ai in cybersecurity | Cyber Florida at USF

No Password Required Podcast Episode 60 — Reginald “Andre” Andre

No Password Required Podcast Episode 60 — Reginald Andre

Reginald “Andre” Andre — CEO of ARK Solvers and Builder of Human + AI-Driven Culture

Our guest Reginald “Andre” Andre is the dynamic founder and CEO of ARK Solvers. A chance encounter at a CompUSA store sparked a series of events which eventually created ARK Solvers—now one of South Florida’s fastest-growing IT and cybersecurity companies, serving small and mid-size companies with a sharp focus on compliance and innovation.

With nearly two decades of experience, Andre shares how his company has evolved from general IT support to cybersecurity and now into the realm of AI. He reveals how creating a growth-centered environment for his team—and hiring for attitude over skill—has been crucial to ARK’s culture and success. He also reflects on how his frustration with the lack of computer classes at his son’s school led to the launch of a computer club that brought them closer together.

In the Lifestyle Polygraph segment, Andre unpacks his AI-powered board of directors—which includes Steve Jobs and Grant Cardone—and what he’d do if tasked with launching a nationwide mentorship initiative. Plus, he urges students to get aggressive with internships: “Ask early and often.” Join hosts Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A., and resident cybersecurity expert Kayley Melton, founder of Reality Shift, for this exciting podcast.

Follow Andre on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-andre-122ba552/

No Password Required Podcast Episode 59 — Mariana Padilla

Mariana Padilla — CEO of HACKERverse.ai, Disruptor of Cybersecurity Sales and Most Other Things

On this episode, we sit down with Mariana Padilla, CEO and Co-Founder of HACKERverse.ai—an AI-driven platform transforming how cybersecurity solutions are tested and purchased. From her early days in education and nonprofits to building a career in cybersecurity marketing, Mariana has always sought to challenge inefficiency and champion innovation. From the helm of HACKERverse, she’s helping security buyers make smarter, data-driven decisions while eliminating the friction of traditional vendor sales.

She joins hosts Jack Clabby of Carlton Fields, P.A., and resident cybersecurity expert Kayley Melton, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Cognitive Security Institute, to explore how her self-proclaimed status as a “bad employee” shaped her leadership approach, why passive aggression is her ultimate pet peeve, and how adopting a beginner’s mindset has helped her scale quickly in a complex industry. Mariana also reveals how her team is tackling the trust gap in cybersecurity sales—by letting the product speak for itself.

In the Lifestyle Polygraph segment, Kayley asks Mariana who she would hire if resumes for Superman and Batman landed on her desk. Her answer took us down a dark-night path we didn’t see coming.

Follow Mariana Padilla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianapadilla/