From WarGames to Cyber Guardian: Maarten Van Horenbeeck’s Journey in Security Leadership and Laughter
Maarten Van Horenbeeck, inspired by the movie WarGames, dove into cybersecurity like a kid in a candy store. Now with a resume boasting giants like Microsoft, Google, and Adobe, he’s tackling the cybersecurity “skills gap” by championing opportunities for newcomers, proving you can go from movie buff to digital defender extraordinaire.

Hot Take:
From watching WarGames to becoming a real-life cybersecurity warrior, Maarten Van Horenbeeck proves that sometimes, the best career path is inspired by 80s movies. Who knew Matthew Broderick was creating future tech leaders while battling fictional computer systems? Move over Master Yoda, there’s a new force guiding the galaxy of cybersecurity, and it’s fueled by popcorn and nostalgia!
Key Points:
- Maarten Van Horenbeeck’s cybersecurity journey began with the movie WarGames.
- He climbed the tech ladder without initial academic credentials, landing roles at major companies like Microsoft, Google, and Adobe.
- Van Horenbeeck emphasizes the importance of self-improvement and providing opportunities to bridge the ‘skills gap’.
- He advocates for making cybersecurity easier to access and understand to tackle the digital divide.
- His approach to AI security involves strong initial threat modeling followed by ongoing evaluations with pen testing, red teaming, and bug bounties.
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