In this insightful episode of ByteWise, Brian switches roles to interview Glen and Daniela about a common challenge: overcoming skepticism and objections from leadership when trying to secure investment for crucial projects, particularly in information security. They dive into common pushbacks like "we're too small to be a target," "we can't afford it," or "it won't happen to us," providing practical strategies, real-world examples, and valuable frameworks to help listeners build compelling cases and gain buy-in from their board or CEO.

Throughout the discussion, Glen and Daniela tackle these common hurdles by debunking myths that organizations are "too small to target" or "can't afford" necessary protections. They emphasize that all businesses are vulnerable, often due to perceived weaker defenses or as stepping stones to larger targets, and stress the importance of using education, hard numbers, case studies, and quantifying potential financial losses (e.g., compared to net income or insurance limitations) to overcome these objections. Effectively communicating risk involves leveraging established frameworks like NIST or ISO, presenting simple yet relevant metrics tailored to the audience (especially the board) to drive action, and clearly articulating the current state, desired outcomes, and the tangible impact of proposed investments. Ultimately, success lies in a blend of data-driven arguments, strategic communication—including knowing your audience and anticipating their questions—and personal resilience, which involves patience, not taking rejection personally, and being well-prepared to advocate effectively when opportunities arise.

Remember, don't let initial skepticism derail your vital initiatives; use these strategies to build an undeniable case for what your organization truly needs. With persistence, data-driven insights, and a clear understanding of your audience, you can transform those objections into impactful approvals.

This shocking episode of ByteWise uncovers the emerging threat of deepfakes being used in remote job interviews. Daniela, Glen, and Brian discuss how AI-generated fake identities are deceiving hiring managers, potentially granting malicious actors access to sensitive company data and infrastructure.

They explore the technical aspects, motivations behind this fraud, and the limitations of traditional hiring practices and background checks. The conversation highlights the need for heightened awareness, updated verification techniques (both technical and soft skills-based), and robust ongoing monitoring to combat this evolving security risk in the remote work era.

Listen now to understand this critical new threat and how to protect your organization!

Resources

https://www.pindrop.com/article/targeted-by-deepfake-candidates/

https://www.hrdive.com/news/fake-job-applicant-deepfake-70-minutes/745924/

https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/03/31/recruiter-interview-ai-deepfake

This episode dives into actionable strategies for tackling "executive debt" – the accumulation of flawed decision-making and unchallenged assumptions at the leadership level. Hosts Daniela, Monty Fowler, and Mark Dallmeier explore how companies can move beyond traditional, gut-based approaches to goal setting by leveraging data and AI for more informed strategic planning.

They discuss the importance of self-assessments in identifying symptoms of executive debt and the dangers of operating under unexamined assumptions. The conversation highlights the critical link between clear communication of strategic goals and fostering organizational buy-in, as well as the negative impact of dismissive leadership on talent and culture.

Listeners will learn the value of connecting individual work to overarching company objectives and hear a real-world example of a leader successfully changing their behavior. The episode emphasizes the necessity of leaders being open to feedback and embracing change to overcome executive debt. Practical advice is also shared for employees navigating organizations affected by this issue.

Ultimately, the episode stresses that overcoming executive debt requires a shift towards data-driven decisions, open communication, and a willingness for leaders to be self-aware and adaptable.

Connect with our guests:

Monty Fowler

Mark Dallmeier