In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax sits down with Virginia Case, a fractional C-level executive, serial entrepreneur, and go-to-market fixer known for blending psychology, marketing, AI, and no-BS execution.

Together, they unpack the tension between authenticity and awareness, why “just being yourself” can sometimes cross into tone-deaf leadership, and how perception truly becomes reality in business, careers, and cybersecurity.

Virginia shares her personal journey of publicly owning her ADHD/neurospicy brain, recognizing when she’s masking, and learning how to channel that energy into a renewable leadership advantage instead of burnout.

This conversation dives deep into:

• Why confidence without awareness can backfire
• How leaders and cyber professionals unintentionally sabotage their own narrative
• What it really means to “market your cyber self” without feeling fake
• The role of perception in hiring, leadership, and influence
• How neurodivergent leaders can design success on their own terms

If you’re navigating leadership, career growth, or visibility in cybersecurity and want to do it with integrity, self-awareness, and impact this episode is for you.

Connect with Virginia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginiastewartcase
Check out Virginia's website: https://www.stratac.com

=========================
Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:

LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks Podcast
Email us: 2CyberChicks@gmail.com

Jax Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray
- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax
- YouTube: Outpost Gray
- Twitter/X: @outpostgray
- Website: iamjax.me

Erika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems
- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb

#2cyberchicks
=========================
Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLocker
Stop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.
=========================
All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax sits down with Tashya Denose, a senior cybersecurity leader, bestselling author, podcaster, and board member of Black Girls in Cyber.

Tashya has built her career securing some of the most complex environments, from the Pentagon and the U.S. Secret Service to Capital One, Google, and now Meta, where she works at the intersection of risk, governance, and emerging technology.

In this candid conversation, we explore:

• Why compliance doesn’t always equal security
• How leaders should think about risk across government, finance, and Big Tech
• What it takes to influence decisions when security isn’t the loudest voice
• The human cost of burnout—and how to build a sustainable career in cyber
• Why belonging and community directly impact security outcomes

This episode is a must-listen for security leaders, practitioners, and anyone navigating the real-world tension between frameworks, risk, and reality.

Connect with Tashya Denose: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashya-denose-68814765

=========================
Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:

LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks Podcast
Email us: 2CyberChicks@gmail.com

Jax Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray
- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax
- YouTube: Outpost Gray
- Twitter/X: @outpostgray
- Website: iamjax.me

Erika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems
- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb

#2cyberchicks
=========================
Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLocker
Stop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.
=========================
All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax sits down with Angelique Grado, a board director, fractional CISO and CIO, former Air Force officer, and cybersecurity leader for critical infrastructure and global enterprises.

Angelique has spent over two decades leading technology and security strategy across Fortune-scale organizations, OT and ICS environments, and safety-critical systems where failure isn’t an option. She’s known for making cybersecurity a business accelerator, not a blocker, helping leaders navigate risk, growth, and complexity with clarity and confidence.

In this candid conversation, we explore:
- Why businesses increasingly accept cyber risk as long as revenue isn’t impacted
- The most misunderstood part of being a CISO and who misunderstands it most
- How “aviate, navigate, then communicate” applies to modern cyber leadership
- How AI is reshaping the CISO role faster than governance can keep up
- What boards and executives still get wrong about cybersecurity risk

This episode is a must-listen for CISOs, security leaders, board members, and anyone navigating the tension between business growth and security reality.

Learn more about Angelique:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelique-grado-51580516

=========================
Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:

LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks Podcast
Email us: 2CyberChicks@gmail.com

Jax Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray
- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax
- YouTube: Outpost Gray
- Twitter/X: @outpostgray
- Website: iamjax.me

Erika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems
- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb

#2cyberchicks
=========================
Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLocker
Stop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.
=========================
All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, we sit down with Aarti Gadhia, a cybersecurity leader who isn’t interested in fitting the mold, she’s here to redesign it.

We dig into what it really takes to lead in cybersecurity today: navigating perception versus reality, owning your voice in high-stakes environments, and pushing back against outdated leadership norms. Aarti shares her personal journey, the moments that shaped her confidence, and how she balances authenticity with executive presence in rooms that weren’t built with her in mind.

This is a candid, thoughtful, and energizing conversation about:

• What real leadership looks like in cyber (beyond titles)
• How women and underrepresented leaders shape influence without permission
• The unspoken rules of executive spaces—and when to break them
• Building credibility without losing yourself

If you’ve ever felt like you had to “perform” to be taken seriously in tech or security, this episode is for you.

Connect with Aarti:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aartigadhia

=========================
Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:

LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks Podcast
Email us: 2CyberChicks@gmail.com

Jax Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray
- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax
- YouTube: Outpost Gray
- Twitter/X: @outpostgray
- Website: iamjax.me

Erika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems
- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb

#2cyberchicks
=========================
Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLocker
Allow what you need, block everything else... Including ransomware. Zero trust Endpoint Protection Platform from ThreatLocker. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.
=========================
All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, we sit down with Karla Reffold, Chief Insights Officer at Surefire Cyber, to unpack what threat intelligence really looks like when it matters most.

Karla operates at the intersection of threat intelligence, incident response, and cyber product strategy, helping organizations cut through noise and uncertainty during high-pressure security incidents. From guiding executive decision-making in real time to building tools that actually support responders, she’s spent her career turning complex data into clear, actionable insight.

