First Contact

First Contact

‘People Ahead of Profit:’ Jerry Colonna on Leading in Uncertain Times

Jerry Colonna is fondly known as the “CEO Whisperer.” He coaches some of the world’s biggest entrepreneurs – like the former CEO of Etsy and the folks who started Gimlet Media. He helps business leaders navigate uncertainty and chaos. At a time when the coronavirus crisis is devastating the economy, unemployment is skyrocketing, and millions of people’s lives have been changed forever, the future is … Continue reading ‘People Ahead of Profit:’ Jerry Colonna on Leading in Uncertain Times

Jack Regan
First Contact

It’s “Boss Level Mode” Time: Remote Work Pioneer Matt Mullenweg’s Tips For Staying Productive

Matt Mullenweg, the entrepreneur behind WordPress and Automattic, was an early evangelist of remote work. Back in the early 2000s, many of his first hires at WordPress were people he had never met in person. Today, Automattic has more than 1,100 employees spread across 75 countries around the globe. With Coronavirus now forcing many companies to unexpectedly adopt similar policies, Matt gives Laurie advice on … Continue reading It’s “Boss Level Mode” Time: Remote Work Pioneer Matt Mullenweg’s Tips For Staying Productive

Jack Regan
First Contact

How a “Troll Farm Field Trip” Helped Russians Pose As Americans Online

We’ve heard a lot about Russia’s attempts to influence the American political process… Internet trolls, often posing as Americans, trying to create chaos. But it’s not just a couple guys behind keyboards, Russia’s Internet Research Agency (IRA) employed hundreds of people, using fake online identities, all working in unison… A troll farm. Read an edited transcript below, or listen to the full interview on the First … Continue reading How a “Troll Farm Field Trip” Helped Russians Pose As Americans Online

Jack Regan
First Contact

“Empathy, today, is a critical component of cybersecurity”

Camille Francois is an expert in cyber conflict. As Graphika’s chief innovation officer, she helps major companies identify and fight online disinformation. Her team was a big part of uncovering the extent of Russian influence during the 2016 election. But surprisingly, Camille says it’s not just her technical skills that give her an edge… Read an edited transcript below, or listen to the full interview … Continue reading “Empathy, today, is a critical component of cybersecurity”

Jack Regan
First Contact

Are Troll Farms Backing U.S. Political Candidates?

Camille Francois studies trolls for a living. She’s the chief innovation officer at Graphika — a social media analytics firm hired by major companies to identify and fight online disinformation. Her team was a big part of uncovering the extent of Russian influence during the 2016 election. Read an edited transcript below, or listen to the full interview on the First Contact podcast. I am worried … Continue reading Are Troll Farms Backing U.S. Political Candidates?

Jack Regan
First Contact

Why 9/11 Inspired Trae Stephens to Work on the Future of Defense Tech

Trae Stephens is a co-founder of Anduril. It’s a defense tech company valued at around a billion dollars. But what inspires a man to work on technologies that could shape the future of defense — and war — for years to come? Trae tells Laurie Segall it can all be traced back to a single day in his childhood — 9/11. Read an edited transcript … Continue reading Why 9/11 Inspired Trae Stephens to Work on the Future of Defense Tech

Jack Regan
First Contact

“Let’s not break into jail”: Why Alex Stamos Says Facebook Was Afraid to Create Controversy

Alex Stamos spent three years as Facebook’s chief security officer. He oversaw a counterterrorism team that, he says, prevented multiple terrorist attacks without taking public credit. He also says that this approach to communications may have added to the criticism of the company following the Russian interference scandal in 2016. Read an edited transcript below, or listen to the full interview on the First Contact podcast. … Continue reading “Let’s not break into jail”: Why Alex Stamos Says Facebook Was Afraid to Create Controversy

Jack Regan
First Contact

What Kept Alex Stamos Up at Night as Facebook’s Security Chief

Alex Stamos spent three years as Facebook’s chief security officer. In addition to information security issues, he also oversaw the company’s Child Safety Investigations team. During that time he had to deal with some of the darkest the Internet has to offer. He tells Laurie Segall how that darkness sometimes followed him home. And how he’s changed since leaving Facebook. Read an edited transcript below, … Continue reading What Kept Alex Stamos Up at Night as Facebook’s Security Chief

Jack Regan
First Contact

Ex-Facebook Security Chief Believes Foreign Spies Are in Every Major US Tech Company

Alex Stamos spent three years as Facebook’s chief security officer, and it was during that time his team discovered Russia’s use of the platform to influence the 2016 presidential election. He knows better than anyone that bad actors are launching constant cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns aimed at the big tech companies. But sometimes, he explains, the attempts to infiltrate Silicon Valley are a bit more … Continue reading Ex-Facebook Security Chief Believes Foreign Spies Are in Every Major US Tech Company

Jack Regan
First Contact

Former CIA Analyst: Facebook is Playing ‘Whack-A-Mole’

Yael Eisenstat spent six months as Facebook’s global head of elections integrity operations. But before that, she spent more than a decade in the CIA. She also served as a national security advisor to Vice President Biden. During her time working for the government, she was frequently in hostile situations. Sometimes she found herself sipping tea across the table from suspected extremists. Her job was … Continue reading Former CIA Analyst: Facebook is Playing ‘Whack-A-Mole’

Jack Regan