On this episode, hosts Aaron Linz and Tim York talk to Rich Rhodes, Chief Information Security Officer of Choice Bank. Rich shares how his people-first philosophy shapes the way he leads security programs, especially during high-stress moments like bank mergers, regulatory pressure and pandemic-era team isolation. Drawing from years in financial services and community work, Rich explains why fundamentals matter, how humor builds trust and why he believes security is 90% people.
Key Takeaways:
(04:30) Volunteer work revealed the real-world consequences of identity loss.
(07:56) Cybersecurity leadership must center the human experience, not just controls.
(09:33) Managing conflict in security teams requires empathy and intentional restraint.
(16:09) Employee well-being and development are critical responsibilities of CISOs.
(18:25) Regular communication and transparency help unify distributed teams.
(27:04) Large-scale IAM implementations demand urgency and cross-functional alignment.
(30:55) Creative morale boosters can protect team mental health during crises.
Resources Mentioned:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-rhodes-cissp-pcip-1b35755/
Choice Bank | LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/choicebank/
Choice Bank | Website
https://bankwithchoice.com/
Meals on Wheels | Website
https://meals-on-wheels.com/
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For more information, visit https://ic-consult.com.
#Cybersecurity #IdentityManagement #InformationSecurity #IAM #IdentityAccessManagement