Judges on Fire: Classics, Critical Thinking, and Cyber Resilience with Bronwyn Boyle

In this episode of the Judges on Fire podcast series, host Rose Ross interviews Bronwyn Boyle, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at payment fintech Pro and board member for Cyber Minds. Bronwyn reflects on her unconventional path into cybersecurity—from studying classical civilizations and philosophy to leading security at scale—and discusses how critical thinking and humanities remain deeply relevant in the age of AI. She shares her perspective as a Tech Trailblazers judge, key advice for award applicants, and the importance of supporting entry-level talent, diversity, and mental health in tech. Key Topics Covered: ● From Classics to Cybersecurity: How a background in ancient history and philosophy laid the foundation for critical thinking, deep-dive problem solving, and contextual reasoning in AI-driven security environments. ● Psychological Resilience in Cyber: The mission of Cyber Minds to tackle burnout and high cognitive load among cyber defenders using evidence-based protocols to lower stress and improve wellbeing. ● Tech Trailblazers Judging Insights: What stands out in award applications, including avoiding AI-generated fluff and tailored responses that highlight genuine innovation. ● Diversity and Pipeline Growth: Addressing barriers facing women and neurodiverse professionals, avoiding DEI rollbacks, and tapping non-traditional entry points like gaming through initiatives like The Hacking Games.