The Other Side Of The Firewall

In this episode of The Other Side of the Firewall's, Ask a CISSP, host Ryan Williams Sr. welcomes Mary N. Chaney, Esq, a multifaceted professional in cybersecurity and law. Mary shares her inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Cincinnati to becoming a special agent for the FBI, where she investigated cyber crimes. As a law professional with extensive experience in corporate cybersecurity, she transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding multiple organizations aimed at empowering minorities in the tech space. Mary discusses her current initiatives, including Minorities in Cybersecurity (MiC), which focuses on leadership development and mentorship, and the Mary N. Chaney Cybersecurity Training Center (MNC-CTC), designed to provide hands-on training for aspiring cybersecurity professionals. Throughout the conversation, Mary emphasizes the importance of business fluency in cybersecurity, arguing that technical skills alone are insufficient for career advancement. She highlights the challenges faced by entry-level professionals in the industry, particularly the unrealistic expectations for experience. Mary also discusses her vision for creating a supportive ecosystem for aspiring cybersecurity professionals, including mentorship, training, and job placement services. The episode concludes with insights into her upcoming initiatives, including the 2026 MiC Annual Conference (March 22-26, 2026) and a residency program aimed at bridging the gap between education and employment in cybersecurity. Mary N. Channey Socials: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marynchaney/ Minorities in Cybersecurity (MiC): https://www.mincybsec.org/ Mary N. Chaney Cybersecurity Training Center: https://www.mnc-ctc.com/ MiC Talent Solutions: https://www.mictalent.solutions/ Buy the guide: https://www.theothersideofthefirewall.com/ Please LISTEN 🎧 LIKE 👍🏿 and SHARE ❤️ Thanks! The Other Side of the Firewall's Socials: Website - www.ramcyber.io Heroes Media Group: https://www.heroesmediagroup.com/shows/the-other-side-of-the-firewall/ Audio - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-side-of-the-firewall/id1542479181 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theothersideofthefirewall7511 ReppedFLIX - https://lnkd.in/eVis2CbS WDJY 99.1 FM: https://www.wdjyfm.com/ TuneIn: https://lnkd.in/e2crcZU8 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556539026086 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theothersideofthefw X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/Ask_a_CISSP TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ryanwilliams683 Medium - https://medium.com/@ryanwilliamssenior Subscribe to LinkedIn Newsletter - https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7172626552545865728 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-other-side-of-the-firewall/ Ryan on Twitter, LinkedIn, Clubhouse, and Threads - @ryrysecurityguy | www.ryanwilliamssenior.com Chris on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisabacon/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mary N. Chaney 02:01 Mary's Journey: From Law School to the FBI 06:24 Transitioning to Cybersecurity Consulting 10:28 The Importance of Business Fluency 14:42 Creating an Ecosystem for Minorities in Cybersecurity 19:24 Leadership Development and Mentorship Programs 25:43 Challenges in Corporate America vs. Entrepreneurship 32:46 Addressing the Broken Entry-Level Pipeline 39:32 Building a Global Community in Cybersecurity 46:50 Upcoming Initiatives and Conferences #cybersecurity #minoritiesincybersecurity #mic