Grow Your Cashflow

Grow Your Cashflow helps accredited investors ($3M+ net worth) build diversified passive income portfolios through strategic, cash-flowing alternative investments. Our mission is to simplify investing, empower financial freedom, and enable our clients to live life on their terms.

What We Do:
→ High Cash Flow Investments: Deliver consistent monthly income by focusing on opportunities in real estate, private equity, and other alternative assets.

→ Strategic Partnerships: Partner exclusively with top-tier operators to ensure stability and expertise. We invest in every deal alongside our clients, aligning interests and building trust.

→ Hands-On Guidance & Transparency: Provide end-to-end support—from deal analysis to execution—helping investors navigate the complexities of alternative investments confidently.

Key Achievements:
→ Helped clients generate over $120,000/yr in monthly passive income.
→ Curated a portfolio of 6+ vetted investment opportunities in 2023 alone.
→ Built partnerships with operators managing over $5 billion in assets.

How We Help:
→ Eliminate the stress of managing volatile markets by offering reliable, cash-flowing investments.
→ Build portfolios tailored to each investor’s financial goals.
→ Empower investors to reclaim time and freedom while building wealth.

👉 Ready to start building your financial independence?

Message me directly or sign up for your free Passive Income Starter Kit (link in bio).

Founder & CEO

Pascal Wagner Holdings

Pascal Wagner Holdings is my personal investment and advisory portfolio, focused on high-yield real estate investments, high-growth startups, and alternative assets. My portfolio reflects a strategic approach to wealth building through diversified investments and trusted partnerships.

Advisory Roles
Serve as Board Member/Observer for:
→ Forecastr (forecastr.co) – Financial forecasting software for startups.
→ Cubby Beds (cubbybeds.com) – Transformative sleeping solutions for children with special needs.


Investment Portfolio
Pre-IPO and Angel Investments:
→ Forecastr – Financial modeling for startups.
→ Enaia – Innovative tech solutions for scaling startups.
→ SpaceX – Space exploration and advanced transportation.
→ Stripe – Online payment processing for internet businesses.
→ PadSplit – Affordable shared housing for workforce tenants.
→ Sheets & Giggles – Sustainable eucalyptus bedding products.
→ Machinery Partner – Equipment marketplace for small contractors.
→ Favs – Community-driven e-commerce recommendations platform.


Real Estate Investments (Co-Living Capital):
→ Built a portfolio of 11 co-living properties in Atlanta, Georgia, generating sustainable monthly cash flow.
→ Developed rental models achieving 90%+ occupancy rates by transforming underutilized assets into vibrant, cash-flowing communities.


Real Estate Funds:
→ Oil & Gas: LCP Chocwell 10A.
→ ATMs: Real Asset Investor – Fund 5.
→ Self-Storage: Reliant Capital Management – Fund 3.
→ Debt Funds: DLP Capital – Debt Lending Fund, Preferred Credit Fund.
→ Multi-Family: Rise at Suncrest, Cardone Capital – Fund 20, Quantum Capital – Highland Park & Penn.

Founder

Techstars

As Fund & Portfolio Manager at Techstars, I led the deployment of $150 million across three years, investing in over 200 high-potential early-stage startups. My role involved creating scalable systems to identify, evaluate, and invest in top-tier opportunities, ensuring strategic allocation across diverse industries and geographies.

Key Achievements:
→ Capital Deployment: Oversaw the allocation of $150 million in venture capital investments, driving portfolio growth and targeting startups with exceptional scalability and market potential.

→ Deal Sourcing & Evaluation: Developed a comprehensive system to analyze thousands of startups, enabling efficient decision-making and ensuring investments focused on the most promising companies.

→ Board Participation & Founder Mentorship: Provided hands-on support to portfolio companies as a board member, guiding founders on growth strategies, fundraising, and operational improvements.

→ Portfolio Value Creation: Played a critical role in securing equity positions in high-growth startups, aligning investments with Techstars’ strategy and contributing to a high-performing portfolio.

Fund & Portfolio Manager

Walkthrough (a PlanOmatic brand)

After buying & selling 4 properties, I realized how backwards and outdated the real estate industry was. 

I searched on Google & Yelp for photographers, inspectors & appraisers only to find many of them couldn't help me within the next 3 weeks to meet a deadline. After 15 phone calls and hours of searching I finally found someone who could meet with me in 2 weeks but they would only accept checks and took their sweet time getting everything I needed back to me. 

