In this critical Verses in Service episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we sit down with cybersecurity pioneer and quantum expert, Debbie Taylor Moore. Are you a leader trying to manage the security risks of the future, balance a demanding career with family life, or looking to overcome the fear of unconventional pivots? Debbie’s story is a powerful testament to the value of unconditional support, perseverance, and why the next digital threat is far more complex than anything we’ve seen before. Tune in for the playbook on quantum cybersecurity and leading in a complex world.

Debbie's been a cybersecurity professional for more than 23 years. A 2x Founder and 3x CEO, a VP for IBM, NetSec/Verizon Business and SecureInfo/Kratos. Leading security at the intersection of AI, Robotics and Quantum, Debbie is launching a new advisory firm, The Quantum Crunch - helping Boards, the C-Suite and Insurance manage the security risk associated with Quantum Computing. She's developed and led security programs across 26 countries and 4 continents. She serves on the boards of the Consumer Technology Association AND the Pentagon's Cyber AB . She has testified on AI and Security before the 118th Congress, and has been featured in the book, "The Gentle Art of Leadership" by Brian Donovan and Dean Phelan, and featured in Richard Stiennon's, Security Yearbook series for 5 consecutive years, as a security pioneer. Debbie resides in Virginia with her husband, Daniel. They have two beloved adult sons. 

Watch on YouTube:

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how Debbie’s parents made a huge sacrifice to move their family for a better education, instilling a core value of unconditional love and teaching her to "knock down the old gray walls" of expectation.

• Discover how an early, disappointing experience with workplace inequity after having children forced Debbie to pivot her stable corporate IT career into the emerging and high-demand field of cybersecurity.

• Hear the layman's explanation of quantum computing—it solves problems by trying all routes at once (parallelism). This power will soon break all modern encryption, necessitating immediate action to protect critical data.

• Find out why Debbie decided to leave a high-profile international leadership role to be with her terminal father. She asked for grace and has no regrets, proving that true success requires prioritizing humanity and family over the clock.

• Learn how a massive, embarrassing network outage at a top tech company, and Bill Gates's reaction to it, was the catalyst for her move into building security programs for the US Government.

Debbie Taylor Moore’s journey is a powerful reminder that if you ground your career in love and a commitment to lifelong learning, you can achieve anything. What part of your future security plan are you neglecting? Follow The Quantum Crunch and join the movement to protect our data!

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

CONNECT WITH DEBBIE TAYLOR MOORE:

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CONNECT WITH SHANNON:

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LinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJV

Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music) 

From Chicago Suburbs to Quantum Cyber: How to Lead with Unconditional Support

Have you ever felt like your career was constantly being reshaped by life's unexpected turns, and wondered if you'll ever find your true footing? It’s easy to feel stuck in a comfortable, predictable job, but the truth is, the biggest leaps in your career happen when you embrace the unconventional and bet on yourself. What if the very struggles your family went through to give you a better chance are the source of your greatest strength and ability to pivot?

In an interview on the No Boxes: Just Verses podcast, cybersecurity pioneer Debbie Taylor Moore shared her inspiring journey from a child of sacrifice to a CEO leading the fight against the quantum threat. Her story proves that a leader's success is rooted in the unconditional support they receive, the courage to chase problems, and the wisdom to prioritize grace over the hustle. This article is for you if you're ready to make a bold career change or need the confidence to tackle a problem nobody else understands.

Are you ready to embrace the big, unknown problems of the future? This content is for you if you're willing to commit to lifelong learning, believe in the power of support, and are ready to stop letting self-doubt block your path. You don't need a perfect plan—just the courage to "knock down the old gray walls" and play the game.

Step 1: Accept Unconditional Support to Build Your Foundation

A common mistake is thinking you must achieve success entirely on your own. Debbie’s story starts with the incredible, unconditional support of her parents, who sacrificed their stability to move the family for a better educational opportunity. This early lesson taught her to expect support and not be afraid to enter spaces where others said she didn't belong. By accepting their gift, she gained the courage to defy expectations and succeed in challenging academic environments.

