Skip to content
Artwork for Breaking Into Cybersecurity
BusinessCareers

Breaking Into Cybersecurity

Christophe Foulon | Renee Small | breakingintocybersecurity.org

Kickstart your career or develop top security talent with the Breaking into Cybersecurity podcast. Visit breakingintocybersecurity.org to stay updated with our newsletter for each episode. We share real stories from professionals who successfully transitioned into the field. You will learn the exact steps they took, how they stay sharp, and get advice for landing a role. For SMB tech and cyber leaders, we offer actionable workforce development strategies. Discover how to attract, retain, and develop your next generation of talent today.
Cybersecurity AI Cloud Technology Career Leadership

Play
  • 22 episodes
  • Avg 29 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • Nov 21, 2025 · 27 min

    From FBI to Cybersecurity Leader: M.K. Palmore's Career Journey | Breaking Into Cybersecurity

    In this episode of Breaking Into Cybersecurity, M.K. Palmore, a cybersecurity leader and former FBI special agent, shares his journey from serving in the Marines and the FBI to leading his own consulting firm, Apogee Global RMS. He discusses his early interest in technology, the importance of effective communication in cybersecurity leadership, and the challenges of transitioning from public to private sectors. M.K. also emphasizes the value of continuous learning and staying updated with evolving technologies such as AI. Tune in for an insightful conversation filled with practical tips and strategies for breaking into and thriving in the cybersecurity industry.https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkpalmore/ 00:00 Introduction to Breaking Into Cybersecurity00:55 Meet MK Palmore01:54 Early Interest in Technology03:33 Journey into the FBI04:34 Transition to Cybersecurity09:52 Importance of Communication Skills14:10 Running a Cybersecurity Consultancy18:05 Bridging the Gap for SMBs25:35 Keeping Up with Evolving Technology29:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts#Cybersecurity #CareerJourney #FBI #TechLeadership #ContinuousLearning #AI #breakingintocybersecurity Sponsored by CPF Coaching LLC - http://cpf-coaching.comThe Breaking into Cybersecurity: It’s a conversation about what they did before, why did they pivot into cyber, what the process was they went through Breaking Into Cybersecurity, how they keep up, and advice/tips/tricks along the way.The Breaking into Cybersecurity Leadership Series is an additional series focused on cybersecurity leadership and hearing directly from different leaders in cybersecurity (high and low) on what it takes to be a successful leader. We focus on the skills and competencies associated with cybersecurity leadership and tips/tricks/advice from cybersecurity leaders.Check out our books: Develop Your Cybersecurity Career Path: How to Break into Cybersecurity at Any Level https://amzn.to/3443AUIHack the Cybersecurity Interview: Navigate Cybersecurity Interviews with Confidence, from Entry-level to Expert roleshttps://www.amazon.com/Hack-Cybersecurity-Interview-Interviews-Entry-level/dp/1835461298/Hacker Inc.: Mindset For Your Careerhttps://www.amazon.com/Hacker-Inc-Mindset-Your-Career/dp/B0DKTK1R93/_________________________________________About the hosts: Renee Small is the CEO of Cyber Human Capital, one of the leading human resources business partners in the field of cybersecurity, and author of the Amazon #1 best-selling book, Magnetic Hiring: Your Company's Secret Weapon to Attracting Top Cyber Security Talent. She is committed to helping leaders close the cybersecurity talent gap by hiring from within and helping more people get into the lucrative cybersecurity profession. https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneebrownsmall/Download a free copy of her book at magnetichiring.com/bookChristophe Foulon focuses on helping to secure people and processes, using a solid understanding of the technology involved. He has over ten years of experience as an Information Security Manager and Cybersecurity Strategist. He is passionate about customer service, process improvement, and information security. He has significant expertise in optimizing the use of technology while balancing the implications for people, processes, and information security through a consultative approach.https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophefoulon/Find out more about CPF-Coaching at https://www.cpf-coaching.com- Website: https://www.cyberhubpodcast.com/breakingintocybersecurity- Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/breaking-into-cybersecuri- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BreakingIntoCybersecurity- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-into-cybersecurity/- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BreakintoCyber- Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/breakingintocybersecurity

  • Nov 15, 2025 · 41 min

    Erica Shoemate: From Breaking In to Breaking Barriers – A Memphis Trailblazer Reshaping AI & Cybersecurity on Her Own Terms

    In this episode of Breaking into Cybersecurity, Erica Shoemate shares her exceptional journey into national security, cybersecurity, and AI. From serving vulnerable communities in Memphis to working at the FBI, Erica discusses her multifaceted career, her pioneering work in technology policy, and the importance of human-centered approaches in AI and cybersecurity. As a first-generation college graduate, Erica emphasizes the value of passion, critical thinking, and leadership in breaking into the industry, offering invaluable insights to those looking to pivot their careers.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:59 Erica's Nontraditional Path to Cybersecurity03:53 Impact of Early Career in Vulnerable Communities07:28 Educational Background and Career Evolution15:18 Transition to Big Tech and Policy Leadership18:34 Current Work and Consulting27:54 Challenges and Future of AI in Cybersecurity40:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Sponsored by CPF Coaching LLC - http://cpf-coaching.com Breaking into Cybersecurity: A conversation about their previous experiences, the reasons behind their pivot into cyber, the process they went through, how they stay up-to-date, and advice/tips/tricks along the way. The Breaking into Cybersecurity Leadership Series is an additional series focused on cybersecurity leadership and hearing directly from different leaders in cybersecurity (high and low) on what it takes to be a successful leader. We focus on the skills and competencies associated with cybersecurity leadership, as well as tips/tricks/advice from cybersecurity leaders. #cybersecurity #breakingintocybersecurity #informationsecurity #AdvanceYourCyberCareer Check out our books: Develop Your Cybersecurity Career Path: How to Break into Cybersecurity at Any Level: https://amzn.to/3443AUI Hack the Cybersecurity Interview: A complete interview preparation guide for jumpstarting your cybersecurity career https://www.amazon.com/dp/1801816638/ ---🛡️ Navigating the Changing Threat Landscape & Keeping SMBs Safe:• Subscribe to the vCISO Brief on Substack: https://vciso.substack.com• Book a Free 30-Min Security Snapshot Call: https://calendarbridge.com/book/cpf-coaching/🔔 Subscribe & Follow the Ecosystem:• Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/16hs6zYtLa4iS4RTcyNF71• Breaking Into Cybersecurity YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakingIntoCybersecurity• CPF Coaching YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CPFCoaching• Website: https://breakingintocybersecurity.com• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-into-cybersecurity/

Showing 21–22 of 22 episodes