Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing

Episode Summary: Gianna sits down and talks with Adam Vincent, founder and CEO of Bricklayer AI, about selling first and letting the market shape your message. After bootstrapping and shipping an MVP in summer 2023, Adam called (literally phone called) his way into product clarity and pipeline, then watched curiosity turn into urgency in Q2 2025. They get practical on where agents help today, so security teams finally use the tools they already pay for. You’ll hear: The words that make buyers lean in. Agents that handle alert triage, weekly intel briefs, and vulnerability prioritization. Meeting to SQO rising from about 30% (Q1 2025) to about 78% (Q2 2025). If you’re looking for buyer-tested phrasing, three practical agent workflows, and a simple outreach pattern you can run tomorrow, this episode is for you. About Adam: Adam Vincent is the Founder and CEO of Bricklayer AI. He’s spent his career building software that helps security analysts do their jobs better and has worn the hats: QA, engineering, and CTO. Early at Layer 7 Technologies, he built the federal practice across sales, marketing, and tech.  In his last startup, he says the team grew revenue from zero to $30M ARR. He founded Bricklayer AI, bootstrapped for about a year, launched an MVP in summer 2023, and runs founder-led sales while standing up marketing and sales leadership. Follow Adam on LinkedIn 🔗 Links & Resources: Bricklayer AI  ThreatConnect  Layer 7 (now Broadcom Layer7 API Management) Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!

Episode Summary: We’re back with another round of Cyber CMO Confidential, where Gianna and Charles ask the questions every cybersecurity marketer wishes they could ask their CMO. This time, Karl Van den Bergh, Illumio’s CMO, shares why he dropped the “ing” and became a Chief Market Officer. He unpacks Illumio’s shift from zero trust segmentation to breach containment, the fine line between AI innovation and AI nonsense, and why marketers need to stop selling and start representing the market. 🎧 Listen to the full episode for Karl’s take on authenticity, AI hype, and what it really means to market the market. About Karl:  Karl Van den Bergh is the Chief Market Officer at Illumio, where he leads global marketing for the company’s breach containment and Zero Trust Segmentation platform. With over two decades in enterprise software and cybersecurity, he’s known for transforming complex technology brands into clear, market-driven stories. Before joining Illumio, Karl served as CMO at Gigamon and DataStax, where he helped reposition both companies for modern, security-focused growth. His work centers on connecting product strategy to real market needs and building brands that lead with clarity, not jargon. Follow Karl on LinkedIn.  🔗 Links & Resources: Illumio – Learn more about the company’s breach containment and Zero Trust Segmentation platform. Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!

Episode Summary: Gianna and Maria take a break from guest interviews to share what’s ahead at CyberMarketingCon 2025, coming December 7–10 in Austin, TX, and streaming online. From building your first AI agent or tackling a marketer’s CTF, to designing sharper content in Canva, this year’s workshops go hands-on fast. They walk through new summits for CMOs, founders, and sales teams, introduce fresh AI-driven sponsors, and preview Austin’s most unexpected highlight, a cybersecurity-themed wrestling show. It’s a glimpse at how the community keeps growing, connecting, and having fun. 👉 Listen to the full episode for insider updates, practical tips, and a few behind-the-scenes laughs from the team bringing CyberMarketingCon to life. About the hosts: Gianna Whitver and Maria Velasquez are the co-founders of the Cybersecurity Marketing Society and organizers of CyberMarketingCon, the annual conference for security marketers, founders, and GTM leaders to connect, learn, and grow together. Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!

Episode Summary: Most marketers learn executive communication the hard way. Rob Sobers, CMO at Varonis, joins Gianna and Charles to share what he’s figured out along the way, how to lead with the answer, give data real context, and know when to stop talking. He explains how to tailor communication for CEOs, boards, and peers, and why too much detail can make you sound less senior, not more informed. The conversation also covers the habits that build trust over time: using templates for consistency, setting clear values so teams can move without micromanagement, and preparing for the “most obvious objections” before they’re raised. 👉 Listen to the full episode for practical examples, career lessons, and Rob’s take on the one buzzword he’d retire from cybersecurity marketing for good. About Rob: Rob Sobers is the Chief Marketing Officer at Varonis, a leader in data security. He began his career as a software engineer before moving into marketing, giving him a unique perspective on how technical and business teams communicate. At Varonis, Rob leads global marketing strategy and focuses on helping organizations understand and reduce data risk. He’s also the co-author of Learn Ruby the Hard Way and a longtime advocate for practical, transparent communication inside complex organizations. Follow Rob Sobers on LinkedIn 🔗 Links & Resources: Varonis: varonis.com Dave Kellogg’s Blog (Kellblog): kellblog.com Carilu Dietrich’s Post on Executive Communication: LinkedIn article  Elevate Your Marketing Dashboard: How to Impress the CEO, CRO, and CFO — Carilu Dietrich (Substack) Wes Kao’s “15 Principles for Managing Up”: weskao.com  Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!

