How a Game Turned a Watchmaker into a Cybersecurity Pro with Simeon Kakpovi

What if cybersecurity training could be as engaging as your favorite game? In this episode, Simeon Kakpovi, founder of the KC7 Foundation, shares how his gamified approach is changing lives and reshaping the cybersecurity pipeline by making cybersecurity education accessible.  From his journey as a threat hunter to building a free online game that teaches real-world blue team skills, Simeon joins Ron to show how creativity and inclusion can unlock potential in unexpected places. Plus, listen to the remarkable story about how a watchmaker with no cyber background landed a dream job at Microsoft—all thanks to KC7.   Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:11 - The evolution of cybersecurity 03:03 - Cybersecurity Mergers & Acquisitions 05:38 - Meet our guest: Simeon Kakpovi of KC7 Foundation 06:00 - KC7 wins “Team of the Year” at the SANS DMAs 8:43 - Founding the KC7 Foundation 10:00 - Lessons from Lockheed Martin’s Cyber Analyst Challenge 11:46 - How KC7 gamifies real-world cybersecurity 14:52 - Bringing KC7 to high school and middle school students 16:52 - Expanding access to cybersecurity careers 25:09 - A watchmaker’s journey to Microsoft 34:00 - How to get started with KC7     Links Connect with our guest, Simeon Kakpovi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kakpovi/ Check out the Cybersecurity M&A Roundup Article here: https://www.securityweek.com/cybersecurity-ma-roundup-37-deals-announced-in-december-2024/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/