Building a Cybersecurity Team with a Difference with Mat Franklin

Secured by Galah Cyber

In this episode, Cole Cornford chats with Mat Franklin, founder and managing director of the consulting firm MF & Associates. Founded in 2019, Mat has quickly grown the company to be 70 or so employees, with their largest team being a cybersecurity team. With a focus on diversity and representation, MF & Associates are made up of approx 70% women, as well as having strong representation of LGBTQ+ and people with disabilities.

In the conversation, Cole and Mat chat about the importance of diversity and representation in tech and cybersecurity, what Mat looks for in a potential employee, what lessons cybersecurity professionals can learn from other industries like health and law, and plenty more.

Secured by Galah Cyber website

14:40 - How to improve diversity within a team

17:00 - What Mat looks for in a potential employee during a job interview

19:40 - The stereotype of cybersecurity professionals

20:00 - The movie The Web, and portrayal of cyber in film

24:00 - Cole: example of bad behaviour at a cybersecurity expo

26:30 - How did Mat build his business?

30:40 - Taking inspiration from how other industries operate

31:40 - Mat’s company targeting ex-nurses for employees

33:30 - The importance of brevity in corporate communication

35:50 - It’s not possible or useful to try and know everything in cyber

37:20 - Rapid fire questions

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