Joe South is a testament to resilience, unconventional decisions, and finding success in unexpected places. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut or on the verge of giving up, Joe’s experience might be the jolt you need to keep pushing forward. Joe, Principal Security Engineer and host of the “Security Unfiltered” podcast, shares his journey into cybersecurity and battling depression after being rejected more than 300 times when applying for security roles. Joe shares advice on breaking into cybersecurity, dealing with rejection, the importance of mentorship, and staying persistent.   00:00 Introduction 01:00 Joe South, Principal Security Engineer and Host of the Security Unfiltered podcast 02:34 Early Career Struggles and Breakthrough 03:59 The Turning Point: From Help Desk to Cybersecurity 06:44 Rejection and Finding Success 11:17 Advice for Aspiring Cybersecurity Professionals 16:19 The Importance of Continuous Learning in Cybersecurity 18:10 Join the Hacker Valley Creative Mastermind! 19:10 Securing AI Models: Challenges and Strategies 20:10 The Importance of Communication in Security 21:22 Experience and Career Advancement 21:52 Rethinking Success: The Value of Being Number Two 23:57 Pressure and Rewards of Being a CISO 26:16 The Benefits of Podcasting and Content Creation 32:28 Balancing Personal and Public Information 35:27 Overcoming Adversity and Putting Yourself Out There 38:01 Final Thoughts and Advice for Aspiring Content Creators Links: Connect with our guest, Joe South: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-south/ Check out the Security Unfiltered podcast here: https://securityunfiltered.com   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/