5 senior cybersecurity leaders sit down for an unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to build a career and a security program from the ground up.

This panel covers imposter syndrome in leadership, getting fired for integrity, transitioning from military to cybersecurity, why curiosity beats certifications, personal branding for security professionals, and how trust and relationships are the real foundation of cybersecurity.

PANELISTS:

- Jo Justice — Business Information Security Officer, Leidos :https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-justice

- Dd Budiharto — Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft (Oil, Gas & Energy): https://www.linkedin.com/in/dd-budiharto-cissp-cisa-cism

- Oyefunke Fayoyin — Chief Information Security Officer, Devo :https://www.linkedin.com/in/oyefunkefayoyin

- Joshua A. Dray — Chief Information Security Officer, San Jacinto College :https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-dray

- Todd Beebe — Information Security Officer, Freeport LNG : https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddbeebe

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 – Guest Arrival & Opening Moments

1:34 – Welcome & Introduction of Panelists

5:30 – Jo Justice: Career Journey into Cybersecurity

9:47 – Joshua A. Dray: Career Journey into Cybersecurity

15:08 – DD Budinarto: Career Journey into Cybersecurity

17:24 – Oyefunke Fayoyin: Career Journey into Cybersecurity

21:39 – Todd Beebe: Career Journey into Cybersecurity

26:22 – What Does a CSO Do? (Roles & Misconceptions)

29:26 – Building Relationships with CEOs & Advancing to the C-Suite

32:35 – Do Certifications & Degrees Matter in Cybersecurity?

34:39 – Showcasing Curiosity & Readiness on Your Resume

39:14 – How Companies Decide Layoffs

41:25 – Does Being Fired Affect Your Reputation?

43:20 – How to Protect Yourself from Layoffs

49:45 – Live Q&A Session

1:06:00 – Appreciation & Closing Remarks

PRESENTED BY:

Hacker Proof HQ — Cybersecurity Consulting & Advisory

Cyber Culture

Baddies in Tech

NEED CYBERSECURITY CONSULTING?

Hacker Proof HQ helps companies build security programs, achieve compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI-DSS), and develop security strategy from the ground up. Whether you're a startup navigating your first audit or an enterprise strengthening your posture, we can help.

Book a consultation: https://www.hackerproofhq.com/#book-consultation

Website: hackerproofhq.com

🔗 Connect with Us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackerproofhq

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hacker.proof

Twitter/ X: https://twitter.com/hackerproofhq

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hackerproofhq/

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🔗 Our Team:

👨🏽 Femi – Video Editor / aye.femi : https://www.instagram.com/femiodey/

👩🏽‍🦱 Charity – Social Media Manager: https://www.instagram.com/charity.okoloeze

👨🏽 David Ewele – Digital Strategy: https://www.instagram.com/witty_welz

📧 For inquiries and suggestions: Info@hackerproofhq.com

Support the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/6fbd8

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest episodes!

Drop your questions in the comments, we’d love to hear from you.

#cybersecurity #CISO #infosec #cybersecuritycareers #compliance #securityleadership #SOC2 #ISO27001 #cybersecurityconsulting #hackerproofhq #TheConnect #CSuite #Cybersecurity #CyberSecurityCareers #CyberLeaders #TechCareers #CareerGrowth #Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #InfoSec #CyberSecurityJobs #CareerInTech #WomenInTech #TechLeadership #CISO #CSO #ProfessionalDevelopment #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #TechIndustry #Layoffs #ResumeTips #Certifications #Upskill #Networking

Why do venture capitalists reject great startup ideas?

In this episode, we sit down with Elena Obukhova, venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and Founder of Supermoon and Supermoon Ventures, to break down what actually gets startups funded and why most founders get it wrong.

With experience across quant finance, venture capital, and global growth strategy, Elena has helped scale fintech, tech, and blockchain companies while building a network of 42,000+ founders and 2,700+ investors worldwide.

