Join us for an inspiring conversation with Melina Scotto, a cybersecurity leader whose career spans from database management in the 90s to CISO roles protecting billions in federal healthcare contracts and Fortune 500 enterprises. Melina shares raw insights on leadership, the hidden challenges of the CISO role, and why the fundamentals of security still matter more than flashy new tools. From navigating gender bias in AI to preventing team burnout on the front lines, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to lead in cybersecurity today.

Key Themes:

• The Accidental Path to Cybersecurity Leadership:Melina never planned to become a CISO, starting as an aspiring opera singer who fell in love with IT's puzzle-solving nature and kept saying yes to opportunities.

• Why Technical Skills Won't Get You to the Top: The transition from federal to Fortune 500 required completely relearning communication, focusing on business risk and stock price impact rather than technical details.

• The Hidden Crisis of Cybersecurity Burnout: Melina advocates fiercely for protecting teams from burnout by banning Friday meetings and ensuring incident response professionals have proper backup instead of 48-hour shifts.

• AI's Double-Edged Sword for Security and Careers: Changing her resume from Melina to Mark Scotto dramatically increases interviews, revealing how AI bias affects women while threatening entry-level security positions.

• The Frustrating Reality of Ignored Basics: Despite decades in the industry, organizations still neglect fundamental security hygiene like vulnerability management, choosing to hand-wave critical risks instead of addressing them.

SHOW NOTES:

Books:

"Let Them" by Mel Robbins
Podcasts:
Smashing Security
Wiser Than Me - Hosted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus

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Ready for some real talk about cybersecurity? Danny and Quintana pull no punches in this unfiltered conversation about the state of the industry. From AI's breakneck pace to the harsh realities of breaking into cyber, they tackle the topics everyone's thinking about but few are brave enough to say out loud. This isn't your typical tech podcast full of buzzwords and empty promises. It's a candid discussion between two professionals who've put in the work and aren't afraid to call out the BS in an industry that desperately needs more honesty.

What We Cover
• AI is Moving Too Fast for Ethics to Keep Up - Tech giants are racing ahead at supersonic speed with no guardrails, and a major disaster might be the only thing that forces real change.
• The Cybersecurity Job Market Reality - Despite millions of "unfilled positions," breaking into cyber is brutal, certifications don't guarantee jobs, and the influencer promises of six-figure salaries are misleading an entire generation.
• Experience Beats Certifications Every Time - Both hosts would hire someone with real-world experience over a wall full of certificates. The CISSP gets called out as "the worst test ever" that teaches you nothing practical.
• Influencer Culture is All Smoke and Mirrors - When did everyone with a microphone become an expert? The hosts challenge whether these voices posting AI-generated content around the clock have any actual experience to back up their claims.
• Authenticity is Dying on Social Media - LinkedIn has become a performative stage of AI slop and superhero graphics. In an era where AI can generate everything, showing your real self has become a radical act.

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In this episode of Inclusive Cyber, Danny sits down with Liz Wharton, an attorney turned tech and policy leader whose career proves there is no single path into cybersecurity. From big law to startups to advising the world’s busiest airport, Liz shares how curiosity, asking better questions, and leaning into vulnerability open real doors. Together they unpack practical ways to find mentors, build momentum through community, and navigate AI with intention, privacy awareness, and solid fundamentals. If you are breaking into cyber, leading a team, or rethinking how policy meets practice, this conversation will give you actionable ideas and a push to take your shot.

Key themes:

Nonlinear careers: why curiosity plus problem solving beats a rigid roadmap

Mentorship and networking: how to approach experts, volunteer smartly, and follow up

Policy meets practice: serving cities and airports under tight budgets and real-world risk

AI with guardrails: learn the basics, test first, protect privacy, and use tools intentionally

Growth mindset: when fear shows up, reframe skills, pivot with purpose, and create momentum

#InclusiveCyber #CybersecurityCareers #LegalToCyber #PolicyAndTech #Mentorship #Networking #AIinSecurity #PrivacyByDesign #ThreatHunting #RansomwareResponse #PublicSectorSecurity #startuplife

Show Notes:
Resources:
The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman

Podcast: Product Market Fit — hosted by Daniel Lines

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In this conversation, Maman Ibrahim shares his remarkable journey from Niger to France, detailing his experiences in telecommunications, startup culture, and the evolution of governance in technology. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, the challenges of language barriers, and the dual nature of generative AI as both an opportunity and a risk. Maman also discusses his transition into entrepreneurship, the significance of responsible AI, and his passion for writing as a means of sharing knowledge and insights.

SHOW NOTES:

Books - Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse
We the Leader by Jeffrey Spahn\

Links: https://councils.forbes.com/profile/Maman-Ibrahim-Principal-Partner-Cyber-Digital-Risk-Audits-EugeneZonda-Cyber-Consulting-Services/437de8cf-cef7-467b-a1ff-4d43d2f2549b
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamane/

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In this episode of Inclusive Cyber we talk to Angela Díaz, a fraud and risk leader who turned a single day of crisis into a decade-long career in financial crime prevention. We explore how she built her own ladder in an industry that rarely makes space for new voices, from manually canceling fraudulent orders in a startup to designing enterprise-level fraud controls for global banks. Angela shares lessons on hiring for potential instead of perfection, using AI responsibly with human oversight, and leading through mentorship, allyship, and authenticity.