Conclusion:

Accepting the unconditional support of your loved ones is the foundation you need to fearlessly pursue ambition.

• Accept the unconditional support from your family and mentors as a gift that fuels your ambition.

• Use that foundation to "knock down the old gray walls" of expectation set by others.

• Find early opportunities, like being on a student arbitration board, to learn about ethical decision-making and accountability.

• Remember that a commitment to hard work, instilled by your parents, is a non-negotiable part of the equation.

Step 2: Embrace the Pivot: Chase Problems, Not Comfort

It’s easy to get comfortable in a stable job, but a common mistake is letting that comfort blind you to greater opportunities. Debbie was working in a stable corporate IT role, but a disappointing experience with workplace inequity after maternity leave forced her to make a huge change. She decided to pivot her career entirely to the emerging field of cybersecurity after witnessing an embarrassing network outage. This choice to chase a problem nobody had solved—instead of returning to an easier, known role—was the strategic move that led to her founding and selling her first company.

Conclusion:

Don't let stability lead to stagnation. Chase big, unsolved problems to accelerate your career.

• Be willing to pivot your career when you see a major, unsolved problem (like a network outage or security vulnerability).

• Use disappointing experiences, like workplace inequity, as fuel to find a high-demand, high-growth field like cybersecurity.

• Get involved with people who are "breaking the fast" and deploying programs, even if they are a casual startup.

• Remember that your most valuable asset is your ability to solve problems and make the complex simple.

Step 3: Prioritize Grace Over the Hustle

A common mistake hard-charging leaders make is believing they must be "on" 100% of the time, even during life's most painful moments. Debbie faced the devastating reality of her father's terminal illness while holding a high-profile international leadership role. She found the courage to ask for grace—stepping down from her committee work and prioritizing time with her family. She has no regrets, proving that true leadership requires prioritizing humanity and giving yourself permission to attend to life's most important seasons.

Conclusion:

True success requires prioritizing humanity and giving yourself grace during life's most challenging seasons.

• Be willing to ask for grace from your job and community commitments during family crises.

• Do not let the feeling of "doing it all" prevent you from being present for your family.

• Remember that your career will still blossom if you prioritize your humanity.

• Live without regrets by ensuring you are there for your loved ones until the end.

Step 4: Master the Quantum Threat (And Simplify the Complex)

The biggest challenge for leaders today is the Quantum Threat—the idea that the speed of quantum computing will soon break all modern encryption. The mistake is waiting for this to happen. Debbie's mission is to simplify this complex problem: Quantum computing tries all solutions at once (parallelism), making it otherworldly powerful. You must start preparing a security plan now to identify and protect your critical assets before this technology is fully deployed by adversaries.

Conclusion:

Leaders must simplify complex threats like quantum computing and build a security plan now.

• Understand quantum computing as a parallel problem-solver that tries all solutions at once.

• Recognize that the Quantum Threat is an imminent risk to modern encryption that requires a plan.

• Simplify the complex for your board and C-Suite, turning technical jargon into clear risk management strategy.

• Remember that this risk impacts everyone and requires a global community approach to solve.

Conclusion

You’ve learned that a life of purpose, mastery, and joy is built on an unwavering foundation of unconditional support and the courage to pivot. Debbie Taylor Moore’s journey proves that your biggest asset is your willingness to chase problems and prioritize humanity.

The big idea: Lead with love, chase the unsolved problems, and give yourself grace.

Now it’s time to integrate these ideas into your life:

Final Steps to Take:

• Seek a solution: What is one unsolved problem in your industry you can start chasing this week?

• Plan for the future: What are the three most critical assets in your life or business you need to protect now?

• Ask for grace: What will you give yourself permission to step away from this week to prioritize your well-being?

• Lead with joy: What song will you play today to put a smile on your face and get you moving?