Episode 37: From Ford to Cybersecurity: Lisa Plaggemier on Career Pivots, Leadership & Staying Safe Online
What happens when a career in automotive marketing takes an unexpected turn into cybersecurity? For Lisa Plaggemier, Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, it led to a career dedicated to making cybersecurity more accessible, engaging, and easier for everyone to understand.
In this episode of Careers & Coffee Talk, Lisa joins us to share her journey from Ford Motor Company, where she worked in emerging markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, to the technology industry and eventually cybersecurity leadership. Along the way, she discovered how valuable her background in marketing and communications could be in helping bridge the gap between cybersecurity experts and the people they're trying to protect.
Drawing on their shared experience in cybersecurity awareness, we explore what it really takes to capture people's attention, inspire behavior change, and make online safety less intimidating. Lisa shares insights from her work leading the National Cybersecurity Alliance, including Cybersecurity Awareness Month, creative approaches to cybersecurity education, and the growing challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated scams and AI-enabled threats.
The conversation also gets practical, with advice for individuals and small businesses on protecting themselves online, from multifactor authentication and password managers to recognizing common cybersecurity risks.
Beyond cybersecurity, Lisa reflects on navigating unexpected career transitions, finding her voice in male-dominated industries, and the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, and embracing opportunities that might take you somewhere you never imagined.
Whether you're exploring a career change, interested in cybersecurity, or simply looking for ways to stay safer online, this conversation offers valuable lessons for both your professional and personal life.
Learn more:
National Cybersecurity Alliance: https://www.staysafeonline.org/