The Cybersecurity Recruiter talks to April Jenkins, Senior Director, Managed Services and Service Desk, EliteOps
The Cyber Security Recruiter PodcastShow Notes
Leading Managed Security Services: Growth, Hiring Advice, and Playing to Your Strengths with April Jenkins
Thomas chats with April Jenkins, Senior Director of Managed Services/Service Desk at Elite Ops, about her career path, and how she prioritizes both customer outcomes and team growth, balance, and psychological safety. April explains her organization’s expansion from 9 to 42 people through new hiring and team consolidation, and discusses current market conditions: high candidate volume, employer decisions about remote vs. office, and the importance of responsiveness, accurately matching job requirements, and adding short notes with resumes.
She shares career guidance on focusing on strengths, staying authentic, reading the room, building relationships through problem-solving, and sustaining momentum via small daily wins and protected thinking time. Recommendation: a strengths-focused book (described as “maximizing your strengths”) and the “do unto others” golden rule from a Dr Pepper Museum exhibit.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:26 April’s Career Origins 02:45 Life Running 24/7 Support 05:03 Team Culture and Mindset 06:31 Scaling from 9 to 42 07:13 Hiring in a Tough Market 11:10 Standing Out as a Candidate 14:39 Internships and Career Switchers 15:12 Advice for Career Growth 17:19 Strengths and Relationship Building 20:15 Finding Your Niche in Security 21:29 Find Your Strengths 22:20 Define Your Core 24:12 Write It Down Daily 25:24 Protect Thinking Time 26:29 Start Small Habits 28:40 Momentum From Small Wins 29:51 Ignore Social Media Timelines 32:15 Relationships As Deposits 34:33 Authenticity And Feedback 37:36 Golden Rule Leadership 40:00 Wrap Up And Thanks
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00:00 Welcome and introductions 00:39 Lindsay career snapshot 01:41 Threat intel at Human 02:37 New book launch 03:33 Malware needs context 04:42 Spotting real people online 08:25 AI as attack amplifier 09:45 Phishing at scale 11:50 Democratized hacking risks 15:18 Path to VP leadership 20:00 AI proof risk communication 21:53 Time boxing MIT MBA grind 23:13 Writing a book discipline 23:49 Small wins and purpose 25:15 Book writing deepens mastery 26:39 Communication skills through practice 29:15 Behind the scenes struggles 32:02 Mentors versus sponsors 34:41 Security community collaboration 35:48 Whats next and book teaser 37:46 Boat go faster mantra 39:49 Final thanks and wrap up