Welcome to Kernel – the podcast that gets to the core of cybersecurity careers, leadership, and innovation across North America.
Hosted by James Warren, a cybersecurity recruitment specialist with over seven years of experience placing executives, managers, and individual contributors into full-time and contract roles across the United States.
From Application Security to Cloud, AI, and Identity, James has placed talent in virtually every cyber domain, earning 50+ public testimonials and maintaining a 95% Net Promoter Score with clients and candidates alike. Through in-depth interviews with senior cybersecurity professionals, Kernel explores the evolving landscape of security work and what makes a great cybersecurity leader.
Expect honest and forward-looking stories from the cybersecurity industry.
Host: James Warren, Specialist Cybersecurity Recruiter at Stanton House
Guest: Jason Loomis, Cybersecurity Executive & Multi-Time CISO
In Episode 5, James Warren sits down with Jason Loomis, multi-time CISO and experienced cybersecurity leader, for a candid conversation on leadership, career growth, and one of the most significant challenges facing the industry today: the future of cybersecurity talent in an AI-driven world.
Drawing on decades of experience leading security teams and developing future leaders, Jason shares the leadership principles that have shaped his career, why trust and autonomy are critical to building high-performing teams, and how emerging technologies are beginning to reshape the cybersecurity workforce.
From stepping into leadership before you're fully ready, to the growing impact of AI on entry-level security roles, this episode explores what the next generation of cybersecurity professionals may be facing and what organisations can do to ensure the talent pipeline remains strong.
What You'll Learn
• How Jason Loomis built a successful career from IT and networking into multiple CISO positions
• Why great security leaders prioritise autonomy, trust, and team development
• The importance of disagreement, challenge, and psychological safety within high-performing teams
• Why "fake it till you make it" can often be an important part of career progression
• How AI is already beginning to replace certain entry-level cybersecurity responsibilities
• The growing risks facing the cybersecurity talent pipeline
• Why mentorship, community, and continuous learning remain critical for long-term success
• How understanding AI is becoming an essential skill for future cybersecurity professionals
Key Takeaways
• High-performing teams thrive when leaders provide autonomy rather than command-and-control management
• The best CISOs act as coaches and enablers, not the smartest person in the room
• Constructive disagreement often leads to stronger decisions and better security outcomes
• Career growth frequently requires stepping outside your comfort zone before you feel completely ready
• Entry-level cybersecurity roles across SOC operations, GRC, and engineering are increasingly being impacted by AI
• The industry faces a growing challenge in maintaining a healthy cybersecurity talent pipeline
• AI can enhance productivity, but experience and contextual understanding remain invaluable
• Learning how AI works is becoming a critical capability for future security professionals
Who Should Watch
✅ Aspiring cybersecurity professionals
✅ Security analysts and engineers early in their careers
✅ CISOs and security leaders building high-performing teams
✅ Professionals interested in AI's impact on the future workforce
✅ Anyone thinking about long-term career resilience in cybersecurity