In the age of being able to instantly book a ride (Uber) or vet different places to stay (AirBnB), I knew there was a great opportunity to bring the industry to the 21st century. 

To solve these problems, at Walkthrough we enabled agents (and any other home owners) to book the services they needed, when they needed it, and at the best price without sacrificing quality. All of this was done through an easy online app, filled with reviews & instant booking.

We built what I wish I had when I bought & sold my first few properties. I went on to sell the company to a national photography firm called PlanOmatic in 2019. 

---Here are a few things I accomplished---
‣ Pre-sold $5,000 in orders from customers before any code was written or product existed.

‣ Grew Walkthrough from $0 to $10,000+/mo in revenue in 6 months and ultimately to above $55,000+/mo from 3,000+ customers.

‣ Scaled the company from just an idea to 47 team members and launched 6 markets. 

‣ Tested 27+ acquisition channels before focusing on a channel that repeatedly converted at a 33% conversion rate with a ~$30 CAC.

‣ Raised $2M+ in funding, directly managed 3 engineers and an 8 person operations team, as well as negotiated & led the company to an acquisition.

‣ 3x company learning speed by introducing the ‘Northstar' growth framework and running 1 experiment per team member per week.

‣ Used the weekly ‘Traction’ framework to align the Support team to reduce ‘time to ticket resolution’ from 40 hrs down to ~4.5 hrs in less than 12 weeks.

Chief Executive Officer

Online Ad Labs (Acquired by PosterBrain)

I helped ecommerce businesses who advertised on Facebook get a higher return on their ad spend. 

Some of these companies we're pretty awesome to work with like Barbell Shrugged, The Amazing Seller, Inflowstyle, and the multimillion dollar brands Masterclass, Mahabis, & BC-Loans. 

After reading "Work The System" by Sam Carpenter I systematized everything and then grew the team to 5 people. It allowed me to live the 4 hour work week, live in Bali and travel all across Asia for 9 months. 

I learned how to hire & manage people, build processes & procedures, and how to fire clients that I didn't like to work with.  Thankfully, I was lucky enough to build something someone else thought was valuable. In June of 2016 I sold the company and moved on to bigger and more inspiring projects.

---Here are a few things I've accomplished here---
‣ Signed & managed 54 contracts with advertising budgets totaling over $1,200,000 delivering on the Facebook & Google platforms.

‣ Grew the team to 5 members and systematized operations to be turn-key, ultimately leading us to an acquisition.

‣ Increased ROI on Ad Spend by 7x for ~80% of the 54 companies we took on (typically reducing their cost per lead from ~$8 to below ~$1) through proper copywriting & detailed customer segmentation.

Elevate Mastermind

After graduating college I realized that a lot of my success would be determined by the people I surrounded myself with. I didn't know many entrepreneurs that could be my support system so I pulled in a few friends to help me organize an event to meet all of the entrepreneurs I had been following on "the internet" for the last several years. 

I rented a huge mansion in Breckenridge to throw our event in the first year, and then found a beach house in Bahamas the 2nd year. Somehow I managed to figure out how to have my favorite entrepreneurs buy tickets to attend an event put on by me - some random guy who just graduated college. The flow of the event focused on building deep relationships so instead of sitting around conference tables, we went on adventures, had snowball fights and went deep sea fishing together. 

I now have a solid new group of people I can call friends that have helped me achieve and become the man I am today.

Co-Founder

NotaryElite

Sick of trading time for money, I went through a program called The Foundation which taught the fundamentals of how to start a software company (i.e. building a product instead of a service).

I got on the phone with Notaries (I don't even remember how I fell into this niche) asking them what their problems were, what solutions to those problems could be, how much they'd pay to have those problems solved, and then somehow convinced several of them to pay me 6 months up front for a discount so I could use their money to build their dream product. 

I called it NotaryElite. It was my first crack at building a software company which answered calls on a notaries behalf and scheduled appointments for them in their calendar while they were unable to answer the phone on the road or in meetings. 

I was super proud of building this company - it took a lot of sweat and hustle to get this off the ground but maybe a little too late, I realized the probability of ever earning more than $10k in revenue per month with our product was extremely unlikely because the market size was too small. 

Lesson learned.

