The Job Security Cybersecurity Podcast
The Job Security Cybersecurity Podcast, brought to you by Expel Security, explores the unique perspectives and stories of the people who make the cybersecurity industry what it is—whether they realize it or not. Hosts Dave Johnson and Tyler Zito recognize that we're living in an enlightenment period of cybersecurity, where the industry has stabilized with established education systems, compliance frameworks, and documented methodologies. But it took a lot to get here.
This podcast looks inward at our community and culture, sharing the stories of how we built this industry through DIY traditions, mythologies, and countless people figuring it out as they went. We explore not just the technical aspects of security, but the human elements—from current students and interns to seasoned professionals, and even those outside cybersecurity who offer valuable perspectives on risk, strategy, and innovation.
Expect conversations about where we've been, where we are now, and where we're headed next. We'll talk to adjunct professors, threat hunters, entertainers at hacker conventions, and professionals from adjacent industries who can teach us something new. This isn't another podcast about threats and threat actors—it's about the people doing the work and the lessons we can learn by looking in slightly different directions.
Join us for a mix of education, entertainment, and optimism as we celebrate how far cybersecurity has come while inspiring curiosity and innovation for the future. Whether you're taking a lunch break or winding down after incident response, we're here to help you relax with good stories and interesting discoveries.
The Job Security Cybersecurity Podcast
Episode 6: Becoming a tech evangelist
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Hosts Dave Johnson and Ben Baker sit down with Tim Chase, Global Field CISO at Orca Security, to demystify one of cybersecurity's most intriguing and often misunderstood roles. With over 20 years in information security—from manual penetration testing in 2002 to leading cloud security programs and now evangelizing cutting-edge technology—Tim shares the real story of what tech evangelism means, how to break into the field, and why listening matters more than talking.
Key topics & timestamps
Defining tech evangelism (4:00 - 6:07)
- Not just talking about products—educating on industry trends and challenges
- Sitting at intersection of marketing, sales, and product teams
The guiding philosophies of effective evangelism (8:03 - 11:21)
- Drawing on personal CISO experience to stay authentic
- Putting yourself in the audience's shoes before prescribing solutions
- Listening as much as talking—learning never stops in cybersecurity
Tim's journey from practitioner to evangelist (12:52 - 20:53)
- Started in AppSec to cloud security to evangelist
- The path was convoluted but intentional at each stage
Why connections alone don't make good evangelists (21:25 - 25:16)
- Hiring for rolodex depth is a short-term strategy that fails
- Executive presence and communication skills matter more
- Speaking CISO-to-CISO changes the entire conversation dynamic
The art of adding value without being preachy (25:16 - 28:36)
- Cybersecurity professionals don't want product pitches—they want help
- Executives struggle with "Is this just me?" moments—evangelists provide perspective
- Positioning your company as thought leaders, not just vendors
Breaking into tech evangelism (33:10 - 35:48)
- Find your preferred communication medium and start there
- Stretch yourself in areas where you're uncomfortable
- Learn how good sellers ask discovery questions
What's happening at Orca Security (38:11 - 39:48)
Key quotes
"A tech evangelist to me is just someone that sees what's going on in the industry. They've got the history, they've been in it long enough that they can really kind of educate others... to tell them kind of what you're seeing and where they should be focused." - Tim Chase
"One of the ways that you can get security leaders to pay attention is if they know that you've walked in their shoes before. I've literally seen the face and the conversation change when I introduce myself and they realize I'm not an SE or a seller—I'm a practitioner." - Tim Chase
"Let the sellers sell, and let me evangelize. They've got their process and they're respected for what they do, but let me just talk about the problem." - Tim Chase
Helpful links
- Orca Security
- (Blog) Where to start your cloud security program by Tim Chase
- (LinkedIn) Tim's response to Tom Alcock
Production Credits
- Co-hosts: Dave Johnson and Ben Baker
- Producer: Ben Baker
- Sponsor: Expel Security
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