Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration
Bytes, Bits & Brilliance: Career Insights and Inspiration is your guide to building a thriving, long-lasting career.
This season, we’re diving into both the technical and human elements of a thriving career—exploring career strategy, leadership, and the evolving mindsets that fuel success, alongside deeper dives into cutting-edge technology tools, emerging industry trends, and critical technical skills.
With a mix of expert conversations and personal reflections, this season is about equipping you with the insights, strategies, and inspiration to move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Join us as we decode the wisdom of those who’ve forged their own paths and gain the insights you need to shape yours.
The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are personal and not reflective of any employer.
Episodes
93 episodes
Problem-Solving Over Pedigree: How to Break Into Cybersecurity and Succeed
There’s a narrative in cybersecurity that’s quietly pushing good people away.And it’s a problem we need to address.In this episode, I’m unpacking a tension that doesn’t make sense on the surface:Thousands of open cybersecurity...
The Cyber Talent Gap: Unlocking the 2026 SANS GIAC Workforce Report (Guest: Brian Correia)
What’s really happening in the cybersecurity workforce—and why are so many organizations still struggling to hire and retain the right talent?In this episode, I sit down with Brian Correia, the Director of Global Cyber Workforce S...
The Three T's That Got Me Through Career Collapse (And Will Work For You Too)
Your track record for surviving hard days is 100%. Let me prove it to you.In this deeply personal episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the three T's that have kept me grounded through 28 years in tech, multiple layoffs, career...
Building Stronger Leaders, Teams, and Workplace Culture with Larissa Fitzhugh
What if the key to better leadership, stronger teams, and healthier workplace culture starts with one thing—self-awareness?In this episode, I sit down with Larissa Fitzhugh, founder of Diadem Solutions, to explore what it r...
Cybersecurity Is Personal: Protecting Leaders, Families, and the Digital Frontline with Hazel Cerra
What if the biggest cybersecurity risk isn’t your company - but your life?In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Hazel Cerra, a retired U.S. Secret Service agent who spent 25 years protecting world leaders before stepping into th...
Unlocking Cybersecurity: How to Pivot Without Starting Over
In this episode of Bytes, Bits and Brilliance, we address common concerns for individuals looking to pivot into cybersecurity, particularly those who feel they may need to start over or obtain additional certifications. It's importa...
Mastering the Art of Authentic Storytelling in Job Interviews (Guest: Natasha Schwartz)
In today’s evolving job market, the rules of career growth are changing—and this episode is your guide to navigating it with confidence.Dawn sits down with Natasha Schwartz, a seasoned staffing and recruiting expert with over 30 y...
Revolutionizing Hiring: How Better Conversations Can Bridge Skills Gaps & Improve Retention (Guest: Tara Turk-Haynes)
This episode dives into innovative approaches to hiring that focus on genuine conversations, soft skills, and strategic collaboration. Tara Turk-Haynes shares practical frameworks and insights for transforming hiring processes to better ...
How a Career Fair Mistake Led to a Life-Changing Conversation (Guest: Dani Flores-Diaz)
In this episode, we explore the raw realities of career journeys, the power of authentic networking, and the importance of resilience in tech. Daniela, a college student and club president, shares her experience of overcoming insecurities at ca...
The Power of the Pause: Redefining Success Through Sabbaticals with Nyam Adodoadji
What if hitting pause could become the most powerful move in your career?In this honest and soul-stirring episode of Bytes, Bits, and Brilliance, Dawn sits down with Nyam, a digital product delivery leader who made the bo...
Beyond the Title: Authentic Leadership, Identity, and Wellness in Tech with Ali Ovalle
In this intimate and honest conversation, Dawn reconnects with longtime friend and former mentor Ali, an Afro-Latina, Caribbean-born technologist whose journey spans cybersecurity, data analytics, AI engineering, and beyond.Togeth...
Beyond Listening: Co-Creating Brilliant Communities in the Age of AI
This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a movement. In this episode of Bytes, Bits, and Brilliance, Dawn invites listeners to go beyond consuming content and instead co-create the next evolution of the show and its growing community.
Building Inclusive Tech Futures: Workforce Pipelines, Change Management, Mentorship (Guest Feevan Megersa)
In this episode, we dive into the evolving world of IT workforce development—from internships and apprenticeships to change management and inclusion. Feevan shares her inspiring journey into tech, starting from George Washington Uni...
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....
Season 3 Kickoff: Finding Your Voice and Leading with Intention in an AI Era
Welcome to Season 3 of Bytes, Bits, and Brilliance! 🎙️In this solo episode, I share my vision for the season ahead.This season is all about intention, courage, and authentic leadership in a rapidly ev...
S2 Finale | For the Listeners – The Heart Behind the Mic
As Season 2 closes, I want to pause—not to summarize, but to celebrate.This season was never just about tech or cybersecurity. It was about you.The listener taking notes mid-episode. The one who pressed play through grie...
End of Season 2: Lessons in Power, Mentorship & Alignment
Season 2 started with a commitment to consistency.It ended with clarity about power.In this closing episode, I step back and examine the patterns that emerged across solo episodes and interviews—from career pivots and layoffs to f...
Agentic AI Is The New Digital Employee (Deep Dive)
This episode dives deep into the seismic shift from Generative AI (GenAI) to Agentic AI, moving beyond mere content creation toward autonomous, goal-driven systems. We unpack the fundamental differences between ...
Closing Season 2: Reclaiming Voice, Scale & Authority
As Season 2 closes, I reflect on what hosting this podcast revealed about me—not just as a leader in tech, but as a builder.This isn’t a motivational episode.It’s a reclamation.In this episode, I unpack what audacity really...
Alternative Pathways: Tech Apprenticeships and Returnships Guide
In this episode, we dive into the world of alternative tech pathways, exploring how apprenticeships and returnships are dismantling traditional barriers to entry. We break down how these "learn-and-earn" models allow partic...
Empowering Women in Cybersecurity: Sage and Haley's Journey
In this episode of the Bites and Brilliance podcast, I speak with Sage and Haley, on our Away Mission at the Aspen Cyber Summit in November 2025. Sage and Haley, both scholars at Bowie State University, share their journeys i...
What I Misunderstood About Mentorship Early in My Career - National Mentoring Month
Early in my career, I misunderstood what mentorship was and how it worked. I believed it had to be formal, perfectly aligned, and initiated by someone else. I didn’t yet understand my role, or how essential mentorship truly was.In this M...
National Mentoring Month: What Mentorship Gave Me That I Couldn’t Give Myself
No matter how capable or driven we are, there are things we simply can’t give ourselves. In this episode, I share what mentorship offered me over the years, from seeing myself more clearly, to gaining insight into paths I had never ...
Celebrating National Mentoring Month: The Moment I Knew I Needed a Mentor
People often talk about mentorship as if it begins with a single defining moment. In reality, it’s often a series of moments that share the same feeling. Being ready for more. Feeling adrift. Facing decisions without a clear path forward.