In this episode of “Life of a CISO,” Dr. Eric Cole continues sharing his journey into the cybersecurity field. He reflects on his decision to major in computer science, which led him to work with the CIA, where his interest in cybersecurity deepened. This episode emphasizes the importance of growth and transformation, using a lobster’s need to shed its shell to illustrate personal and professional development. Dr. Cole recounts his experiences at the CIA, including his role in security meetings and being tasked with verifying system security. He discusses how his work evolved to hacking systems for security validation and his involvement in building AI systems for predictive analysis. Finally, Dr. Cole touches on the balance between security and business needs, advocating for cybersecurity as a business enabler.
In this episode:
- 1:00 – Introduction Eric’s journey of becoming a CISO Part 2
- 2:00 – Life Domains and Self-Assessment
- 5:00 – Outgrowing Your Shell
- 10:00 – Initial CIA Experience
- 11:00 – Transition from No to Yes-But Approach in Security
- 16:00 – Proving System Security
- 21:00 – AI and Predictive Analysis at the CIA
- 25:00 – Decision to Leave the CIA
