In this episode of Inclusive Cyber we talk to Angela Díaz, a fraud and risk leader who turned a single day of crisis into a decade-long career in financial crime prevention. We explore how she built her own ladder in an industry that rarely makes space for new voices, from manually canceling fraudulent orders in a startup to designing enterprise-level fraud controls for global banks. Angela shares lessons on hiring for potential instead of perfection, using AI responsibly with human oversight, and leading through mentorship, allyship, and authenticity.

Angela reminds us that you don’t need permission to lead. You just need to own your path and act with purpose.

#InclusiveCyber #FraudPrevention #Leadership #AIinRisk #Cybersecurity

---------
Show Notes

Books:
The Other Side of the Firewall by Ryan Williams
Lead Like You Mean It by Laysha Ward
Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love with You by Becky Holmes
Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick

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...

In our first Fireside Chat, Jo Anna and I dug into a topic that’s reshaping everything around us: Artificial Intelligence and Accountability.

Jo Anna said it best:

“We can’t stop AI. It’s everywhere. But we can govern it.”

We explored the growing tension between innovation and responsibility. Tech giants are moving fast, but who’s ensuring they move safely? If the past decade taught us anything, it’s that security and governance must evolve just as quickly as the tools we build.

Some of the key questions we unpacked:
• How can organizations create AI governance frameworks that reflect their values, not just compliance checklists?
• Are enterprises, not governments, now the real gatekeepers of ethical AI?
• What happens when data centers require more power, water, and land than the communities surrounding them?
• And is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) truly our next milestone, or a distraction from the sustainability issues we refuse to face?

Jo Anna raised a point few discuss openly: the environmental toll of AI. Behind every large model are servers that consume massive amounts of energy and water. Innovation has a cost, and it’s time we acknowledge it.

We closed with a powerful reminder:

“AI may be the car before seat belts. Innovation will outpace safety until harm forces regulation.”

This conversation isn’t about fear; it’s about foresight.
If you’re building, deploying, or investing in AI, ask yourself:
Are you optimizing for speed or sustainability?

⸻

🔖 Key Themes:
AI Governance | Data Ethics | Environmental Sustainability | Responsible Innovation | Quantum Computing

💭 What’s your take?
Is AI evolving faster than our ability to govern it, or are we finally learning from history?

#ArtificialIntelligence #CyberSecurity #Governance #EthicalAI #FiresideChat #Sustainability #QuantumComputing #FutureOfWork #AIethics #Leadership

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...

Ale’s career journey is anything but linear. From her roots as the granddaughter of Mexican farmworkers to advising high school students, to shaping education policy in Washington DC, and finally landing in the world of technology, her story is one of resilience, mentorship, and serendipity.

In this episode Ale shares how her immigrant background shaped her values, why giving back through education became her first calling, and how an unexpected LinkedIn message opened the door to tech. She also reflects on the importance of mentors, the reality of navigating career pivots, and why being brave enough to “make the ask” can change everything.

Whether you are early in your career, considering a pivot, or simply looking for inspiration, Ale’s story proves that purpose, perseverance, and a little bit of luck can create a path you never imagined.

Key Highlights

• Ale’s immigrant roots and values of community and service
• Transition from college advising to education policy work in DC
• How an unexpected LinkedIn message led to a role in edtech
• Lessons on mentorship and how to “be brave and make the ask”
• Reflections on luck, preparation, and building a career with purpose
• Ale’s thoughts on balance, gardening, and stepping away from tech to recharge

Book Recommendations
That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph (Netflix co-founder) — an inside look at the startup world and building something unexpected

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...

In this inspiring episode of Inclusive Cyber, Lorena Mejia, CEO & Founder of Unleashing the Lion in Us, shares how she went from entry-level roles to becoming a leader in technology, cybersecurity, and AI. Lorena opens up about the importance of curiosity, self-advocacy, and mentorship, and why closing the digital divide is critical to building equitable, responsible AI.