You better believe I'll do my research of market potential before starting any new company in the future.

Pünkt IT Consulting

This was my first step up after selling candy bars between classes for $0.50 profit in high school (which apparently is pretty illegal) to buy my first macbook. 

With the goal of making ends meet and graduating college debt free, I helped local companies build websites, provided them web hosting, and had my first shot at helping companies with Facebook marketing. I even fixed a few computers and ran a computer tech shop. 

It was the first time I learned to sell to businesses, write an invoice, charge ahead of time for my services instead of chasing people for payments, and learned what it was like to trade time for money.

Everyone wants to build passive income, and I figured out how.

With over $250K/year in passive income from 30+ investments, years of venture capital experience deploying $150M at Techstars, and a proven system, I can help you build a reliable cash-flowing portfolio (without spending years figuring it out).

→ In 2020: I started from scratch with $0 in passive income.
→ In 2021: I took on the responsibility of managing my family’s finances after losing my dad, ensuring my mom could retire with peace of mind.
→ In 2024: I built a $250K/year portfolio and helped 10+ executives start their journey to financial freedom.

I’ve worked with busy, high-earning professionals to eliminate stress from volatile markets, create passive income portfolios tailored to their goals, and regain time for what matters most.

Here's how I can help you:
→ Download my Passive Investing Starter Kit—trusted by 1,000+ investors. It’s your first step to building a reliable cash-flowing portfolio. (Link in bio)

→ Join the Cashflow Academy to learn how to create your own investment thesis, find pre-vetted opportunities, and start generating passive income.

→ Explore Curated Investments with exclusive access to pre-vetted opportunities, including multifamily real estate, high-yield funds, and alternative assets with built-in tax advantages.


If you're not ready for any of that yet, no worries! Stick around—I share insights on investing smarter, building passive income, and creating a portfolio that works for you.

See you on the feed 👋.

Pascal Wagner

Want to avoid losing $50,000+ on your next real estate deal?

Here are the 4 assumptions that will make or break your returns — and most investors never stress-test them.

We all (should) know that projections are just guesses.
But these 4 variables have the biggest impact on the outcome of a deal.

From reviewing 1,000+ commercial real estate deals, here’s what consistently moves the numbers the most:

1) Rent Growth Projections

Are they assuming modest rent bumps or aggressive increases?

You can cross-check their numbers in 5 minutes using YoY rent data on Zillow or Reventure.

If their assumptions outpace the actual market, that’s not a business plan — that’s optimism.

2) Occupancy Rates

Are they projecting occupancy above the market average?

If yes, how are they getting there?

→ Lower rents?
→ Better amenities?
→ Stronger execution?

If they can’t articulate it clearly, don’t trust the projection.

3) Exit Interest Rates

What rate are they assuming when they sell or refinance?

A lot can change in 5 years.

If the returns only work when rates fall… that’s not underwriting — that’s hope.

4) Operating Expense Growth

Are they assuming realistic increases for insurance, taxes, maintenance, and other operating costs?

In many markets, the biggest expense lines — especially insurance and maintenance — have been rising 4–8% per year, not the old 2–3% underwriting standard.

If they assume flat expenses, the deal’s in trouble before it starts.

And the best part?
These are all 5-minute checks you can run on any deal.

You don’t need hours of research — just a simple stress test.

A deal might “look great” on paper…
but if the assumptions are off, your actual results can look very different.

Am I missing anything? What else do you check before investing?

Sharing How I Built $250K+/Year Portfolio with 30+ Investments | Best Ever CRE Podcast Host (200K+ Monthly Listeners) | Ex-VC @Techstars, Deployed $150M in 3 Years | Join 1K+ Investors Using My Free Starter Kit👇

A few things I’ve been reflecting on as we head into Thanksgiving:

1) Living in Miami

Miami has honestly been such a gift. The pace, the energy, the weather, the people — it’s a city that makes you feel alive and pushes you to dream bigger. I didn’t expect to love it this much.

2) More time with family

I got to see my mom a couple times this year. Those trips weren’t long, but they meant a lot. The older I get, the more I realize how rare it is to get time like that back.

3) Trips with Ashley

Getting away together — even just for a weekend — has been a reset button for both of us. Some of my favorite memories from this year came from those small windows where it was just the two of us.

4) The team around me

This year, a few people stepped up in big ways. It’s hard to put into words how much that matters when you’re building something that feels bigger than you. I’m grateful for the people in my corner.

