Candid CISO Podcast
At Candid CISO, our mission is to raise the game for cybersecurity leaders.
There’s no manual for sitting in the CISO seat. Leadership is forged under pressure—through blind spots, board meetings, and breach drills. Our exclusive content delivers unfiltered stories, practical guidance, and sharp insight from those who’ve led through it all. From identity to AI, we surface what matters most to those shaping security at the highest level.
Explore our full library of episodes, playbooks, strategic briefs, and hard-earned lessons here on Substack ➡️ https://candidciso.substack.com/
Candid CISO Podcast
From Hacker to CISO: Carlos De Leon's Journey and Career Advice
In this episode of the Candid CISO podcast, Co-Host John Donovan interviews Carlos de Leon, CISO at the Washington State Department of Revenue. They discuss various topics related to cybersecurity leadership and strategy, including the challenges and rewards of the CISO role, the importance of compliance, and the need for strong communication and people skills. They also touch on incident response and threat management, highlighting the lessons learned from the CrowdStrike incident and a cloning incident at Carlos' agency. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the impact of technology and organizational factors on the CISO role, as well as Carlos' personal career journey. Also in this conversation, Carlos shares insights and advice on thinking creatively, his early hacker days, and career development in cybersecurity. He emphasizes the importance of an adversarial mindset and thinking outside the box to solve problems. Carlos provides advice for those looking to enter the cybersecurity field and become a CISO. The conversation concludes with a discussion on Hacker Summer Camp and the importance of networking and community in the cybersecurity industry.
Segments
Podcasts we love
Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.