Episode Summary: What started as two marketers looking for support has grown into a 4,000-member community and CyberMarketingCon, the go-to conference for anyone driving go-to-market in security. In this replay from Chris Hughes’ Resilient Cyber show, Gianna and Maria share what makes the Society different, why the event feels more like a reunion than a conference, and what’s waiting in Austin this December (or online if that’s easier): hands-on workshops, founder + investor sessions, and this year’s theme — the Marketing Time Machine. Make sure you get your ticket today: https://www.cybermarketingconference.com/  About: Chris Hughes is the host of Resilient Cyber and the President and CEO of Aquia, where he helps organizations securely adopt cloud and modern software practices. His show brings practitioners, builders, and leaders together to talk openly about the challenges and opportunities in cybersecurity. Follow Chris on LinkedIn Gianna Whitver is Co-Founder and CEO of the Cybersecurity Marketing Society, and Maria Velasquez is Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer. They started the Society in 2020 to build a community for cyber marketers, now 4,000+ strong. They also run CyberMarketingCon, the go-to industry conference for anyone working in go-to-market. 🔗 Links & Resources: Chris Hughes’ Resilient Cyber show  Get your ticket for CyberMarketingCon 2025  Cybersecurity Marketing Society Resilient Cyber podcast: resilientcyber.io  Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!

Episode Summary: RSAC has officially expanded its research team with 11 new hires, plus another major research release is dropping this October. Guests Ben Waring and Jessica Porter join us to break down what the expansion means for the industry and how RSAC is stepping into year-round thought leadership. They also take us inside the new RSAC digital community, where AI-powered tools, curated news briefs, and private peer groups keep cybersecurity pros connected long after the conference floor closes. On the startup side, it’s the 20th anniversary of Innovation Sandbox with submissions up nearly 40% and a new $5M investment fueling each finalist’s growth. Plus, for anyone eyeing the RSAC 2026 stage, Ben and Jessica share what makes a Call for Speakers submission stand out and what gets it cut. Listen to this episode before your next submission, pitch, or conference plan; you’ll thank yourself later. About guests: Ben Waring is the Director of Global PR and Communications at RSAC. He leads the global public relations strategy for the conference and its year-round community platform, managing media engagement, high-profile speaker press, and live event communications. Follow Ben on LinkedIn. Jessica Porter is Senior Director of Marketing at RSAC, where she has worked since 2017. She drives go-to-market strategy, targeted attendance, and community engagement, building RSAC into a year-round hub for cybersecurity learning. Previously, Jessica held integrated marketing roles at RSA Security. Follow Jessica on LinkedIn . 🔗 Links & Resources: RSAC Membership overview (launch blog) RSAC Membership platform demo (video) RSAC Cybersecurity Atlas (interactive tool)  RSAC Innovation Sandbox (program) Innovation Sandbox — How it Works (submission details) RSAC Launch Pad (program) RSAC Call for Submissions (Closed)  RSAC Research (report landing example) Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!

Episode Summary: Joseph Barringhaus didn’t set out to become a part-time app builder. He was tired of doing budgets in Google Sheets and decided to see if one of those new AI coding tools could do it better. It turned out it could, and that one experiment snowballed into a whole new way of working he calls vibe coding. In this conversation, Joseph and Gianna get into what vibe coding looks like in practice: quick tools that make a sales call easier, event games that buyers actually remember, and rough-and-ready prototypes that speed up work with designers. They also talk honestly about the risks (where AI still breaks), the temptation to chase too many shiny tools, and why Joseph swears by his “three bets” rule to keep marketing focused. 👉 Tune in to the full episode to hear Joseph’s stories firsthand from the budgeting app that started it all to the bold bets shaping how he runs marketing today. About Joseph:  Joseph Barringhaus is the Vice President of Marketing at Maze.Before Maze, he was the Vice President of Marketing at Tamnoon, driving demand generation, product–market fit, messaging, and revenue alignment. With nearly a decade in cybersecurity, IT services, and SaaS, he’s helped generate over $900M in pipeline and raised conversion rates across multiple companies.Joseph also held senior marketing roles at Sonrai Security and Progress, and earlier worked in content and digital marketing across industries from sports to IT. He has a BBA in Marketing with a minor in Communication from Wichita State University, and today, he also serves as an advisor at Warmly. Follow Joseph on LinkedIn  🔗 Links & Resources: Learn more about Tamnoon: tamnoon.io  v0 by Vercel Lovable Base 44 Claude Code (referred to as “Cloud Code” in the episode) Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!