5) Taking a bet on myself

I built a mentorship program from scratch and turned it into a real consulting revenue stream. It took longer and required more belief than I expected, but I’m genuinely proud of it.

→ As the year winds down, I’m taking time to reflect, simplify, and double down on what’s already working.

Do less — but better.

And keep improving the things that are already moving in the right direction.

Everyone was loading up their Amazon carts yesterday…

I loaded up on Bitcoin.

Didn’t realize Cyber Monday came with a BTC sale—down almost 5% this week.

Better than 99% of the deals I scrolled past.

Not sure what I was doing all these years. 😂

Ever driven past a parking lot and wondered who owns it — or how much it actually makes?

I recently sat down with Kevin Bupp, founder of Sunrise Capital Investors, to break down one of the most overlooked (and surprisingly profitable) niches in commercial real estate: parking.

Kevin’s team has acquired more than $400M in assets — including 4,000 mobile home parks and $150M in parking garages and surface lots across the country. With 20+ years of experience and multiple market cycles under his belt, he explains why he’s doubling down on this niche… and why almost no LPs are watching it.

Here’s what we covered:
 ✅ Why parking lots often outperform multifamily on a hassle-to-return basis
 ✅ How Sunrise blends mobile home parks and parking assets in one fund to balance steady cash flow with long-term appreciation
 ✅ The macro trends driving supply compression and stable demand in parking
 ✅ How self-driving technology, urban redevelopment, and zoning shifts could transform this overlooked sector
 ✅ Why “highest and best use” can create asymmetric upside for investors
 ✅ The biggest mistakes LPs make when evaluating alternative asset classes

If you’re an LP looking for stable, tax-advantaged income and diversification beyond multifamily, this conversation will show you how institutional investors are quietly repositioning capital toward these low-volatility, cash-flow-driven assets.

YouTube link in the comments 👇

It’s surprising how much your life improves when you stack tiny habits.
 
A few things quietly made my life better this year:
 
1) Walking more
 
When I moved to Miami, I told myself, “Alright, I’m ready to step up and finally get a six-pack.”
 
At the time, I was averaging around 7,500 steps a day. Nothing too impressive.
 
Then I bought a walking pad for my desk and started walking during one meeting a week.
Then two.
Then most of them.
 
Now I regularly hit 12–15k steps a day without thinking about it.
 
I look leaner, I feel better, and it’s honestly one of the easiest habits I've ever built. 
 
(Photos to come soon 😉)
 
Wild how such a simple thing can change your whole baseline.
 
2) Treating social media like a craft
 
This one surprised me too.
 
Posting consistently takes time and effort — way more than people think — but it’s been worth it.
 
Every single client I’ve worked with this year came from social.
 
On LinkedIn, I’ve been growing around 350 followers a month.
On YouTube, my videos now get 300+ views in the first week.
 
It’s been fun to learn, fun to iterate, and fun to feel like I’m finally getting the hang of it.
 
It’s starting to feel like a real skill.
 
3) Building momentum slowly
 
Not everything has to be sprint → burnout → repeat.
 
Some things get better when you show up a little bit every day and let the reps stack.
 
Walking more.
Creating more.
 
Being a little more visible.
Just nudging things forward.
 
None of it is flashy.
But it’s working.
 
Can you tell?

Bitcoin just dropped 30% — from around $126K to the low-$80Ks.

Whenever we get a move like this, I catch myself doing the same thing:

I start digging. Charts, articles, graphs… anything that helps me double-check whether I still understand why I own this.

A lot of my friends say the same thing every time:

→ “I don’t get Bitcoin. It doesn’t cash-flow. What’s the value here?”

I used to ask that too.

But then you step back and look at what’s actually happening around us:

→ The dollar losing ~25% of its purchasing power in five years
→ Government spending exploding
→ Savings getting quietly eroded
→ A financial system that chips away at you slowly

At some point, owning a scarce, non-sovereign asset starts to feel less like speculation… and more like insurance.

Bitcoin isn’t perfect.
It’s volatile.
It’s frustrating.
It doesn’t send distributions.

But it does protect you from something every investor underestimates:
→ your dollars getting diluted while you sleep.

Here’s one of the pieces I revisited this week during the drop:
https://lnkd.in/ebaPBZG5

Did you hold through this move?
Or did it make you second-guess things?

