In this episode, I speak with Siobhán MacDermott, a cybersecurity and public policy expert whose career spans Silicon Valley, global finance, and advisory.

Siobhán reflects on an itinerant childhood and how constantly being the “new kid” shaped her relationship with risk, identity, and belonging. What began as an ambition to become an ER doctor took unexpected turns, from scouting mobile tower locations to eventually working at the intersection of cyber risk, geopolitics, and financial stability.

We talk about how she found her voice in high-stakes, often male-dominated environments, and the role risk-taking has played throughout her life.

Siobhán also reflects on her current focus protecting children from the risks of social media, connecting her work today to her own experiences of vulnerability, parenting, and growth.

TeenAegis is accessible at: https://teenaegis.com/portal/platform-danger.

Siobhán mentions The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com.

Recorded on 20 March 2026.

Connect with Siobhán on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/siobhanmacdermott/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

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