AI isn’t a one-time implementation. It’s a system that needs constant oversight. Aby Rao joins The Cyber Mettle Podcast to break down model drift, responsible AI ownership, and the real risks organizations overlook when deploying AI at scale.

AI is already inside your organization. The question is not if AI is being used, but whether you know how it’s being used. Alyson and Omar break down Shadow AI, hidden data training, and the real risks leaders face when employees and vendors rely on tools you can’t see or control.

What happens when you leave the military and step into the civilian cybersecurity world? In this episode, Air Force veteran and cybersecurity consultant Jose Toledo joins us to talk about the real (and often overlooked) challenges of the military-to-tech transition.   Jose’s career spans defense contracting, OT security, and strategic consulting with Google. He shares honest insights into identity loss, translating military experience into corporate language, navigating communication differences, and finding purpose after leaving a mission-driven environment.   In this conversation, we explore: • why the military-to-civilian transition can feel disorienting• how veterans can turn leadership under pressure into an advantage• the challenge of “translating” military jargon into business value• soft skills veterans bring to cybersecurity and tech roles• communication differences: directness vs. corporate nuance• how office politics land for people trained in no-excuses environments• what veterans miss most after the uniform comes off• where to find purpose, meaning, and community after service• networking strategies for introverts, ambiverts, and those who hate small talk• the truth behind: “The tech is easy. The people are hard.” Whether you're a veteran transitioning into cybersecurity, a hiring manager looking to understand veteran talent, or a cybersecurity leader navigating identity and career growth, this episode offers clarity, perspective, and actionable guidance.   ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro & Welcome01:12 – Meet Our Guest: Cyber Consultant & Air Force Veteran Jose Toledo04:20 – How Jose Entered Cybersecurity Through the Military07:58 – The Military Mindset: “Do More With Less”10:45 – Why Translating Military Experience Is So Difficult15:28 – Veterans Undervaluing Their Skills and Accomplishments18:40 – The Interview Moment That Changed Jose’s Career23:04 – Stress Leadership, Soft Skills & Mission Focus27:52 – Responsibility at a Young Age: The Veteran Narrative32:10 – The Mission-Shaped Hole After Leaving the Military36:58 – Communication Style Differences: Directness vs. Corporate Culture42:21 – Office Politics, Expectations & Emotional Intelligence46:30 – Networking for Introverts and Ambiverts51:12 – Teaching, Volunteering & Finding Purpose After Service55:44 – Legal vs. Cyber: Translating Meaning Across Disciplines59:20 – Final Advice: Reframing Your Value as a Veteran01:02:10 – Closing & Subscribe   New episodes of The Cyber Mettle Podcast drop every other week. Follow The Cyber Mettle for conversations on cybersecurity, leadership, law, business resilience, and the human challenges behind the keyboard.

Avoiding tough topics doesn’t protect your business — it weakens it. This episode reveals how confronting death and incapacity builds lasting strength, resilience, and continuity.

In our debut of The Cyber Mettle, Omar Sangurima and Alyson Laderman dig into the human side of security — where tech, law, and everyday behavior collide. We tackle a dual challenge many organizations face: leadership that treats security as a pure cost center, and a rising apathy from digital-native generations (“my data’s already out there”). From simple cyber hygiene and school-level education to the realities of cyber insurance, we explore how to build a culture of resilience that actually sticks—top-down and bottom-up. What we cover: * Why “apathy is a hacker’s best friend” (and how to replace it with agency) * Household-level digital safety: practical norms that scale to the workplace * Cyber hygiene as a core subject in K–12 and higher ed * The patchwork of privacy/cyber laws (and why courts still look to “best practice”) * Cyber insurance without illusions: coverage, exclusions, MFA, premiums, and risk transfer * Resilience by design: breaking silos with real cross-department planning Who this helps: * Business leaders and GRC teams building security culture * Educators shaping the workforce of tomorrow * Security, IT, and legal pros who need a plain-English bridge between policy and practice About the hosts: * Alyson Laderman — CEO of AKYLADE and a 20+ year litigation attorney. Builds cybersecurity certifications that bridge learning and doing. * Omar Sangurima — GRC practitioner focused on risk, culture, and practical governance that organizations can live with Monday to Monday. Key takeaways: * Culture beats controls when it comes to day-to-day defense. * Teach the basics early: MFA, strong passwords, privacy awareness, and digital footprints. * Don’t assume your cyber policy covers you — read the terms, meet the requirements, and document controls. * Resilience improves when cybersecurity, legal, ops, and community stakeholders plan together.