Open article: Part 1: Coup to Code - The End Run Around the Fed by marylandhodl.substack.com

Part 1: Coup to Code - The End Run Around the Fed

Everyone wants more affordable housing. 

But no one wants it in their backyard.

That’s the core issue no one in real estate wants to talk about.

People say they want lower rents.

They say they want to “solve the housing crisis.”

But the moment you try to put an actual solution next to them…

Like co-living, micro-units, or shared housing…

They fight it. 

I’ve been looking a lot into why we have an affordable housing crisis, and the more I dig, the more obvious it gets:

 It's NIMBYism. 

"Not in my backyard." 

No one wants a house next to them that has bedrooms added by dividing living rooms, dining rooms, or garages.

They don’t want micro-units.

They don’t want co-living.

They don’t want anything that looks like it’s meant for someone who isn’t a top-echelon high earner.

Because there’s a stigma:

Micro-units = slumlords, crime, mental illness, drugs, homelessness, and overcrowding.

And because of that, cities make it nearly impossible to build them.

→ Look at Seattle.

Back in 2012, they allowed micro-apartments.

Developers actually started building them to spec.

Then the city slowly raised the minimum square footage you had to have per bedroom…

And then, a couple years in, they changed the zoning to basically not even allow them.

It’s wild.

There are plenty of people (myself included) who would build these structures.

But regulation blocks it.

Not economics or demand. 

But red tape from cities. 
 
→ So how do you solve the problem?

A few ideas: 

1). Stop pretending you can fix affordability without changing zoning.

2). Call NIMBYism what it is: “I want solutions, just not where I can see them.”

 3). Let developers build smaller units instead of forcing luxury square footage.

 4). Recognize that micro-units work in Asia, Europe, New York (and they can work here, too).

 5). Stop raising design requirements after builders already commit to projects.

Until something changes, we’re stuck in the same loop:

People say they want affordable housing....

They’re just not willing to live near it.

Writing on LinkedIn almost every day has been way harder than I expected.

Most mornings I’m asking myself:

“Do I actually have something worth saying today… or am I about to break the streak?”

I’m not doing it to “build an audience.”
I’m doing it because distribution is leverage—and the ability to communicate clearly online is only becoming more valuable.

But the process is messy.

I worry about sounding dumb.
Or watching something that felt sharp in my head fall apart on the page.

I’ve tried writers.
I’ve tried systems.
Still—my best ideas arrive late at night.

ChatGPT helps, but not by writing for me.
It helps me see my own thinking.

I’ll read a draft and immediately feel,
“Wait… that’s not quite right. What did I really mean?”

That’s when the real work begins—pulling on the deeper thread I almost skipped.
And here’s the surprising thing I’ve learned:

Your voice doesn’t appear fully formed.
You find it by publishing imperfect work in public.

It’s uncomfortable.
It’s messy.
But it’s also how you grow.

If you’ve ever considered sharing your thoughts more often, I’d encourage it.

The reps don’t just improve your writing—they sharpen how you think.

You've invested $250K across 5 deals.

But you still don't have a plan.

Some tax plays here. 
A little equity growth there. 
A syndication your friend told you about.

And now you're wondering why it all feels disconnected.

I've been there.

A few years ago, I was doing the same thing. 

Not gambling — just evaluating each deal in isolation instead of as part of a full strategy.

I only invested in things I believed were high quality:

→ Real estate in downtown Denver (because I knew the area)

→ Funds from well-known operators (because I didn't want to lose money)

→ Passive deals through my friend group (because I wanted to spread the risk)

I was investing in what I had access to...

But the market shifted, and the plan I had wasn’t designed for the conditions we ended up facing.

So if you've built your strategy from podcasts and LinkedIn posts, I get it. 

But you're not positioned to win, either.

→ Because when you invest without a plan, your portfolio isn't optimized for what you actually need. 

Maybe you need cash flow now, but half your capital is locked up in long-term equity plays.

That's why you need to ask yourself some hard questions:

→ What do I want my portfolio to look like in 5 years?
→ How do I balance cash flow vs. equity growth?
→ How do I know which deals fit my goals?

At the time, I wasn’t asking those questions yet — because my plan was built for a different stage.

And it left me with capital tied up in deals I wished I could reallocate.

But now I know better.

