Watch Now

Show Notes

What if cybersecurity training could be as engaging as your favorite game? In this episode, Simeon Kakpovi, founder of the KC7 Foundation, shares how his gamified approach is changing lives and reshaping the cybersecurity pipeline by making cybersecurity education accessible. 

From his journey as a threat hunter to building a free online game that teaches real-world blue team skills, Simeon joins Ron to show how creativity and inclusion can unlock potential in unexpected places. Plus, listen to the remarkable story about how a watchmaker with no cyber background landed a dream job at Microsoft—all thanks to KC7.

 

Impactful Moments

00:00 - Introduction

01:11 - The evolution of cybersecurity

03:03 - Cybersecurity Mergers & Acquisitions

05:38 - Meet our guest: Simeon Kakpovi of KC7 Foundation

06:00 - KC7 wins “Team of the Year” at the SANS DMAs

8:43 - Founding the KC7 Foundation

10:00 - Lessons from Lockheed Martin’s Cyber Analyst Challenge

11:46 - How KC7 gamifies real-world cybersecurity

14:52 - Bringing KC7 to high school and middle school students

16:52 - Expanding access to cybersecurity careers

25:09 - A watchmaker’s journey to Microsoft

34:00 - How to get started with KC7

 

 

Links

Connect with our guest, Simeon Kakpovi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kakpovi/

Check out the Cybersecurity M&A Roundup Article here: https://www.securityweek.com/cybersecurity-ma-roundup-37-deals-announced-in-december-2024/

Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams

Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:

https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio

Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord

Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

Recent Episodes

Jun 5, 2025

Zero Trust Isn’t a Tool — It’s Everything with George Finney

What if Zero Trust isn’t a framework, but the only viable cybersecurity strategy—more about people than products? In this episode, George Finney, CISO at the University of Texas System and ...

May 29, 2025

Your Two-Year Edge Starts Now with Marco Figueroa

You won’t be replaced by AI—you’ll be replaced by someone using it better. Returning guest Marco Figueroa is back with a frontline report on the AI agent boom. This isn’t a prediction—it’s a ...

May 22, 2025

Badge Cloning, Alarm Triggers & Getting Hired to Hack with Greg ...

Most people think red teaming is digital—until someone bypasses your locks, plants a Raspberry Pi in your server room, and walks out with your data. That’s not sci-fi. That’s White Knight Labs. ...

May 15, 2025

Building Cyber Resilience Through Culture with David Shipley

What if fixing cybersecurity wasn’t about more tools, but about unlocking human potential?  In this episode, Ron Eddings welcomes back David Shipley, CEO and Field CSO of Beauceron Security, for ...

May 8, 2025

Ditch the Spreadsheets: Smarter Crypto Security with Michael ...

Still tracking certificates in a spreadsheet? You’re not alone—and there’s a better way. In this special episode from RSA 2025, Ron sits down with Michael Klieman, Global Vice President of ...

Apr 24, 2025

Protecting People, Not Just Perimeters with Andrey Suzdaltsev

AI is reshaping the cybersecurity battlefield, and cyber adversaries are getting smarter. In this episode, Ron Eddings welcomes Andrey Suzdaltsev, Co-Founder and CEO of Brightside AI, for a look ...

Apr 10, 2025

Digital Clutter and the Death of Passwords with Collin Sweeney & ...

Passwords are the original digital clutter—messy, overstuffed, and way too easy to forget. Like a junk drawer full of old keys and cables, we keep tossing more into them, hoping they’ll somehow ...

Apr 3, 2025

What Most Cybersecurity Advice Misses—And How to Fix It with ...

What if the biggest threat to cybersecurity isn’t attackers—but the defenders themselves? Why are we still building tools for experts in a world where technical skills are fading fast? In this ...

Mar 27, 2025

Hackers Have HR Now? featuring Christopher Budd

The internet once came this close to crashing—and Microsoft was on the front line. In this episode, cybersecurity veteran Christopher Budd takes us inside the Microsoft Security Response Center ...

Mar 21, 2025

Staying Ahead in the Age of AI Agents with Marco Figueroa

Marco Figueroa is back, and his AI predictions aren’t just coming true—they’re unfolding faster than anyone expected. AI agents aren’t on the horizon—they’re already here, and security teams are ...

WORK WITH US

PODCASTS + SPEAKING + EVENTS

Are you the best kept secret in cybersecurity? Let's change that by partnering together for podcast ads, social campaigns, and your next event or keynote. Send us your details to get started.