Interview with Jessvin Thomas: Cyber Pioneer Origin Story & Wrangling Data with AI

Cyber PMM - The Next Chapter

I founded Cyber PMM as a brand back in the fall of 2023. It has been an amazing journey, full of learning and meeting others like yourself but the time has come for change. Moving forward, please tune into Dane's Narratives at www.newsletter.danedisimino.com.

Narrative to Audience: What You Missed from CyberMarketingCon

Product marketers are messengers. Somewhere along the way, we forgot that. Full video here: https://youtu.be/c1_iQOL4-OQIn this talk, I walk through Narrative to Audience (NTA) — a narrative-first system for bringing products to market with clarity instead of chaos. After 13+ years in cybersecurity and tech, across startups and global platforms like Dell, VMware, Splunk, and Cisco, I’ve seen messaging break down the same way every time: bloated briefs, endless feedback loops, and stories that don’t land.This presentation covers: • Why product marketing became fragmented and exhausting • Why messaging collapses at scale • How narrative (not frameworks) reconnects products to real audiences • A one-page storytelling model to replace 16-page messaging briefs • Where AI helps — and where it absolutely doesn’tIf you work in product marketing, product management, or GTM leadership, this is a practical reframing of what the role is actually meant to do: bring a clear message to an audience that needs to hear it.⸻🧭 Try the Narrative to Audience platform (free):www.narrly.aiNarrly is where this system is being built into software. Tear it apart and send feedback — I’m using the same process I describe here.⸻📌 Chapters (optional):⁠00:00⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1] Introduction to Narrative to Audience (NTA)⁠01:01⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=61s] The Messy State of Product Marketing⁠01:16⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=76s] Challenges Faced by Product Marketers⁠02:33⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=153s] Personal Anecdotes and Lessons Learned⁠05:26⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=326s] The Importance of Messaging⁠07:33⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=453s] Building Effective Narratives⁠11:04⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=664s] The Reality of Messaging Briefs⁠23:56⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=1436s] Introducing the NTA Framework⁠28:25⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=1705s] Steps to Create a Compelling Narrative⁠31:08⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=1868s] Implementing the NTA Framework⁠37:40⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_iQOL4-OQ&list=PLUH0e_f6EKcMBYdKZhY3qDd8H6ul79WaA&index=1&t=2260s] Conclusion and Call to Action

Interview with Jessvin Thomas: Cyber Pioneer Origin Story & Wrangling Data with AI

In this episode, I interview Jessvin Thomas, a technologist and pioneer in the cyber with Nokia roots to Blackstone, Optiv, & Adlumin and now using AI to solve the data problem at Auguria.  This was a fun interview. I worked with Jessvin when I was at Optiv a decade ago, so we relived some good memories of bringing their MSS practice to market and launching a “NextGen SecOps” solution based on Phantom Cyber (SOAR was new at the time). Watch the Interview on YouTube [https://youtu.be/Q5jYbjDB7t4] Jessvin shares his journey from Cornell to working in IT support during the dot-com boom to manually inspecting firewall logs. He has a very cool vantage point, having worked IT at Nokia, in Cyber at Blackstone, running Optiv’s MSS business, and other leadership roles at Barracuda and Adlumin. And of course we cover where he is today as a pioneer in using AI for data management as an advisor to Auguria. I’ve always respected Jessvin’s ability to explain complex technologies in an inspirational way. Of course, I asked Jessvin, “What advice do you have for product marketers in cyber?” And Jessvin offered valuable advice summed up as - “become obsessed with the customer’s problem.” He also shared a fun story on winning the 2025 Houston SEC Con Launchpad event. Here is a recap; 01:00 Early Career and Education at Cornell 07:20 First Steps in Cybersecurity from Nokia to Blackstone 13:57 Consulting and Career Growth 19:59 Building and Leading MSSP at Optiv 28:55 Current Ventures in AI and Data Analytics 39:50 Winning the Houston SEC Con 42:47 Advice for Product Marketers and Founders 48:44 Conclusion and Farewell Brought to you by Cyber PMM www.cyberpmm.com [www.cyberpmm.com]

Cyber Markets Brief #43: PAN x Chronosphere. MSFT agentic push. IDC on XDR. SAFE x Balbix. New Funding.

Thanks for listening to the Cyber Markets Brief #43. Here's what's covered this week: • Palo Alto Networks buys Chronosphere, boosting their observability game. • Microsoft launches Autonomous Security at Ignite, aiming for self-sufficient solutions. • IDC releases the 2025 XDR MarketScape for vendor evaluations. • SAFE acquires Balbix, enhancing proactive security strategies. • Aspen Cyber Summit dialogues led by the White House. • Revolutionizing truth in cybersecurity sales—ditch the flashy pitches. • Rethinking PMM success metrics for better GTM strategies. • Cole Grolmus innovates AI agent identity strategies with observability. • Evan Goldberg on LastPass's move to passwordless solutions. • Cyber startups rake in a record $360M funding in a week. • Key questions for CISOs evaluating AI SOC startups. • Evolution Equity Partners lists top 50 cybersecurity innovators. • Nudge Security focuses on workforce in their $7M Series A. • Tier4 AI disrupts security operations with AI MDR. • Mate Security emerges with wisdom-led AI SOC agent. • Perplexity AI enhances efficiency with smart AI solutions. • Dragos seeks a Technical Marketing Manager for ICS defense. • Palo Alto Networks hiring for Cortex Cloud marketing. • Strange Ventures offers AI fellowship for innovative minds. To get this brief sent to your inbox every week, subscribe at www.cyberpmm.substack.com [www.cyberpmm.substack.com]. This brief is brought to you by Cyber PMM — learn more at www.cyberpmm.com [www.cyberpmm.com].

Cyber Markets Brief #42: Google Unified Security. Forrester & Gartner on Exposure Mgt. AI reports.

Thanks for listening to the Cyber Markets Brief. Here’s what’s covered this week: • Google launches Unified Security “Recommended” • Deepwatch restructures around AI investment • Identity market shifts as AI native platforms develop • Forrester defines proactive security platforms • Gartner initiates Exposure Assessment Platforms • Pete Shoard on preparing for Autonomous SOCs • CSA publishes new AI SOC benchmark • Guardian covers the human toll of SolarWinds • McKinsey’s State of AI 2025 • Spotlight’s 2025 analyst survey • Gartner outlines the biggest PMM challenges • Maze launches AI for VM • AI security absorption analysis • OpenAI introduces GPT 5.1 • PMM roles at Huntress, iboss, and SpecterOps To get this brief sent to your inbox every week, subscribe at www.cyberpmm.substack.com. This brief is brought to you by Cyber PMM — learn more at www.cyberpmm.com.