I'm not falling in love with deals that look good on paper.

Instead, I'm creating a structured portfolio with:

→ Targeted equity positions with clear upside
→ Monthly cash flow from low-volatility debt funds
→ Diversification across operators and asset classes

Don't wait until your portfolio underperforms to realize you needed a strategy from the start.

It’s the end of the year… 

You’ve made great income,
Your CPA mentioned you need depreciation, 
And every operator is promising massive write-offs.

But before you wire that $100K, here’s the truth: not all write-offs actually lower your taxes the way you think they do.

In this solo episode of The Passive Income Playbook, Pascal Wagner breaks down the 3 types of income the IRS recognizes — and how to align your investments so the write-offs you earn actually hit your tax return.

After personally investing $3.3M across 23 private deals, and managing capital professionally at Techstars ($150M deployed), Pascal shares the framework that turned one painful $40K tax surprise into a repeatable system for year-end planning.

Most investors chase “tax-advantaged” deals without understanding which bucket their income sits in — active, portfolio, or passive.

Once you learn how they actually work, you’ll never look at write-offs the same way again.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
✅ The 3 income buckets the IRS uses — and why mixing them up kills your deductions
✅ How to know which type of investment actually affects your taxes
✅ The 3 rare ways to offset active income (and when they actually apply)
✅ Why depreciation only works if your income is in the passive bucket
✅ The real reason wealthy investors “stack” funds and real estate strategically
✅ How to engineer after-tax returns instead of chasing headline IRRs

If you’re looking at deals right now and wondering “Which of these will actually help my taxes?” — this episode shows you exactly how to tell before you invest.

Youtube link in comments👇

Lester Chng

Cyber CEOs Brand Strategist. I build your brand as you build your business. | Senior Cybersecurity Advisor | Author | Naval Officer | CISSP | 🇨🇦🇸🇬 |

You head a leading cybersecurity firm.
But your online presence doesn't reflect it.

In fact, being invisible is damaging. 

You understand the power of thought leadership.
You know LinkedIn shapes deal flow and adds credibility in the industry.
You just don’t have the cycles (or the copy) to share your expertise and experience.

You have stories worth telling.

The insights from being in the trenches.
The deep conversations with your ace teams.
The hard discussions with your clients. 

Don’t let this wisdom go to waste.

That’s where I come in.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How we work together.

Profile & Positioning
=> Rebuild your LinkedIn profile so visitors see industry authority, not “another vendor.”

Content engine
=> Ghostwritten posts that leverage your insights and expertise into engaging LinkedIn posts. 

Outreach campaign
=> Targeted DM campaigns and audience-building strategies that build your authority and land you on podcasts and conference stages.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You focus on growing your firm and protecting your clients.
And we will ensure the industry, clients, prospects, and investors can’t ignore it.

Let’s build the personal brand that commands the cybersecurity conversation and drives business.


Worked with global client portfolio 
- MSPs
- MSSPs
- Agentic AI SOC
- AI-powered GRC 
- Operational Resilience 

Senior Advisor, Financial Crimes Unit Exercises. BMO Fusion Centre

Execution of Financial Crimes Unit Exercise and Drill Program
• Design and execution of exercises and drills to operationalize the Financial Crimes Unit Fusion Centre
• Scenario creation and exercise execution for Information Security, Enterprise Fraud Management, Physical Security, and Global Crisis and Continuity Management teams 
• Providing effective challenge of incident response readiness through exercise observation
• Execution of enterprise-wide Purple Team Exercise


Cybersecurity Exercises: Purple Team, Ransomware, DDoS, Malware, Data Corruption, Data Breach, 3rd Party Incidents
Fraud Exercises: ATOs, Attack on Payment systems, Business Email Compromise, PII Breach
Physical Security Exercise: Active Assailant, Civil Unrest, Bomb Threats
Crisis Exercises: Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity, Operational Resilience, Fire Incidents, Natural Disasters, Utilities Disruption

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University is hiring.
We continue to grow and if our vision of "Cybersecurity for all" resonates with you. Check out and apply for these roles.

Director of Strategic Partnerships
https://lnkd.in/gaTXKaBz

Director, Public Sector and Small Businessess
https://lnkd.in/gFGDsGvG

Program Lead
https://lnkd.in/gSajF8eK

Cyber Clinic Program Lead
https://lnkd.in/gcFhZFkP

Operations Coordinator

Check out this job at Toronto Metropolitan University:  https://lnkd.in/g2S-fNFa


Applications close soon and start the new year in a role and organization that is shaping the future of Cybersecurity in Canada and beyond.

