Creator of the Zero Trust model of cybersecurity, John Kindervag serves as Chief Evangelist at Illumio. He joins host Ethan Beute to share insights from his journey turning a new idea into a global movement.
More than a dozen years ago as a Forrester analyst, he turned primary research into a new model of information security. Rather than a perimeter-based approach, a segmented approach that assumes zero trust is more effective. An affront to the status quo at the time, Zero Trust is now a global movement that’s reached every continent and resulted in an Executive Order by President Biden. Behind it all is passion, persistence, and evangelism.
Takeaways:
- The most important role of a Chief Evangelist is to create and communicate a compelling narrative and story that they genuinely believe in. Go beyond technical details to business strategy - and do it with expertise, enthusiasm, and human centricity.
- Put the problem and opportunity ahead of the product. Zero Trust is a strategy that’s product, technology, and vendor neutral. Evangelize the problem, not the product.
- Embrace both external and internal evangelism. Engage with customers and prospects while also fostering understanding and buy-in among teammates. And align with the CMO for maximum impact.
- No matter your problem, solution, or market, evangelism should be based on a deep and sincere desire to make people’s lives better.
Quote of the Show:
- “The only purpose for doing all this is to make people’s lives better. That’s the reason for technology. If you’re just into it for the technology, but not the human aspects of it, it’s not a good fit for you.” - John Kindervag
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Creators & Guests
Host
Ethan Beute
Ethan Beute is the Chief Evangelist at Follow Up Boss, former Chief Evangelist at BombBomb, host of The Customer Experience Podcast, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Human-Centered Communication and Rehumanize Your Business.
Producer
What is Chief Evangelist with Ethan Beute?
Welcome to Chief Evangelist, the podcast that unravels the unique and potent role of Chief Evangelists and the influential movement they lead. Hosted by Ethan Beute, each episode delves into the world of evangelism work, exploring its intricacies and shedding light on what success truly means in this space. From understanding why focusing on a problem is more impactful than a product, to the overlap and divergence with thought leadership, community building, category design, and traditional sales and marketing – this podcast is your go-to resource for insights into innovation and the demand for evangelism. Whether you're aspiring to be a Chief Evangelist or seeking to comprehend its significance, join Ethan for captivating conversations with evangelists across diverse companies, verticals, and industries.