We sit down with Robert, CIO of a leading healthcare services company, to explore how non-traditional career paths, life skills, and human-centric leadership can reshape technology teams. Robert shares his journey from political-science graduate to tech executive, his work closing educational gaps with Teach For America Colorado, and candid lessons on mentorship, failure, true role of AI in our work and authentic leadership.

🔑 Top Takeaways
Non-Tech Backgrounds Drive Innovation
Fresh perspectives, from customer service, education, even music, unlock creative problem solving.

Life Skills Are Business Skills
Empathy, respect, accountability and strong communication form the bedrock of high-performing teams.

Mentors Guide, Not Dictate
The best mentors ask probing questions and share stories, helping you surface your own strengths.

Fail Fast, Learn Faster
Real-world setbacks teach resilience, sharpen listening skills, and foster adaptive leadership.

AI Empowers, but Demands Oversight
Automation boosts efficiency, but over-reliance leads to complacency and erosion of critical thinking.

True Inclusion Requires Action
Moving beyond gatekeeping certifications and degrees to open doors for underrepresented talent.

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🔐 She Built a Zoom Bot at 13 to Skip Class… and Ended Up Securing NASA.
Meet [@Bandana | Hack With Her], a rising cybersecurity force who’s not waiting for permission to shape the future.

At just 17, Bandana is:
✨ A cybersecurity researcher focused on adversarial attacks on LLMs
🌐 A UN Dynamic Team Coalition Cybersecurity Lead
🎓 A National Cybersecurity Education Ambassador
👩‍💻 A bug bounty hunter who’s helped secure NASA, the U.S. Dept. of Education & the Indian government

But what makes her story magnetic isn’t just the accomplishments — it’s how she started:
➡️ Taught herself Python through W3Schools
➡️ Built a Zoom bot to skip 7am classes during lockdown
➡️ Climbed “Cringe Mountain” to share her learning in public
➡️ Grew a personal brand on Instagram & LinkedIn from scratch

We talked about:
✔️ The fine line between personal branding and bragging
✔️ Why vulnerability is key to networking
✔️ GenAI’s dual role in good and harm — and how she’s defending against jailbreak attacks
✔️ Her mission to make the cyberspace livable for everyone

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SHOW NOTES

Instagram - Hackwithher
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hackwither/

BOOKS
The Web Application Hacker's Handbook
– A comprehensive guide to web app security and penetration testing.

The Car Hacker's Handbook
– Focused on automotive cybersecurity and how to understand and exploit vehicle systems.

The 30 Ways to Make Money Hacking Ethically
– A bug bounty hunting book that explains 30 vulnerability types with real examples.

Support the show

Support the Channel - Click the bell to have notifications, like & subscribe!
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Audio:
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In the latest episode of Inclusive Cyber, I had the honor of speaking with Nicole Lilly, founder of Deeply Devoted Lilly, somatic coach, and former corporate wellness strategist.

We didn’t talk tech.
We talked about what tech often ignores—how emotional wellbeing, nervous system regulation, and inner safety are critical to sustainable performance in high-pressure fields like cybersecurity.

Nicole opens up about:

* Growing up in a culture where worth was tied to appearance—and how she reclaimed her health on *her* terms
* Her corporate wellness career and the blind spots she noticed in how we treat mental health at work
* Why we don’t ask for help, and how self-leadership shifted her relationship with discipline
* What it means to "come home to yourself" and build a life rooted in compassion, curiosity, and clarity

🧠 This conversation reminded me that no productivity hack can replace the inner work required to truly show up—at work or at home.

One of Nicole’s reflections that stuck with me:

“There’s a difference between what you want to be and who you want to be.”

🎧 If you’re in cybersecurity—or any fast-paced field—this episode is for you. It’s not about slowing down. It’s about realigning with your values so you can lead without burning out.

\#MentalHealth #CybersecurityLeadership #SomaticCoaching #WomenInTech #InclusiveCyber #BurnoutRecovery #LatinaLeadership #HumanCenteredSecurity #EmotionalWellbeing #LeadershipDevelopment #podcasthighlights

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SHOW NOTES
Nicole Lilly - LinkedIn
Deeply Devoted Lilly - https://www.instagram.com/deeplydevotedlilly/

Books & Podcasts
----------------------------
1. What i know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey - https://www.amazon.com/What-Know-Sure-Oprah-Winfrey/dp/1250054052
2. We Can Do Hard Things - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-can-do-hard-things/id1564530722
3. Build with Leila Hormozi - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/build-with-leila-hormozi/id1663834553
4. Stay Grounded with Rai Jana - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stay-grounded-with-raj-jana/id1318038490

Support the show

Support the Channel - Click the bell to have notifications, like & subscribe!
Buy Me Coffee - https://shorturl.at/jKMSX
Social Media – Follow us on:
TikTok
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554884934328
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inclusivecyberpodcast/
Audio:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6HNQQVKvsCRo2J095Kyc8G
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inclusive-cyber-unlocking-dei-in-cybersecurity/id1686041111
Website - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183707
Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/594cca7a-726d-43fe-b94e-36291566e9d8/inclusive-cyber-unlocking-dei-in-cybersecurityMusic: Music by Cryptochronica and Worlds Apart featuring Vtizzel; Song: Gunz Blazin' Music: Used with permission: Artist: Thunderwolf X Words Apart, Song: Cybernetix...