In this episode, I interview Jessvin Thomas, a technologist and pioneer in the cyber with Nokia roots to Blackstone, Optiv, & Adlumin and now using AI to solve the data problem at Auguria. 

This was a fun interview. I worked with Jessvin when I was at Optiv a decade ago, so we relived some good memories of bringing their MSS practice to market and launching a “NextGen SecOps” solution based on Phantom Cyber (SOAR was new at the time).

Watch the Interview on YouTube

Jessvin shares his journey from Cornell to working in IT support during the dot-com boom to manually inspecting firewall logs. He has a very cool vantage point, having worked IT at Nokia, in Cyber at Blackstone, running Optiv’s MSS business, and other leadership roles at Barracuda and Adlumin.

And of course we cover where he is today as a pioneer in using AI for data management as an advisor to Auguria. I’ve always respected Jessvin’s ability to explain complex technologies in an inspirational way.
Of course, I asked Jessvin, “What advice do you have for product marketers in cyber?” And Jessvin offered valuable advice summed up as – “become obsessed with the customer’s problem.” He also shared a fun story on winning the 2025 Houston SEC Con Launchpad event.

Here is a recap;
01:00 Early Career and Education at Cornell
07:20 First Steps in Cybersecurity from Nokia to Blackstone
13:57 Consulting and Career Growth
19:59 Building and Leading MSSP at Optiv
28:55 Current Ventures in AI and Data Analytics
39:50 Winning the Houston SEC Con
42:47 Advice for Product Marketers and Founders
48:44 Conclusion and Farewell

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