Today’s guest, Willa Riggins, talks about how “every small piece contributes to the larger picture” in pentesting and explains why “it's about understanding the intricacies and appreciating the craftsmanship."

From the mindset behind excellent pentesting work to the (difficult) things that are never going to change in this space, we glide through Willa’s experiences, hard-earned know-how, and thoughtful approach. 

Dive straight into the convo to learn:

• Why you need to get comfortable with trial and error to enjoy pentesting  [03:43]
• The key lesson Willa learned from working in app security [09:45]
• How to focus on your craft when reporting vulnerabilities [13:14] 
• The challenges pentest teams face in making their work count [19:07]
• The realistic, reasonable way to use automation in pentesting [24:28] 
• Two aspects of the hacker mindset worth cultivating [28:36] 
• Why (and how) having a hobby outside pentesting makes you more productive [33:33]
• How to set realistic expectations around developing a career in the field [36:42]
• What will be the key differentiating factor in penetration testing [42:40]

We believe you’ll get wisdom and inspiration from this kind and generous conversation. Willa will help you get a broader understanding of this field highlighting the fundamental role of people and teamwork. 

Just hit play!