We cover:

• Lorena’s unconventional path to tech and cybersecurity
• How curiosity and mentorship became her superpowers
• Why representation matters in AI and cybersecurity
• Breaking into cyber without a “traditional” degree
• Responsible AI, equity, and security by design
• Entrepreneurship and building a purpose-driven company

Book Recommendations:

• Bringing Your Authentic Self: Tattoos, Pearls, and All to the Boardroom – Miriam Simone
• A Brown Girl’s Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step Into Your Power – Aurelia Dávila Pratt
• The Inclusive Organization – Netta Jenkins

Connect with Lorena:

• 🌐 Website: https://unleashingthelioninus.com/
  
• 📅 Free Consultations: Book via Calendly https://calendly.com/mejia-lore-m_unleashingthelioninus/45?month=2025-09
• 📸 Instagram: @unleashingthelioninus
  
• 🎤 Open for keynote speaking, podcasts, and collaborations

Connect with Danny / Inclusive Cyber:

• 🔗 LinkedIn: Daniel Magallanes
  
  
• 🎥 YouTube: Inclusive Cyber Podcast

🎧 Listen now and get inspired to claim your seat at the table and help build a more inclusive future for tech, AI, and cybersecurity.

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...

Alexis Dieter, working in Offensive Cyber Operations, proves there’s no one “right” way into cyber. After 13 years in bartending, Alexis pivoted careers, went back to school, and is now thriving in penetration testing all while finishing her degree.

Here are her lessons for anyone looking to break in (or breakthrough):

✅ Life Skills More Important than Tech Skills
Bartending taught her resilience, communication, and tough skin — the real keys to thriving in cyber.

✅ Network = Net Worth
Professors, clubs, conferences, and even old colleagues opened doors to her first internship.

✅ Stay Hungry, But Pace Yourself
Cybersecurity is a marathon. Continuous learning is crucial but burnout is real.

✅ Give Back Early
She leads outreach to women and minorities, proving that lifting others lifts the industry.

✅ Future-Proof Your Career
Alexis is already thinking about quantum computing risks and how they’ll change security in the next decade.

And when it comes to AI?

“AI can write scripts and save me time, but it can’t replace intuition. Offensive security is still very human.”

🚀 Whether you’re a student, a career changer, or a cyber veteran, Alexis’s story is a reminder: your past doesn’t define your future — your curiosity does.

#CybersecurityCareers #PenTesting #OffensiveSecurity #CareerPivot #LifeSkills #Networking #QuantumComputing #AI #GenerativeAI #CybersecurityCommunity #WomenInCyber #InclusiveCyber #futureofwork

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...

Meet Marivell, a proud Latina from NYC who turned curiosity into a career in cybersecurity, governance, risk & compliance (GRC), and leadership.

🔑 Highlights that resonate:

Curiosity as a Superpower → Asking the “dumb” questions launched her career in tech.

Representation Matters → A Latina voice proving that you don’t need a perfect path: just grit, curiosity, and community.

Breaking Silos → Cybersecurity’s biggest challenge isn’t tech, it’s the lack of collaboration.

GRC Reframed → Policies aren’t boring; they’re the foundation of cybersecurity programs.

Generative AI → Not a threat if you have foundational knowledge but a danger if you don’t.

Mentorship with Intention → Don’t just ask. Bring purpose, an agenda, and be ready for the give-and-take.

Optimism Always Wins → Inspired by Kimberly S. Reed’s book, Marivell reminds us that resilience + optimism = survival in cyber.

💬 Quote to share:

“I am proof you don’t need a perfect path. You need grit, curiosity, and community.” – Marivell

✨ Keywords to drive engagement:
#Cybersecurity #LatinaInTech #Mentorship #Curiosity #DiversityInCyber #GRC #AI #Resilience #RepresentationMatters #WomenInCyber

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...

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.

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...

🔐 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

------------------
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!
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...