Guest: 

Maril Vernon, Co-founder of The Cyber Queens Podcast | Chief Operating Officer at Teach Kids Tech 

On Twitter | https://twitter.com/shewhohacks

On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilvernon/

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Host: 

Alyssa Miller, Host of Securing Bridges Podcast

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alyssa-miller

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This Episode’s Sponsors

BlackCloak | https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb

Brinqa | https://itspm.ag/brinqa-pmdp

SandboxAQ | https://itspm.ag/sandboxaq-j2en

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Episode Notes

Explore the importance of inspiring young minds in tech, the challenges faced in connecting kids to the world of cybersecurity, and how making personal connections can make all the difference.

The conversation revolves around the importance of inspiring children, specifically girls, to pursue careers in technology and cybersecurity. The discussion highlights the critical time frame of capturing their interest by fourth grade, the development of proprietary curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school levels, and the search for corporate sponsorship partners to scale the program. The conversation reveals that one of the challenges faced is providing ongoing access to resources and mentorship for continued skill development, requiring buy-in from schools and teachers.

The conversation explores how to spark interest in cybersecurity among kids, comparing it to a game of cops and robbers. By using simple concepts like hiding a computer and protecting it with a firewall, Alyssa and Maril aim to ignite curiosity and foster a sense of responsibility in protecting digital assets. They also discuss the different ways individuals can help the mission, from sharing and spreading awareness to volunteering their skills for content development and program execution.

This episode also explores the challenges faced when interacting with vendors in the tech industry. The speakers emphasize the importance of personal connections and focusing on the 'why' instead of the 'how' when engaging with potential customers. They share their experiences walking through the Expo hall at RSA Conference, highlighting the qualities that draw them towards particular vendors and the importance of establishing genuine connections.

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