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
The Rise of the Autonomous Blue Team with Vineet Edupuganti
What if defenders had their own AI-powered task force, always on, always adapting, and finally one step ahead of attackers? In this episode, Ron welcomes Vineet Edupuganti, Founder and CEO of ...
Turning AI Into Your Super Tool with Ron Eddings
AI is neither friend nor foe, it’s both. The way we choose to use it determines whether it helps or harms. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings shares lessons from his first job at a grocery store, ...
Mentorship to Mastery: AI and Community Lessons with Ron Eddings
AI might analyze your logs in seconds, but only the community can put you in the room that changes your career. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings discusses the powerful balance between human ...
From MCP Risks to AI Jailbreaks with Marco Figueroa
When AI agents move faster than security teams, the game changes, and the risks multiply. Ron welcomes back Marco “Mystic Marc” Figueroa, Program Manager at Mozilla’s 0DIN Program, to continue ...
Debt vs. Risk: What the SharePoint Breach Taught Us with Ron ...
The riskiest move in cybersecurity? Playing it too safe. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings redefines the way we think about technical debt, risk, and missed opportunities, in security and in ...
The Future of Cyber Talent Is African with Confidence Staveley
The world’s youngest continent is also its most untapped resource. Confidence Staveley, Founder of CyberSafe, makes a powerful case for why Africa’s youth are the answer to global cybersecurity ...
Compliance Isn’t the Enemy with Jeff Man
Is compliance just a checkbox, or the backbone of real security? Returning to the show with decades of hard-earned insight, Jeff Man makes the case that compliance, especially PCI-DSS, isn't ...
What Makes a Great CISO? A Playbook from Gary Hayslip
What separates a great CISO from a great one? In this powerhouse conversation, Ron invites friend and cybersecurity leader Gary Hayslip, CISO at SoftBank Investment Advisers, back on the mic to ...
Confidence, Coaching, and the S-Word with Mel Reyes
Want to stand out as a leader? According to our guest Mel Reyes, you need to dress like you mean it and speak like you’ve got nothing to prove. In this episode, Mel shares how he built ...
Purple Teaming Is the New Job Security with Maril Vernon
Cybersecurity isn’t just red or blue anymore... it’s purple, white, and deeply human. Maril Vernon, award-winning ethical hacker and Senior Solutions Architect at NetSPI, returns to the Hacker ...
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.
Thank you!
We will be in touch soon and reach out to you at