From Hacker to CISO: Pete Nicoletti’s Wild Ride Through Security Leadership
Description
What happens when a teenage hacker becomes one of the most respected cybersecurity leaders in the industry? In this high-octane episode of The Professional CISO Show, David Malicoat sits down with Pete Nicoletti, Global CISO of the Americas at Check Point Software, for a brutally honest and wildly entertaining journey through decades of cybersecurity evolution.
From running ISP networks and getting hacked, to building MSSPs, leading security for Hertz and Virtustream, and now advising at the frontlines of AI-driven cyber defense—Pete shares real stories, lessons learned, and his vision for what CISOs must become next.
We cover physical pen testing war stories, building future leaders, why encryption is non-negotiable, the changing battlefield of AI, and how security professionals must evolve—before it’s too late.
Key Highlights:
- Pete’s origin story as a hacker-turned-security leader
- The case for encryption as a last line of defense
- How physical pen testing helped him build real-world resilience
- Why CISO reporting structure must change—now
- Leveraging AI to fight AI (and what happens if we don’t)
- Building the next generation of cyber leaders from the classroom up
- What it takes to be a professional CISO today
🔗 Links:
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