We dive into what really drives startup success, from go-to-market strategy and product positioning to investor expectations and team dynamics.

If you're a founder or building in tech, this episode gives you practical insights to raise capital, grow faster, and avoid costly mistakes.

⏱️ Podcast Timeline

0:30 – Welcome

1:22 – Elena’s Journey into Crypto and the UN

4:54 – Supermoon for Founders

6:36 – Idea vs Go-To-Market

8:01 – Red Flags vs Green Flags

10:50 – Product Launch Focus

13:06 – HireHack Growth Strategy

17:51 – Working with VCs

20:38 – Revenue Before Funding?

21:16 – Early Revenue Signals

22:27 – Global Adoption Gap

26:14 – Mistakes That Shaped Supermoon

29:25 – Founder Resilience

31:05 – HackerproofHQ Challenges

32:53 – Sponsorship & Equity

35:55 – Investment Focus

37:07 – Closing

💡 Big news Hackerproofhq Family

Our newsletter is live 🚀

Get exclusive updates and insider tips:

[https://www.hackerproofhq.com/](https://www.hackerproofhq.com/)

🔗 Connect with Elena Obukhova

Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/elenaobkv](https://www.instagram.com/elenaobkv)

Supermoon: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/supermoongroup/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/supermoongroup/)

Supermoon Ventures: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/supermoon-vc/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/supermoon-vc/)

🔗 Connect with Us

Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/hackerproofhq](https://www.instagram.com/hackerproofhq)

TikTok: [https://www.tiktok.com/@hacker.proof](https://www.tiktok.com/@hacker.proof)

Twitter: [https://twitter.com/hackerproofhq](https://twitter.com/hackerproofhq)

📧 [Info@hackerproofhq.com](mailto:Info@hackerproofhq.com)

Support the show: [https://app.redcircle.com/shows/6fbd8](https://app.redcircle.com/shows/6fbd8)

#venturecapital #startupfunding #startupadvice #techfounders #entrepreneurship #podcast #businessstrategy #fundraisingtips

Tech entrepreneurship is about leadership, strategy, and turning opportunities into impact.

In this episode, we sit down with Victoria Vaughan, founder of B612, to explore her journey from being a CEO at Cointelegraph to building a successful PR company.

Victoria shares insights on leadership, media strategy, scaling a business, and helping brands gain visibility in a competitive market. She also explains how she navigated crypto media, built a referral-based business model, and the difference between PR and marketing.

If you’re a founder, entrepreneur, or professional looking to grow your business and media presence, this episode is packed with practical advice and actionable takeaways.

Listen now for Victoria’s leadership lessons, growth strategies, and insights for building impact.

=======================

💡 Big news Hackerproofhq Family

Our newsletter has launched 🚀

Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and insider tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Click the link below to be a part of our newsletter community. Don’t miss out. 👇

🔗 [https://www.hackerproofhq.com/](https://www.hackerproofhq.com/)

====================

🔗Connect with Victoria Vaughan: https://www.instagram.com/viquilibrium

🔗 Connect with Us:

➡️ Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/hackerproofhq](https://www.instagram.com/hackerproofhq)

➡️ TikTok: [https://www.tiktok.com/@hacker.proof](https://www.tiktok.com/@hacker.proof)

➡️ Twitter: / hackerproofhq

======================

🔗 Our Team:

👨🏽 Femi – Video Editor / aye.femi

👩🏽‍🦱 Charity – Social Media Manager / charity.okoloeze

👨🏽 David Ewele – Digital Strategy / @witty_welz

📧 For inquiries and suggestions, reach out to us at [Info@hackerproofhq.com](mailto:Info@hackerproofhq.com)

Donate to Hacker Proof HQ: [https://app.redcircle.com/shows/6fbd8](https://app.redcircle.com/shows/6fbd8)...

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest episodes!

Drop your questions in the comments, we’d love to hear from you.

#FounderJourney #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #PRStrategy #B612 #MediaPresence #TechLeadership #Hackerproof #StartupGrowth