Sue Serna - Social Media Security and Governance Leader and Lover of All Beagles

No Password Required Season 7: Episode 2 - Sue Serna

Sue Serna is the CEO and Founder of Serna Social and the former head of global social media at Cargill. She brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and security.

In this episode, she shares her journey from business reporter to leading her own consultancy serving companies around the world on social media strategy.

Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A, joined by guest co-host Rex Wilson of Cyber Florida, welcomes Sue for a candid discussion about the realities of enterprise social media. From managing more than 150 Facebook pages for a single company, to navigating internal politics, agency relationships, and regulatory pressure, Sue explains why social media is far from “free” and why most organizations still under-resource it.

Sue dives deep into the gap between social media teams and cybersecurity departments. She outlines how personal account compromises can escalate into enterprise-level incidents, why governance frameworks matter, and how large organizations can regain control of sprawling digital footprints. Drawing from real-world examples, she argues that social media must be treated like finance or HR, a core business function requiring structure, ownership, and accountability.

The episode wraps with the Lifestyle Polygraph, where Sue reveals her love of Apollo-era space history, debates iconic Philadelphia traditions, and imagines what magical talent her beagle would bring to Hogwarts.

Follow Sue at SernaSocial.com or connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sueserna/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and First Impressions

02:45 The Evolving Role of Social Media in Corporations

04:58 Transitioning from Journalism to Social Media

11:11 Building Social Media from Scratch

13:00 Becoming a CEO and Founder

16:28 The Importance of Networking

16:54 Bridging the Gap Between Social Media and Cybersecurity

20:51 Real-World Social Media Security Incidents

28:35 Navigating Internal Conflicts in Social Media

30:32 The Lifestyle Polygraph Begins

31:17 Nerd Things That Expose Sue: Space and Harry Potter!

35:16 Sue’s Love For Beagles

37:50 Wreckless Intern or Overconfident Executive?

40:42 Hogwarts and Magical Beagles

Rob Hughes — CISO at RSA and Champion of a Passwordless Future

No Password Required Season 7: Episode 1 - Rob Hughes

Rob Hughes, the CISO at RSA, has more than 25 years of experience leading security and cloud infrastructure teams. In this episode, he reflects on his unconventional career path, from co-founding the original Geek.com and serving as its Chief Technologist during the early days of the internet, to leading security and systems design at Philips Home Monitoring.

Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A. and Kayley Melton welcome Rob for a wide-ranging conversation on identity, leadership, and the realities of modern cybersecurity. Rob currently leads RSA’s Security and Risk Office, overseeing cybersecurity, information security governance, and risk across both RSA’s products and corporate environment.

Rob explains his dream for a passwordless future. He unpacks why passwords remain one of the largest sources of cyber risk, how real-world incidents and password-spraying attacks have accelerated change, and why phishing-resistant technologies like passkeys may finally be reaching a tipping point.

The episode wraps with the Lifestyle Polygraph, where Rob lightens the conversation with stories about gaming with his kids, underrated horror films, and classic cars.

Follow Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-hughes-816067a4/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to No Password Required

01:43 Meet Rob Hughes, CISO at RSA

02:05 The Role of a CISO in a Security Company

05:09 Transitioning to the CISO Role

08:00 The Early Days of Geek.com

12:14 Launching a Startup During the Dot Com Boom

14:30 The Push for a Passwordless Future

18:21 Tipping Point for Passwordless Adoption

20:20 Ongoing Learning in Cybersecurity

26:09 Managing Stress in High-Pressure Environments

33:46 The Lifestyle Polygraph Begins

34:15 Career Insights in Cybersecurity

36:08 Dream Cars and Personal Preferences

39:58 Underrated Horror Films

41:19 Creating a Cybersecurity Monster

Gina Yacone — Virtual CISO at Trace3 and Roller Derby Penalty Box Visitor

Live from B-Sides Jacksonville, No Password Required welcomes Gina Yacone, Virtual CISO at Trace3. Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A. and Sarina Gandy, host and producer of the CyberBay Podcast, host a conversation on Gina’s unconventional career path, leadership under pressure, and the power of community in cybersecurity. With career stops in private investigation, digital forensics, and executive security, Gina brings a people-first, purpose-driven perspective to complex cyber risk.

Gina shares how her early work as a private investigator on high-profile criminal defense cases laid the foundation for her success in cybersecurity. She also reflects on raising her hand for big challenges, the rewards and risks of always saying yes, and how authenticity has guided her. She offers insight on why conference hallway conversations can be just as impactful as keynote sessions.

A visible advocate for the cybersecurity community, Gina speaks openly about setting healthy mentorship boundaries and building resilient professional networks.

The episode wraps with the Lifestyle Polygraph, where Gina lightens the mood with stories from her roller derby days, dream Amazing Race partners, and why John Wick might just be the ultimate executive assistant.

Follow Gina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginayacone/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity and B-Sides Jacksonville

01:16 Gina Yacone's Unique Journey to Cybersecurity

06:22 Navigating Burnout in Cybersecurity

08:06 The Importance of Raising Your Hand

10:04 Adapting Leadership Styles in Different Roles

14:03 Being a Role Model for Women in Cybersecurity

16:34 How to Establish a Good Mentee and Mentor Relationship

18:50 Feedback and Constructive Criticism

22:55 The Value of Hallway Conversations

26:19 The Lifestyle Polygraph: Fun and Insights

38:54 Conclusion and Future Connections