be formal, it often arises organically from genuine curiosity and seeking advice; resources abound in online communities, industry associations, and through peer connections. Crucially, being an effective mentee requires openness to new ideas, resilience in the face of constructive criticism, and a proactive approach to learning and development. The episode underscores that whether you are seeking a mentor or looking to guide others, the foundation of a successful mentorship lies in a shared commitment to growth and mutual respect.

In this insightful episode of ByteWise, Brian switches roles to interview Glen and Daniela about a common challenge: overcoming skepticism and objections from leadership when trying to secure investment for crucial projects, particularly in information security. They dive into common pushbacks like "we're too small to be a target," "we can't afford it," or "it won't happen to us," providing practical strategies, real-world examples, and valuable frameworks to help listeners build compelling cases and gain buy-in from their board or CEO.

Throughout the discussion, Glen and Daniela tackle these common hurdles by debunking myths that organizations are "too small to target" or "can't afford" necessary protections. They emphasize that all businesses are vulnerable, often due to perceived weaker defenses or as stepping stones to larger targets, and stress the importance of using education, hard numbers, case studies, and quantifying potential financial losses (e.g., compared to net income or insurance limitations) to overcome these objections. Effectively communicating risk involves leveraging established frameworks like NIST or ISO, presenting simple yet relevant metrics tailored to the audience (especially the board) to drive action, and clearly articulating the current state, desired outcomes, and the tangible impact of proposed investments. Ultimately, success lies in a blend of data-driven arguments, strategic communication—including knowing your audience and anticipating their questions—and personal resilience, which involves patience, not taking rejection personally, and being well-prepared to advocate effectively when opportunities arise.

Remember, don't let initial skepticism derail your vital initiatives; use these strategies to build an undeniable case for what your organization truly needs. With persistence, data-driven insights, and a clear understanding of your audience, you can transform those objections into impactful approvals.

This shocking episode of ByteWise uncovers the emerging threat of deepfakes being used in remote job interviews. Daniela, Glen, and Brian discuss how AI-generated fake identities are deceiving hiring managers, potentially granting malicious actors access to sensitive company data and infrastructure.

They explore the technical aspects, motivations behind this fraud, and the limitations of traditional hiring practices and background checks. The conversation highlights the need for heightened awareness, updated verification techniques (both technical and soft skills-based), and robust ongoing monitoring to combat this evolving security risk in the remote work era.

Listen now to understand this critical new threat and how to protect your organization!

Resources

https://www.pindrop.com/article/targeted-by-deepfake-candidates/

https://www.hrdive.com/news/fake-job-applicant-deepfake-70-minutes/745924/

https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/03/31/recruiter-interview-ai-deepfake