Episode Summary:

In this episode of Automate or Die Trying, host Wil Ramos sits down with Bob Fabien “BZ” Zinga, a trusted cybersecurity executive, servant leader, boardroom strategist, and Navy Commander whose career spans defending global military networks and enabling hypergrowth inside AI and SaaS companies. Ranked in the Top 3% of LinkedIn worldwide and the #1 U.S. content creator for #GlobalLeaders and #RiskandResilience, BZ brings a rare blend of military discipline, startup speed, and human-centered leadership.

BZ shares his journey from commanding Navy cyber operations and safeguarding mission-critical global systems to adapting his leadership style for engineering-driven Silicon Valley environments. He opens up about the culture shock of transitioning from authority-based leadership to influence-based leadership and explains why security only matters when it enhances speed, predictability, and trust.

The conversation dives deep into how BZ built security programs that empower developers rather than block them, embedding guardrails directly into engineering workflows to support rapid innovation. He breaks down how he helped an AI automation startup scale 50x in revenue, shorten sales cycles by 39 days, and use security as a competitive advantage to win enterprise customers.

Finally, BZ reflects on the personal evolution required to lead across radically different cultures, balancing mission assurance, business outcomes, relationship-building, and resilience. He shares why the safest path must also be the fastest path and how security becomes a true multiplier for growth when leaders focus on clarity, collaboration, and customer trust.

Key Takeaways:

• Why modern security must function as a velocity engine, not a barrier
• How to lead engineering teams through influence, empathy, and credibility
• The power of embedding security guardrails into high-speed development workflows
• How security can accelerate sales cycles and drive enterprise revenue
• A practical framework for risk modeling based on impact, velocity, and blast radius
• Why relationship-building is a core competency for security leaders
• How evidence automation and trust signaling create measurable business value
• Lessons from leading at global military scale and in high-growth startups
• Why “the safest path must be the fastest path” for responsible innovation

Golden Nugget:

“Security should give your organization the confidence to move faster, not slow it down. When you build the right guardrails, you unlock velocity, trust, and sustainable innovation.”

Connect with Bob Fabien “BZ” Zinga:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bobfabienzinga
• Website: bobfabienzinga.com
• Linktree: linktr.ee/bobfabienzinga
• Creator Spotlight: spotlight.favikon.com/bobfabienzinga/

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