Helping the leaders of today build a better tomorrow
Through advisory, coaching, mentoring, and strategic investment, I help entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals unlock their potential, navigate complex challenges, and build the next generation of impactful products and companies. My approach is rooted in meaningful conversations that drive real change. With a focus on strategy, leadership, and innovation, I aim to empower today's visionaries to create the game-changing solutions of tomorrow—one conversation at a time.
🎯 Advisory
Empowering today's entrepreneurs to build the game-changing products of tomorrow—one conversation at a time.
I believe in the power of conversations to shape the future. By advising entrepreneurs, I help transform bold ideas into groundbreaking products that redefine industries. My focus is on empowering today's visionaries to build the next generation of innovative solutions—those that not only succeed in the market but also make the world a better place.
With decades of experience in security, infrastructure, and scaling high-growth companies, I provide strategic guidance to founders, helping them navigate challenges in technology, business strategy, and go-to-market execution. Whether it's securing a company's foundation, refining a product's market fit, or ensuring scalability, my goal is to equip entrepreneurs with the insights and tools they need to thrive.
🎓 Coaching
Guiding leaders and teams to unlock their full potential—one conversation at a time.
Success isn't just about strategy—it's about mindset, execution, and growth. Through coaching, I help leaders, teams, and individuals develop the skills, confidence, and clarity they need to navigate complex challenges and achieve their goals. Whether it's leadership development, career transitions, or scaling a team effectively, my approach is tailored to empower others to perform at their best.
I focus on fostering resilience, sharpening decision-making, and unlocking the unique strengths that drive meaningful impact. My coaching philosophy is simple: the right conversation at the right time can change everything.
🌱 Mentoring
Helping tomorrow's leaders grow, thrive, and make an impact—one conversation at a time.
Great leaders aren't just born—they're built through experience, guidance, and the right support. Through mentoring, I help emerging leaders, security professionals, and entrepreneurs develop the insights, confidence, and strategic thinking needed to excel in their careers and industries.
I believe mentorship is about more than just advice—it's about creating opportunities, sharing hard-earned lessons, and providing a sounding board for critical decisions. Whether it's navigating career growth, tackling complex challenges, or scaling impact, my goal is to help mentees unlock their full potential and accelerate their path to success.
đź’° Strategic Investment & SVCI
Investing capital and expertise in the next generation of transformative startups.
Through my involvement with SVCI (Silicon Valley CISO Investments), I provide more than just financial backing—I offer strategic guidance, industry connections, and hands-on support to help startups scale securely and successfully.
My investment focus areas include:
- Cybersecurity & Compliance: Tools that make security accessible and effective
- AI & Automation: Platforms that augment human capability without replacing human judgment
- Developer Tools: Solutions that enable secure, rapid development
- Trust & Transparency: Technologies that build user confidence and business resilience
I particularly value founders who understand that technology should empower rather than intimidate—carrying forward the "computers for the masses, not the classes" philosophy that shaped my own journey.
🎤 Speaking & Thought Leadership
Sharing insights through conferences, podcasts, and industry events.
I regularly speak at industry conferences, participate in panels, and contribute to podcasts on topics including cybersecurity leadership, AI adoption, startup security, and the evolving role of the CISO. My approach combines technical expertise with storytelling, often using Star Wars metaphors to make complex concepts accessible and memorable.
Popular speaking topics:
- Privacy-First Security Architecture: Building security that enhances user agency
- Open Source Security: Leveraging transparency and community review
- Security for the Open Internet: Protecting users while preserving digital freedom
- CISO Leadership & Strategy: Building and scaling security programs that serve people
- AI & Cybersecurity: Navigating generative AI adoption securely
- Startup Security: Security for high-growth technology companies
- Culture & Leadership: Making security joyful and collaborative
- Digital Rights & Security: The intersection of cybersecurity and user empowerment
View my media appearances or contact me to discuss speaking opportunities.
🛠️ Fractional CISO & vCISO Services
Providing strategic security leadership for organizations that need expertise without full-time overhead.
As a Fractional CISO, I offer flexible security leadership tailored to your organization's needs and stage of growth. This includes compliance program development, risk assessment, security strategy, and team building—all with the business-focused, outcome-driven approach that has helped companies successfully prepare for acquisitions and scale to $100M+ ARR.
Current and recent engagements include:
- Crescendo.AI: AI-focused security and compliance program development
- EarnUp Inc: Fintech security strategy and regulatory compliance
- Previous acquisitions: HelloSign, Cloud Lending Inc, GoRemote
Whether you're preparing for an acquisition, building your first security program, or scaling an existing one, I can help you achieve your goals while maintaining the speed and innovation that drives your business.
🎓 Security Training & Workshops
Hands-on learning experiences that build practical security skills and confidence.
I design and deliver customized training programs that go beyond traditional security awareness. Whether it's incident response workshops, security leadership development, or technical skills building, my approach focuses on practical application and real-world scenarios that teams can immediately use.
Training offerings include:
- Incident Response Workshops: Tabletop exercises and scenario-based learning tailored to your industry
- Security Leadership Development: Building security programs and leading cross-functional teams
- CISO Readiness Programs: Preparing security professionals for executive leadership roles
- Technical Skills Workshops: Cloud security, compliance frameworks, and emerging technologies
- Board Communication Training: Translating technical risks into business language
Every training is conversation-driven and interactive, helping participants not just learn concepts but practice applying them in realistic scenarios. The goal is to build confidence, improve decision-making, and strengthen team collaboration.
Ready to Start a Conversation?
Whether you're a founder building the next big thing, a CISO navigating complex challenges, or a professional looking to accelerate your career, I'd love to explore how we can work together.