Ep.126 Pioneering the Frontier of Cybersecurity with Michael Gregg, CISO, State of North Dakota
In this episode of The Public Sector Show by TechTables we interview Michael Gregg, CISO, State of North Dakota where we talk about cybersecurity OKRs, how his team is setting the bar with "Operation Limbo" for automated phishing defense, bridging the workforce gap with mentorships and apprenticeships, why continuous improvement in cybersecurity mirrors the disciplined effort of a gym workout, and Michael’s latest books.
Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgregg01/
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
03:52 How to have "Best in Class" vision & mission
05:33 Cybersecurity OKRs and strategies
16:03 Innovation mindset: hard-wired or learned?
20:08 "H3" leadership qualities
23:34 Removing requirements to open possibilities
30:13 Workforce retirement and recruiting
34:51 What book did Michael give out at Cyber Con?
⭐️ Leave a Review
If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and let us know who you want to see next on the podcast in your review. Thanks!
You can also Tweet us on @thejoetoste and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏🙏
🔗 Connect with TechTables
LinkedIn TechTables https://www.linkedin.com/company/techtables/
LinkedIn - Connect with Joe! https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtoste/
Twitter https://twitter.com/thejoetoste
Follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/techtablespodcast/
Website https://www.techtables.com/
To hear more, visit www.techtables.com
🎥 Upcoming Live Podcast Tours
1. 2026 IGNITE Powered by Info-Tech LIVE - Austin, TX - Sept. 17th-18th
If you’re an IT leader in Austin, Houston, or nearby, Info-Tech’s got complimentary tickets with your name on them (just DM me I’ll be there). IGNITE is getting past the AI hype and into the real questions CIOs are wrestling with: how to get your people actually using AI, what the shift from “employee in the loop” to “employee on the loop” looks like, and how to budget when the costs keep moving up.
→ Ready to join the conversation in person? Email joe@techtables.com
2. 2026 EDUCAUSE - Denver, CO - Sept. 30th - Oct. 1st
Returning for a third year in partnership with Carahsoft, and we could not be more excited. TechTables heads to Denver to celebrate the leaders, the stories, and the work shaping the future of higher education!
→ Ready to join the conversation in person? Email joe@techtables.com
Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways you can connect with TechTables:
1. 📬 The TechTables Newsletter
Thanks for reading TechTables! Get early access to new episodes, insights, upcoming events, and more — straight to your inbox.
Join now: https://www.techtables.com/
2. 🤝 Are you a local government CIO who wants to become a better leader?
Check out our high-trust, vendor-free peer group built for local government CIOs tackling real challenges, honest conversations, and an authentic desire to become a better leader — our next retreat is November 4th-6th in Austin, TX!
Learn more → https://techtables.com/communities-local-government
3. 🤝 The Better Together Series
The narrative-driven series bringing together industry partners and public sector CXOs. Discover the compelling stories that unfold when we stop working in silos and start building together.
»»» Email joe@techtables.com to learn more.
