AI, Audacity & the Future of Cyber Careers with Rob T. Lee

In this conversation, I’m joined by Rob T. Lee, Chief AI Officer and Chief of Research at SANS Institute—a globally respected voice in cyber, AI, and education who also happens to be down‑to‑earth, funny, and incredibly relatable.

 Together, we unpack what the future of cybersecurity careers looks like in an AI‑driven world, and what it really means to lead through rapid, messy, exhilarating technological change.

We get into:

• Why AI feels different from past tech shifts—and why anxiety, fear, and hope all show up at once
• The “framework of no” in cyber, shadow AI, and how leaders can move to a thoughtful “default yes” instead
• Practical ways to balance innovation and cyber risk without killing creativity or pretending “risk zero” exists
• Technical authenticity, vulnerability, and collaboration as real superpowers in AI + cyber work
• AI ethics, digital avatars, family stories, and the hard questions we must ask as tech evolves
• Pathways into cybersecurity, the power of role models, and why diverse, quieter voices are urgently needed

If you’ve wondered how AI will impact your job, your leadership, and your career path—or how to lean into this wave without burning out—this episode will give you language, perspective, and a few courageous next steps.

About Rob T. Lee

Rob T. Lee is the Chief AI Officer and Chief of Research at the SANS Institute, where he advises on AI governance and security. He authored the SANS Secure AI Blueprint and led the development of the SANS Critical AI Security Guidelines. With a career spanning the U.S. Air Force, NSA, CIA, and Mandiant, Rob pioneered digital forensics (DFIR) and cyber threat intelligence (CTI) and developed the widely used SIFT Workstation. Known for his contributions to cybersecurity education, he has trained over 100,000 professionals and is a sought-after speaker and advisor.

Connect with us 

Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leerob/

Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbutler1/