Communicating Cyber

Cydea

Welcome to Communicating Cyber - the series where cybersecurity leaders go beyond the jargon to share the stories, strategies, and real-world lessons that earn trust and gain buy-in for your programme. In each episode, we’ll explore how CISOs and cyber leaders tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges: communicating complexity in a way that’s clear, compelling, and connects with people. This is your space to learn, share, and be inspired by your peers.

Episodes

  1. 15 JAN

    Episode 06: Security is an optimist’s game

    In this episode, Michelle Tolmay, CISO at Tracsis, reframes the security professional as an optimist and explores the art of ‘answering the so what’. She explains how to translate technical risks into the financial language of the board. From managing ‘security poverty’ in startups to fixing the talent pipeline at the grassroots level, she emphasises that effective security is about empathy, communication, and a genuine desire to help people.

    46 min

  2. 13/10/2025

    Episode 05: The story is the strategy

    In this episode of Communicating Cyber, Robin sits down with Simon Goldsmith, Chief Information Security Officer at OVO, to explore how to make security meaningful when change is constant and technology moves fast. Simon shares lessons from a career that’s taken him from mechanical engineering in Turin, to electronic warfare for the MOD, to retail, financial services, and now leading security at a digital-first energy company. We talk about why systems thinking beats simply “adding more armour”, how storytelling and analogies open doors with executives and the challenge of “good enough” security and how to reframe it.

    46 min

  3. 13/10/2025

    Episode 04: Why and so what?

    In this episode of Communicating Cyber, host Robin Oldham sits down with technology leader Larry Tompkins to unpack the art of making complex cyber risks crystal clear. With over two decades of experience bridging the gap between IT and business, Larry shares how to earn trust, secure buy-in, and adapt your message for audiences from the boardroom to the warehouse floor. From the “Why, So What, and What Haven’t I Told You” framework to the power of visuals, real-world M&A lessons, and the importance of empathy, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies for any cyber leader looking to connect, persuade, and lead with confidence.

    45 min

  4. 13/10/2025

    Episode 03: From Basements to Boardrooms

    In this episode of Communicating Cyber, we get into what it really takes to make security land with impact and clarity – even when that means sending a phishing email to the executive committee! Our guest, Nisha Patel, CISO at Ocorian, has spent 20+ years on the front lines of cyber, and she’s here to share how she cuts through noise, wins boardroom buy-in, and builds security cultures that stick. From real-world incidents to bold new approaches, Nisha brings sharp, human insight into leading in high-stakes environments. If you've ever wrestled with getting your message heard, or making people actually care, this one’s for you.

    29 min

  5. 13/10/2025

    Episode 02: How one crisis turned into 600 burgers

    In this episode of Communicating Cyber, we explore what it really takes to lead and communicate cyber during times of intense change, when pressure’s high and stakes are real.Our guest Phil Clayson, acclaimed CTO, turns real-world lessons learnt from the TalkTalk incident into practical insight, drawing on deep experience in the boardroom, in crisis, and everywhere in between. If you’ve ever felt the uphill battle of getting cyber taken seriously, or struggled to cut through the noise when it matters most, this one’s for you.

    52 min
  6. Episode 01: The Storytelling Playbook

    10/10/2025

    Episode 01: The Storytelling Playbook

    In this kickoff episode of Communicating Cyber, we dive into one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools in the cyber security leader's arsenal: storytelling. Our guest Tim Grieveson, ‘Chief Storytelling Officer’ and Chief Security Officer at ThingsRecon, shares his personal playbook for aligning cyber security communication with business strategy - not by talking tech, but by talking outcomes, risk, and relevance.If you've ever struggled to make cyber security resonate with senior stakeholders, or felt like the “no” department, this episode is your new blueprint.

    45 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

Welcome to Communicating Cyber - the series where cybersecurity leaders go beyond the jargon to share the stories, strategies, and real-world lessons that earn trust and gain buy-in for your programme. In each episode, we’ll explore how CISOs and cyber leaders tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges: communicating complexity in a way that’s clear, compelling, and connects with people. This is your space to learn, share, and be inspired by your peers.

Information

  • Creator
    Cydea
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cydea
  • Show Website
    Communicating Cyber