Stay on Your Square!

Stay on Your Square!

From The WISP Podcast by Women in Security and Privacy (WISP)

March 30, 2026 · 37 min

About this episode

Nicole chats with Afia Phillips about her career journey and insights on leadership in cybersecurity.

Nicole chats with Afia Phillips, Chief Information Security Officer for Little Caesars and the Ilitch Organization, about her expansive career journey from the help desk to protecting global iconic brands. Afia shares the technical and personal hurdles of building the City of Detroit’s first cybersecurity division from the ground up and navigating high-stakes leadership as "the only one" in the room. They discuss the evolution of security post-9/11, the importance of removing the security burden from the end-user, and why empathy is a non-negotiable trait for effective leadership. Afia also dives into her passion for mentorship through her "Girls Get IT" program and her future ventures into AI and the creative fashion space, reminding listeners to "stay on their square" despite the naysayers. Like, subscribe, and share the Women in Security and Privacy Podcast. Your reviews help us reach and support more women and underrepresented communities in privacy and cybersecurity. WISP’s mission is to advance women and underrepresented communities to lead the future of privacy and security. Join us at wisporg.com. 🎙️ Hosted by Nicole Dove, Creative Director of Podcasts

People in this episode

Host: Nicole Dove

Guest: Afia Phillips

Topics covered

  • cybersecurity
  • leadership
  • mentorship
  • women in tech
  • career development

Keywords

  • cybersecurity
  • leadership
  • mentorship
  • AI
  • fashion
  • Women in Security and Privacy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Little Caesars, Ilitch Organization

Places: City of Detroit

More episodes of The WISP Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The WISP Podcast podcast page.