11 Learnings From 8 Hours With 75 CISOs | CISO Circuit Series: Episode 2 with Omar Khawaja | With Michael Piacente and Sean Martin on the Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast

About the CISO Circuit Series

Sean Martin and Michael Piacente will join forces roughly once per month to discuss everything from looking for a new job, entering the field, finding the right work/life balance, examining the risks and rewards in the role, building and supporting your team, the value of the community, relevant newsworthy items, and so much more. Join us to help us understand the role of the CISO so that we can collectively find a path to Redefining CyberSecurity. If you have a topic idea or a comment on an episode, feel free to contact Sean Martin.

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Guests: 

Michael Piacente, Managing Partner and Cofounder of Hitch Partners

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/michael-piacente

Omar Khawaja, VP Security, Field CISO at Databricks [@databricks]

On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/smallersecurity/

On Twitter | https://twitter.com/smallersecurity

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Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber]

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/sean-martin

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This Episode’s Sponsors

Imperva | https://itspm.ag/imperva277117988

Pentera | https://itspm.ag/penteri67a

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Episode Notes

In this special CISO Circuit Series edition of the Redefining CyberSecurity podcast episode, Sean Martin and Michael Piacente engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Omar Khawaja, VP of Security and Field CISO at Databricks. Driven by a conversation with 75 of his CISO peers, Omar brings his unique perspective to the table, discussing the evolving role of a CISO and the importance of aligning security efforts with business needs.

Drawing on his experiences transitioning from a CISO at a large healthcare organization to a Field CISO, Omar shares insights on how he assists other CISOs, particularly in managing their data and implementing AI. He emphasizes the necessity of effective communication, audience awareness, and collaboration. Using the metaphor of a plane journey, Omar illustrates the importance of delivering a clear, simplified view of security efforts to stakeholders.

A significant part of the conversation revolves around the importance of building strong relationships with other executives and being open about vulnerabilities. Omar stresses the value of maintaining a relentless curiosity and refraining from judgment to foster better relationships and collaboration. He also shares some practical techniques for CISOs, encouraging them to continuously work on the craft of asking the right questions and demonstrating curiosity.

This episode serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in the ever-changing role of the CISO and the critical task of aligning security efforts with business needs. With its blend of practical advice, insightful metaphors, and real-world experiences, it's a must-listen for those looking to understand the complexities and challenges in the world of cybersecurity.

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Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast with Sean Martin, CISSP playlist:

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Resources

Omar's LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7129749407146627072/

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To see and hear more Redefining CyberSecurity content on ITSPmagazine, visit:

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