Black Belts and Boardrooms
S2.EP66 - Think Like Operator, Not A Technologists w/ Tim Youngblood, CSO at Onyx Security
Timothy Youngblood shares how he became the first CISO at Dell and Kimberly-Clark, helped transform security programs at major global companies, and later moved into AI strategy and angel investing. He explains how to lead through compliance failures, align executives, manage risk, and build functions that do not yet exist. The conversation also explores how HBCU experiences shaped Tim’s persistence, how working in McDonald’s restaurants changed his approach to cybersecurity, and how leaders can transition from operational roles to strategic decision-making. Tim also reveals his framework for evaluating startups: people, problem, progress, and price. What does it take to walk into a compliance failure, build a security function from the ground up, and become the first CISO at multiple Fortune 100 companies? In this episode of Black Belts and Boardrooms, Amir Khawaja and Renard Henry sit down with Timothy Youngblood for a candid conversation about leadership, cybersecurity, risk management, AI, and investing. Tim shares how he helped Dell respond to a major IT controls crisis during the early days of Sarbanes-Oxley, built risk management functions, and created security programs at companies including Dell, Kimberly-Clark, McDonald’s, and T-Mobile. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to lead when the function, role, or organizational structure does not yet exist How Tim helped turn Dell’s failed IT controls into a global operating model Why the “meeting before the meeting” is essential for managing executive risk discussions How The Six Thinking Hats can help leaders separate facts, emotions, risks, and opportunities What Tim learned by working directly in McDonald’s restaurants How to secure complex global environments with millions of users and constantly changing systems Why cybersecurity leaders need to understand how the business actually makes money How to transition from operational leadership into strategy and product thinking How AI agents create new security and cost-management challenges Tim’s four-part framework for evaluating startups: people, problem, progress, and price Why aspiring angel investors need to build relationships and enter the right communities Tim also discusses the importance of representation, persistence, HBCU experiences, mentorship, and learning directly from the people who use the systems leaders are responsible for protecting. Whether you work in cybersecurity, technology, risk, operations, entrepreneurship, or investing, this episode offers a practical look at how to build influence, solve complex problems, and create meaningful change. Watch the full conversation and subscribe to Black Belts and Boardrooms for more leadership stories from people who have earned their stripes through discipline, hard work, and commitment to never quitting.
