Netskope CISO James Robinson on His Security Career and Building Strong Teams

Summary

Netskope CISO James Robinson recounts his path into security and shares advice on curiosity, mentorship, hiring for mindset, and supporting team culture.

Key points

• Robinson moved from networking into security at State Farm, then held security roles across several companies before joining Netskope as deputy CISO in 2018 and becoming CISO in 2024.
• He says understanding how the business works helps security leaders make better decisions and communicate effectively.
• When hiring, he values curiosity, persistence, and mindset alongside useful certifications.
• He encourages security professionals to build relationships with mentors and friends, noting that senior security roles can feel isolating.
• Robinson focuses on team performance, recognition, and culture, describing security incidents as part of the job rather than his main ongoing concern.
• He says his interest in AI is driven by learning about it, while team health and performance remain his primary focus.

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