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
How a Game Turned a Watchmaker into a Cybersecurity Pro with ...
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 ...
Managing and Mitigating Cyber Risks For Your Assets with Jerich ...
What’s the key to mitigating unseen cyber risks? In this episode, Wes Wright, Chief Healthcare Officer at Ordr and Jerich Beason, CISO at WM uncover the complexities of attack surface management ...
The Year of the Agent: AI, Bug Bounties, and Cybersecurity ...
How will AI redefine cybersecurity in 2025? According to Marco Figueroa, Program Manager for Gen AI at the ODIN Bug Bounty Program, this year is set to be the "Year of the Agent," where AI ...
Understanding the Psychology of Cyber Risk with David Shipley
Most people think cybersecurity training is about knowledge, but what if motivation is the real key to success? David Shipley, CEO and Field CISO at Beauceron Security, shares how psychology and ...
From Landscaping to Cyber Leadership with Cole Lisko
How does a scorching July day in a van with no air conditioning lead to a career at one of the world’s top cybersecurity companies? In this episode, Cole Lisko shares his journey from ...
Think Like a Hacker, Solve Like a Leader featuring Ted Harrington
What if the key to innovation is breaking the rules? Ted Harrington, Executive Partner at Independent Security Evaluators and a pioneering ethical hacker, explores the power of commitment, ...
Hacking Trust with AI and Deepfakes featuring Iain Jackson
What happens when cutting-edge AI meets the art of deception? In this episode, Iain Jackson, Academy Hive Leader at CovertSwarm, takes us through the uncanny potential and risks of synthetic ...
Championing the Human in Cybersecurity with Julie Haney
What happens when cybersecurity puts people first? Julie Haney, Human-Centered Cybersecurity Program Lead at NIST, shares how designing security with humans at the center leads to greater ...
Do You Deserve To Be Hacked? Featuring Ilan Fehler and Dahvid ...
Do you deserve to be hacked? With that bold tagline, CovertSwarm is pushing leaders to rethink how they test and defend their systems, and in this episode, they’re sharing firsthand how ...
Transforming SOC Operations with AI featuring Roy Halevi
Cybersecurity is evolving fast, and AI is at the center. Roy Halevi, Co-Founder and CTO of Intezer, explains how AI automates SOC operations, improving speed and accuracy while freeing up teams ...
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.