Building a Global Security Team

Most people think offensive security is won by certs and tool lists. Travis DeForge shows why the real edge is something harder to fake - creativity, communication, and the ability to think like an attacker and a teacher at the same time. Gary Billings sits down with Travis, Director of Offensive Security at Abacus Group, for a candid conversation about how a Mandarin major and former military intelligence officer pivoted into cybersecurity, built a career through social engineering, and now leads a global red team spanning infrastructure, application testing, and advanced R&D. You’ll discover: Why the best social engineers rely more on confidence, OSINT, and pretexting than technical flash How a $5 Starbucks QR-code phishing stunt worked in the real world What firms are seeing right now in technical debt, legacy systems, and rushed AI adoption Why large language models are creating a new offensive security testing surface How Travis hires, trains, and retains talent across a remote, global team Travis also breaks down what actually gets attention in a hiring stack, from LinkedIn presence and community contributions to the communication skills that separate a strong pentester from a great one. If you’ve ever wondered how to break into social engineering, stand out in offensive security, or build a team that keeps people growing instead of burning out, this episode delivers practical answers. Gary and Travis go deeper on the business side of security too, showing why technical findings only matter when you can translate them into real-world risk, insurance impact, and regulatory consequences. That’s the difference between a report that gets filed and advice that gets acted on. Essential listening for aspiring pentesters, cybersecurity professionals, hiring managers, and anyone trying to understand where offensive security is heading next. Cybersecurity #OffensiveSecurity #PenTesting #SocialEngineering #AI #RedTeam #BlueTeam #CareerPivot