Episode Summary: Step inside the Torq Universe, a marketing world where the Big Hat isn’t just swag, it’s a storyline; the Sock Goblin explains why your SOC is drowning in false positives; and a falcon named Robert Girdle might swoop into the next conference booth. In this episode, Gianna teams up with Tessa The (Senior Field Marketing Manager at Torq) and Brittney Wittfeldt-Zec (Senior Social Media Manager at Torq) to unpack how Torq turned characters and inside jokes into a real growth engine: from 4K to 29K+ LinkedIn followers, cybersecurity pros cosplaying their merch, and a community that actually asks for more lore. Why does it matter? This isn’t marketing theater; it’s proof that buyers connect faster and deeper when your brand lives in a world they want to join. 👉 Tune in to hear how Torq bridges field and social, measures what sticks, and keeps expanding a universe that cybersecurity folks can’t stop talking about. About guests:  Tessa The is Senior Field Marketing Manager at Torq, where she brings campaigns and characters into the real world through conferences, field programs, and the now-legendary Big Hat. She focuses on creating in-person experiences that tie seamlessly back to Torq’s brand universe. Follow Tessa on LinkedIn Brittney Wittfeldt-Zec is Senior Social Media Manager at Torq, leading the charge on building community and engagement across digital channels. From launching the Sock Goblin to scaling Torq’s LinkedIn following past 29K, she shows how storytelling and social media can fuel measurable growth. Follow Brittney on LinkedIn About Torq: Torq is a security automation platform that helps teams cut noise, streamline response, and focus on what matters most by turning workflows into a connected, automated system. 🔗 Links & Resources: Learn more about Torq The Big Hat Conspiracy video on LinkedIn Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!

Episode Summary: Ask Sarah Acker about her team at HUMAN Security, and you won’t just hear “brand” or “demand gen.” You’ll hear humans, cyborgs, and bots. That playful framing comes straight from how she describes the groups on her team, showing her mix of structure and creativity in cybersecurity marketing. In this conversation, Sarah walks us through HUMAN Security’s transformation from White Ops into a cybersecurity company, the realities of merging with PerimeterX, and why she believes the best marketing is equal parts “pretty” and “gritty.” Along the way, we cover FBI investigations, a Halloween parade float, and the persistence of old logos that still turn up on invoices years after a rebrand. If you’ve faced the challenges of rebrands, mergers, or balancing creativity with effectiveness in cybersecurity marketing, Sarah’s stories offer a clear look at what it takes to make it work.  About Sarah: Sarah Acker is the SVP, Global Head of Marketing at HUMAN Security. She joined the company when it was still known as White Ops and has been part of its evolution into cybersecurity, including the acquisition and integration of PerimeterX. Before HUMAN Security, Sarah was Head of Brand Experience and Partnerships at iCrossing, a Hearst-owned digital agency, and Director of Marketing at ALTZ Investment Strategies LLC. Earlier in her career, she worked across industries, including health and wellness, beauty, fashion, fintech, real estate, and media, before moving into cybersecurity. Follow Sarah on LinkedIn 🔗 Links & Resources: Check out HUMAN Security’s website HUMAN Security: 3ve: The Long Game The Hunt for 3ve (White Paper)  Dark Reading Coverage: Google, White Ops, and Industry Players Dismantle 3ve HUMAN Security Press Release: BADBOX 2.0 Scheme Exposed  HUMAN Security Blog: BADBOX 2.0 Disruption Report  SecurityWeek: BadBox Botnet Powered by 1 Million Android Devices Disrupted Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!

Episode Summary: Antu Buck didn’t plan to end up in customer marketing. She started in sales, carrying a bag as a BDR and enterprise rep, before realizing the part she loved most was building customer relationships. That path led her to McAfee, Intel Security, and now Gigamon, where she’s the Senior Director of Customer Marketing & Community. In this episode, Antu explains customer marketing, how it grew from “reference calls” into a core pillar of modern marketing, and why advocacy, community, and lifecycle programs all matter. We also discuss the common mistakes companies make when they treat community as a checkbox, how to prove ROI in a low-disclosure industry, and what it takes to turn a happy customer into a true superfan. Listen in as Antu previews her 30/60/90-day playbook for building a customer marketing program and catch the full plan live at CyberMarketingCon. About Antu:  Antu Buck is the Senior Director of Customer Marketing & Community at Gigamon, where she leads customer advocacy, engagement programs, and lifecycle marketing initiatives. Before Gigamon, she built and ran customer marketing programs at McAfee and Intel Security, including customer reference programs, executive briefings, and advocacy initiatives. Her career began in sales as a BDR and enterprise rep, which gave her a customer-first perspective that still shapes her approach today. Connect with Antu on LinkedIn 🔗 Links & Resources: Learn more about Gigamon Subscribe & Review: 👉 Enjoyed this one? Drop us a quick ⭐ rating or review, it helps more cyber marketers find the show. 📩 Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email: podcast@cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com  Meet us at CyberMarketingCon 2025! Want to level up your cybersecurity marketing? Join us Dec 7–10 in Austin, TX, for four days of zero-fluff workshops, real-deal networking, and maybe the best BBQ meetup you’ll ever have. 👉 Snag your ticket now! See you in Austin, where the insights and vibes are hotter. Follow the Hosts: Gianna Whitver on LinkedIn Maria Velasquez on LinkedIn Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, Instagram page, or podcast LinkedIn page.  See you in the next episode!