This week on Simplifying Cyber, Aaron Pritz and Cody Rivers sit down with Jax Scott — combat veteran, podcast host (Two Cyber Chicks), and VP of Cybersecurity at Pearson — for a conversation that’s equal parts leadership, risk reality, and “why is everyone still confused about BISOs?”

Jax shares her unconventional path into cybersecurity (perfume sales → special operations → NATO cyber strategy → Mandiant → Capital One → consulting → Pearson), then breaks down what BISOs/CISOs do when done right:

The “single point of contact” that connects business teams to security outcomes
Why risk management is the glue
Why the best security leaders aren’t always the most technical (and how technical instincts can backfire)

Then we go headfirst into the AI debate:

Where automation helps most in compliance (evidence collection, mapping, reducing manual slog)
Where humans stay essential (judgment calls, accountability, trust-building)
The uncomfortable truth: if we outsource all thinking to AI, we may literally get worse at thinking

We wrap with practical guidance on:

Handling volatile regulatory changes (like DR/IR requirements) with flexible plans + frequent testing
The reality of CMMC: why it’s not “new,” why enforcement matters, and why last-minute scrambles burn everyone out
How to lead teams through chaos with transparency, empathy, and real talk

And finally: Jax drops a fun fact that honestly explains a lot about her calm energy.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

Key topics covered

What a BISO/VISO is (and how to explain it to non-security leaders)
Critical thinking + EQ as security superpowers
AI in compliance/GRC: automate the boring, keep the human judgment
IR/DR planning for shifting rules and requirements
CMMC realities for the defense industrial base
Leadership during change fatigue

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