Cybersecurity, Leadership, and the Power of People I Chase F.

In this episode of the 40% Better Podcast, Bill Lennan sits down with Chase F., Chairperson of the National Privacy Council, to discuss leadership, cybersecurity, privacy, career growth, failure, and the importance of building strong teams. Chase shares his unique journey from a 20-year career in law enforcement to cybersecurity, IT leadership, teaching, entrepreneurship, and privacy advocacy. He explains how his experience as a detective, undercover officer, dive master, and field training officer shaped his approach to leadership and helped him transition into the technology and cybersecurity space. The conversation explores why cybersecurity is ultimately a people and culture problem, not just a technology problem. Chase explains why organizations need to focus on cybersecurity education for everyone, not just IT teams, and why executive buy-in is critical to building an effective security culture. Bill and Chase also discuss the human side of cybersecurity, incident response, AI adoption, critical thinking, and why organizations should focus on people rather than relying solely on expensive security tools and technology. Chase shares lessons from running multiple companies and ventures, including why leaders need to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses, build teams with complementary skills, and find the right people to help achieve a shared mission. He also discusses the importance of self-awareness and why leaders should avoid trying to imitate someone else's leadership style. The conversation also dives into career advancement, networking, hard work, company culture, and why being known as a reliable and hardworking professional can open doors throughout your career. Chase explains why companies should treat employees with respect and dignity, listen to their people, and create environments where teams are motivated to go the extra mile. Bill and Chase also explore the value of failure and why some of the most important lessons in leadership and life come from mistakes. Chase shares why he believes leadership is a skill that can be learned and developed through dedication, practice, passion, and self-awareness. Topics covered in this episode: * Chase F.'s journey from law enforcement to cybersecurity leadership * Leadership lessons from law enforcement * Cybersecurity and privacy leadership * Building a strong cybersecurity culture * Why cybersecurity is a people problem * The importance of employee cybersecurity training * Executive buy-in