Episode 11 - A Journey In Cyber

In this episode, the hosts are joined by George Abraham, a seasoned cybersecurity leader whose journey began in the early days of firewalls and telecommunication security. From engineering roots at RMIT to pivotal roles in payments, financial services, and critical infrastructure, George reflects on how a career of technical foundations and governance responsibilities has shaped his role today as CISO at Influx, a global customer support services company.

George explains Influx’s model as “customer support as a service”—a scalable, on-demand operation that mirrors the elasticity of cloud platforms. He shares insights into managing a workforce of over 1,200 people across multiple time zones and varying levels of technical expertise, highlighting both the leadership challenges and the importance of people management in cybersecurity.

The discussion turns to the evolving role of the CISO. George’s “accidental” path—from firewall engineering to compliance, auditing, and leadership—has made him a rare hybrid: both technically adept and boardroom-ready. The hosts debate whether technical CISOs are inherently stronger leaders, with agreement that technical understanding paired with business acumen is increasingly essential, especially as boards begin to seek security expertise alongside traditional finance and legal backgrounds.

Key Topics Covered

• Career Origins in Cybersecurity – From firewall engineering to PCI DSS auditing, pen testing, and leadership.

• Influx and Customer Support at Scale – How the company delivers flexible, global customer support services.

• CISO Leadership Challenges – Balancing board-level communication, technical fluency, and people management.

• The “Technical CISO” Debate – Why security leaders must bridge technical expertise and business strategy.

• Boards and Security Accountability – Predictions that future boards will include dedicated security expertise.

• Emerging Technologies & Security – Open-source tools like Fleet (OSQuery) and GoPhish, and the case for new phishing training models.

• AI in Cybersecurity – Dual-use nature of AI in attack and defence, from WormGPT to CrowdStrike’s AI telemetry.

• Health, Community, and Leadership – George’s “Run Club for CISOs” in Melbourne, building resilience and camaraderie through fitness and shared experiences.

• Recommended Reading – High Output Management by Andrew Grove, a classic that still offers relevant lessons for today’s leaders.

Closing Note

The episode blends personal anecdotes, professional lessons, and predictions for the industry’s future. It is a conversation about leadership in cybersecurity that goes beyond technical mastery, touching on trust, board accountability, and the human side of sustaining a career in security.