Angela reminds us that you don’t need permission to lead. You just need to own your path and act with purpose.

#InclusiveCyber #FraudPrevention #Leadership #AIinRisk #Cybersecurity

---------
Show Notes

Books:
The Other Side of the Firewall by Ryan Williams
Lead Like You Mean It by Laysha Ward
Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love with You by Becky Holmes
Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick

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In our first Fireside Chat, Jo Anna and I dug into a topic that’s reshaping everything around us: Artificial Intelligence and Accountability.

Jo Anna said it best:

“We can’t stop AI. It’s everywhere. But we can govern it.”

We explored the growing tension between innovation and responsibility. Tech giants are moving fast, but who’s ensuring they move safely? If the past decade taught us anything, it’s that security and governance must evolve just as quickly as the tools we build.

Some of the key questions we unpacked:
• How can organizations create AI governance frameworks that reflect their values, not just compliance checklists?
• Are enterprises, not governments, now the real gatekeepers of ethical AI?
• What happens when data centers require more power, water, and land than the communities surrounding them?
• And is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) truly our next milestone, or a distraction from the sustainability issues we refuse to face?

Jo Anna raised a point few discuss openly: the environmental toll of AI. Behind every large model are servers that consume massive amounts of energy and water. Innovation has a cost, and it’s time we acknowledge it.

We closed with a powerful reminder:

“AI may be the car before seat belts. Innovation will outpace safety until harm forces regulation.”

This conversation isn’t about fear; it’s about foresight.
If you’re building, deploying, or investing in AI, ask yourself:
Are you optimizing for speed or sustainability?

⸻

🔖 Key Themes:
AI Governance | Data Ethics | Environmental Sustainability | Responsible Innovation | Quantum Computing

💭 What’s your take?
Is AI evolving faster than our ability to govern it, or are we finally learning from history?

#ArtificialIntelligence #CyberSecurity #Governance #EthicalAI #FiresideChat #Sustainability #QuantumComputing #FutureOfWork #AIethics #Leadership

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Ale’s career journey is anything but linear. From her roots as the granddaughter of Mexican farmworkers to advising high school students, to shaping education policy in Washington DC, and finally landing in the world of technology, her story is one of resilience, mentorship, and serendipity.

In this episode Ale shares how her immigrant background shaped her values, why giving back through education became her first calling, and how an unexpected LinkedIn message opened the door to tech. She also reflects on the importance of mentors, the reality of navigating career pivots, and why being brave enough to “make the ask” can change everything.

Whether you are early in your career, considering a pivot, or simply looking for inspiration, Ale’s story proves that purpose, perseverance, and a little bit of luck can create a path you never imagined.

Key Highlights

• Ale’s immigrant roots and values of community and service
• Transition from college advising to education policy work in DC
• How an unexpected LinkedIn message led to a role in edtech
• Lessons on mentorship and how to “be brave and make the ask”
• Reflections on luck, preparation, and building a career with purpose
• Ale’s thoughts on balance, gardening, and stepping away from tech to recharge

Book Recommendations
That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph (Netflix co-founder) — an inside look at the startup world and building something unexpected

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In this inspiring episode of Inclusive Cyber, Lorena Mejia, CEO & Founder of Unleashing the Lion in Us, shares how she went from entry-level roles to becoming a leader in technology, cybersecurity, and AI. Lorena opens up about the importance of curiosity, self-advocacy, and mentorship, and why closing the digital divide is critical to building equitable, responsible AI.

We cover:

• Lorena’s unconventional path to tech and cybersecurity
• How curiosity and mentorship became her superpowers
• Why representation matters in AI and cybersecurity
• Breaking into cyber without a “traditional” degree
• Responsible AI, equity, and security by design
• Entrepreneurship and building a purpose-driven company

Book Recommendations:

• Bringing Your Authentic Self: Tattoos, Pearls, and All to the Boardroom – Miriam Simone
• A Brown Girl’s Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step Into Your Power – Aurelia Dávila Pratt
• The Inclusive Organization – Netta Jenkins

Connect with Lorena:

• 🌐 Website: https://unleashingthelioninus.com/
  
• 📅 Free Consultations: Book via Calendly https://calendly.com/mejia-lore-m_unleashingthelioninus/45?month=2025-09
• 📸 Instagram: @unleashingthelioninus
  
• 🎤 Open for keynote speaking, podcasts, and collaborations

Connect with Danny / Inclusive Cyber:

• 🔗 LinkedIn: Daniel Magallanes
  
  
• 🎥 YouTube: Inclusive Cyber Podcast

🎧 Listen now and get inspired to claim your seat at the table and help build a more inclusive future for tech, AI, and cybersecurity.

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