In this episode of Be Fearless podcast, Adcubum AG Group CISO Michael Ruppe sits down with Aleksandra Melnikova from SquareX Founder's Office and shares how he moved from law and business into cybersecurity and became a CISO in his twenties. He breaks down how industry certifications (of which he has 30) helped him bridge theory and practice, stand out to recruiters, and accelerate into leadership roles. Michael explains what it means to secure a core health insurance software platform, manage supply chain risk, and structure an effective security team. He also dives into browser and AI security, data loss prevention, the AI hype cycle and hallucinations, reporting cyber risk to the board, the power of bug bounty programs, and the importance of communication and community for future CISOs.
00:00 Certifications and path to CISO
9:48 Michael's role and daily routine
13:41 The intersection of Browser Security and AI
17:38 Tackling cyber risk in the health industry
19:13 Hallucinations in AI tools and their risks
24:41 Michael's security leadership style: security support business
35:29 Working with Bug Bounty Switzerland
43:35 Advice on getting started in cyber and building consensus
🔔 Follow Michael and Aleksandra on:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruppemichael/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/

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