We dive into what separates intelligence that drives action from intelligence that just looks good on a slide, how leaders make confident decisions under pressure, and why so many organizations misunderstand incident response until they’re living through it.

This is a candid, practical, and insight-packed conversation about:
- What “useful” threat intelligence really looks like in practice
- The information leaders actually need during active incidents
- Why data alone doesn’t lead to better decisions—and what does
- Where cyber products fall short for real-world responders
- How teams can move from intelligence to action when time is limited

If you’ve ever wondered why some organizations stay calm and decisive during crises while others struggle, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the difference.

Learn more about Karla:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlareffold
LinkedIn Course: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-threat-intelligence/defending-your-network

=========================
Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:

LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks Podcast
Email us: 2CyberChicks@gmail.com

Jax Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray
- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax
- YouTube: Outpost Gray
- Twitter/X: @outpostgray
- Website: iamjax.me

Erika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems
- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb

#2cyberchicks
=========================
Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLocker
Stop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.
=========================
All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax and Erika sit down with Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri, known online as Cyb3r Valkyrie — a rising cybersecurity leader who’s already making an impact at Microsoft’s Offensive Research and Security Engineering (MORSE) team.

From earning her Private Pilot License to volunteering with the Civil Air Patrol, Gwendolyn’s story is one of discipline, courage, and curiosity. She shares how aviation and cybersecurity intersect through risk awareness and decision-making under pressure, and how her passion for empowering young women through CybHER and the US Cyber Team is shaping the next generation of cyber talent.

Whether you’re just starting out or navigating your next big move in cyber, this conversation is packed with motivation, practical advice, and a powerful reminder that your path doesn’t have to be linear — it just has to be intentional.

Connect with Gwen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyb3rvalkyrie

=========================
Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:

LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks Podcast
Email us: 2CyberChicks@gmail.com

Jax Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray
- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax
- YouTube: Outpost Gray
- Twitter/X: @outpostgray
- Website: iamjax.me

Erika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems
- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb

#2cyberchicks
=========================
Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLocker
Allow what you need, block everything else... Including ransomware. Zero trust Endpoint Protection Platform from ThreatLocker. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.
=========================
All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax sits down with Blake Williams, founder of Hyperdrive Recruiting, to break down what’s really happening in today’s wild job market.

With AI-generated job posts, fake recruiters sliding into your DMs, and “digital workforce” automation shaking up the hiring process—how can cybersecurity professionals protect themselves and still stand out?

They’ll tackle:
🚨 The rise of fake job postings and recruiter scams (and how to spot them)
🤖 What “digital workforce” actually means for your cybersecurity career
💼 The insider truth about what it means to work with a recruiter
🔍 How to escape the résumé black hole and get your profile seen
🧭 Where the job market is heading—and how to stay future-proof

If you’re applying for jobs, hiring talent, or just trying to make sense of the new AI-driven workforce, this episode is your map through the madness.

🔗 Guest Socials & Links
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/blakewilliamshq
Company Website: https://hyperdriverecruiting.com
Career Services Page: https://hyperdriverecruiting.com/career-services
Linktree (All Links): https://linktr.ee/blakewilliamshq
Email: blake@hyperdriverecruiting.com

=========================
Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:

LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks Podcast
Email us: 2CyberChicks@gmail.com

Jax Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray
- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax
- YouTube: Outpost Gray
- Twitter/X: @outpostgray
- Website: iamjax.me

Erika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems
- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb

#2cyberchicks
=========================
Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLocker
Allow what you need, block everything else... Including ransomware. Zero trust Endpoint Protection Platform from ThreatLocker. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.
=========================
All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

Today on 2 Cyber Chicks, we’re joined by the one and only Dr. Gerald Auger, the creator of SimplyCyber, educator, and community builder who’s helped thousands break into and thrive in cybersecurity.

In this episode, we get real about:

• 💡 Burnout in Cybersecurity — how to spot it, manage it, and bounce back stronger
• 🌐 Reshaping SimplyCyber — Gerald’s vision for keeping the platform community-driven and impactful
• 🤖 The Future of AI in Cyber — opportunities, risks, and how AI will shape defenders and attackers alike
• 🚀 Breaking Into Cyber — Gerald’s best advice for anyone just starting out

Whether you’re a cyber pro, career changer, or just curious about the human side of security, this conversation is full of insights, laughs, and practical takeaways.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to 2 Cyber Chicks for more fresh takes, fun conversations, and stories from leaders shaping the future of cybersecurity.

Watch Simply Cyber on YouTube: https://simplycyber.io/streams
Join the Simply Cyber Discord: https://simplycyber.io/discord
Connect with Gerry and Simply Cyber: https://simplycyber.io/socials

=========================
Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:

LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks Podcast
Email us: 2CyberChicks@gmail.com

Jax Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray
- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax
- YouTube: Outpost Gray
- Twitter/X: @outpostgray
- Website: iamjax.me

Erika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems
- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb

#2cyberchicks
=========================
Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLocker
Allow what you need, block everything else... Including ransomware. Zero trust Endpoint Protection Platform from ThreatLocker. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.
=========================
All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials