The Cyber War Has Already Started – Are You Ready?
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
You’re living in a time where science fiction is quickly becoming your reality. In this high-impact episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole breaks down the current state of cybersecurity—from nation-state attacks and massive password breaches to the hidden threats living on your mobile device. You’ll hear Dr. Cole’s unfiltered take on a breach that exposed billions of credentials, why changing your password isn’t enough, and how an old app could be your biggest risk. Dr. Cole challenges you to see yourself not just as a security expert, but as a business leader with the power to...
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CISO Leadership, Trust & Non-Negotiables with Dan Lohrmann
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole welcomes a true cybersecurity trailblazer: Dan Lohrmann. With a career that spans the NSA, Lockheed Martin, the State of Michigan, and now Presidio, Dan brings a rare depth of experience in both government and the private sector. As the first Chief Security Officer for an entire U.S. state and now a Field CISO advising public sector clients across the country, Dan shares practical wisdom and compelling stories about navigating the evolving CISO landscape. Together, Dr. Cole and Dan explore what it takes to build lasting trust as a security...
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From Pen Testing to Purpose: Jane Frankland on Cyber, Burnout, & Reinvention
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this special episode of Life of a CISO, I sit down with the brilliant Jane Frankland, MBE—an internationally recognized thought leader in cybersecurity with over 28 years of experience. Jane shares her unexpected journey into the field, starting not from a tech background but from art and design. Her curiosity and drive led her to co-found one of the earliest penetration testing consultancies, long before the term "cybersecurity" became mainstream. Together, we dive into how the industry has evolved, why penetration testing has become commoditized, and why it's no longer enough to offer...
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Breaking the IT Inertia with Google Cloud's Dr. Anton Chuvakin
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole reconnects with longtime friend and cybersecurity legend Dr. Anton Chuvakin, whom he has known for over 25 years. The conversation opens with reflections on their decades-long professional journey and transitions into a deep dive into Anton’s current work at Google Cloud’s Office of the CISO. Anton shares how his team supports secure cloud and AI adoption—not as traditional field CISOs focused on sales—but as strategic advisors and researchers helping clients understand and implement Google’s advanced security models. The discussion...
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Breaking Into Cybersecurity and Future Trends with Henrik Parkkinen
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole interviews Hendrik Parkkinen, a seasoned cybersecurity expert from Sweden with over 20 years of experience, mostly in consulting and security strategy. They discuss Henrik’s journey into cybersecurity, emphasizing how passion and curiosity play a crucial role in succeeding in the field. Henrik shares how he transitioned from studying economics to cybersecurity after a recommendation from his mother and how he fell in love with the subject through a 12-month training program. Both Eric and Henrik highlight the importance of loving the work...
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Alignment
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this new episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole opens with one of his most powerful guiding principles: “Let data drive decisions, not emotions.” Drawing from his experiences traveling and meeting with top executives, he emphasizes the importance of making decisions based on reliable data rather than emotional impulses. He challenges listeners to ask themselves whether they have enough information to make an informed choice—not perfect information, but sufficient insight to move forward. When we delay decisions out of fear or uncertainty, it’s often because we lack confidence due...
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CISO Blind Spots
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole shines a spotlight on a critical blind spot that many Chief Information Security Officers overlook: legal liability. While CISOs are often highly skilled and technically knowledgeable, it’s what they don’t know—particularly about their legal exposure—that can put them at serious risk. Dr. Cole explains that many CISOs hold the title of “chief” without realizing they may not officially be corporate officers, and that distinction matters. If you are considered a true officer of the company, you may be personally liable for failures or...
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AI Risks
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole dives deep into the dominating force of 2025: artificial intelligence. While AI is everywhere—embedded in nearly every conversation and technology—the real concern, he explains, isn’t just about its capabilities but the risks it brings, especially in cybersecurity and data privacy. Dr. Cole breaks AI down into its two primary types: machine learning, which relies on data sets, and expert systems, which mimic expert decision-making through logical rules. He shares how AI isn’t new, recounting his own early work building simple expert...
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Blindspots
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this powerful episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole opens by highlighting a key success principle: even the world’s top performers — whether in sports, business, or entertainment — rely on coaches to help them spot their blind spots. Drawing from his deep experience coaching CISOs, Dr. Cole shares that cybersecurity leaders are no different. They often miss critical areas simply because they're too focused on day-to-day operations. He emphasizes that one of the most common blind spots for CISOs is the unrealistic pursuit of 100% security, which simply doesn’t exist. As Dr. Cole...
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What You Must Master This Year
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole kicks off the 2025 CISO Survival Guide Series, diving deep into the evolving demands on security leaders in today’s fast-moving landscape. With shifting tides in government, corporate trends, and technology, Dr. Cole emphasizes the urgent need for CISOs to master AI governance and threat modeling—not from a coding or development angle, but from a strategic oversight perspective. He shares personal stories from his early days working with neural networks in national security, highlighting how today’s cybersecurity environment finally has...
info_outlineIn the second part of The Balanced CISO series, Dr. Eric Cole emphasizes the importance of emotional control and mindset in a CISO's journey. He explores how seemingly small triggers, like an unpleasant email, can snowball into larger issues, affecting productivity and emotional well-being. Dr. Cole advises CISOs to adopt "pattern interrupts"—simple, sometimes silly actions like dancing or stepping away briefly—to reset their mindset and prevent negativity from escalating. He stresses that this self-awareness and proactive approach are essential for maintaining balance and showing up as an effective leader.
Dr. Cole also delves into the structural imbalance in many organizations where CISOs are often excluded from the executive suite. He highlights a striking example of a Fortune 50 company where the CISO's office is physically and symbolically isolated from the other C-suite leaders. To truly act as a chief, Dr. Cole argues, CISOs must align themselves with the executive team and advocate for their inclusion in strategic conversations. The episode blends practical advice with visionary thinking, inspiring current and aspiring CISOs to take ownership of their roles, emotions, and professional standing.