We landed in Canada 8 years ago. 
Today I still get this question. 
Why did you move from Singapore?

I always answer with this as if one of the reason. 

“We were very comfortable and had stable jobs. In fact, I know almost exactly how many career will pan out”

And we wanted to try something diff. 

This is what it wld have looked like:
- stayed on in the Navy
- promotions to LTC or SLTC
- 300k salary (don’t quote me)
- waiting on a ~500k bonus in 2026
- complete command of 2-3 warships

This is the last 8 years instead:
- ~50% pay cut for first role
- took 3 role changes to gain parity 
- only to be laid off after a few years
- and living through a dead economy

If we take a snapshot view here, it is a disastrous decision. 

But of course it’s never that linear. 

Here are other things that I gained:
- explored 2 career paths. PM + cyber
- grew professional network from 0
- gained experience in enterprises
- sold digital products & services
- found mission driven role + team
- resilience and independence
 
The questions will always be asked. 

And the journey is still being written. 

P.S what questions do u always get when you tell your story?
How do u answer them?

JSESSIONID

li_at

Talks about #linkedin, #resilience, #cybersecurity, #crisismanagement, and #personalbranding

I work in a cybersecurity organization that drives diversity in cybersecurity. Yet we still see all male panels and leadership teams.

Yes, things are changing and Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University is driving that forward in partnership with the Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative (ELCI). This program is in its 5th cohort in 2026 and empowers women and non‑binary professionals with the skills, confidence, and leadership capabilities needed to thrive in this rapidly evolving field.

Lina is an alumni of that program and I interviewed her to learn about her experience in law enforcement, cybercrime, cybersecurity, leadership, and being an inspiration for the next generation.

𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 & 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆

What still needs to change to help more women move into cyber leadership roles?

STEM was historically a predominantly male domain and while there has been a shift, we need to encourage girls early on towards cybersecurity as a future career. From a leadership perspective, encourage authentic inclusive environments (not a checkbox!) where all voices at the table are valued and heard. Mentorship and allyship are key to building confidence.

What advice would you give to women thinking about shifting into cybersecurity?

One of my favourite things about cybersecurity is that it is a field where diversity of thought is welcome and there are so many opportunities for different specializations. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take on the challenge of finding your passion. 

If you enjoyed this interview series, please follow Lina. She is a passionate defender in the cybersecurity space and an inspirational leader.

P.S. What is your company doing to promote diversity?

You are all busy. I don't expect you to read my history, so here is a little about me.

𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲.

Never the model student.
Made a career choice at 19.
To serve in the Navy and see the world.

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝘆

Daily lessons of leadership, critical thinking.
Ran the wargaming and simulation centre.
Left in 2017 after rejecting a promotion and the opportunity to command a ship.

𝗢'𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮

Moved to Canada w no corporate exp
Struggled for years to climb a ladder
Fortunate to move into cybersecurity

𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

Currently in my 3rd role in cyber.
1. Project Management
2. Senior advisor - security exercises
3. Senior advisor - security exercises

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀

Full-time at Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University. 
Best place I have worked in Canada.

Need cybersecurity tabletop exercises, cyber range training, cyber advisory services?

Give me a shout.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

Book author
The Essential Cybersecurity Ex Playbook.
I still refer to it when I design exercises. 
Get it if you are tasked to run exercises.

Ghostwriter for Cyber CEOs and Founders
Your LinkedIn Account is a goldmine.
Build your thought leadership and authority.
I write your LinkedIn posts for you.

P.S What did you not know abt me?

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University

Culture change is crucial for security transformations.

How does one influence change in critical infrastructure?

I interviewed my friend Osman Saleem, the Managing Director of Actimeta, who helps his clients secure their OT and IoT infrastructure.

Leadership, Culture & Collaboration

Q7: You’ve worked across consulting, engineering, and executive leadership — what have you learned about leading teams through complex technical change?

Real progress happens when leaders listen to their teams, and more importantly, remove obstacles instead of issuing directives. Operational teams adopt change when they feel respected, supported, and protected from unnecessary risk — not when security is pushed onto them as “another policy to follow.”

Q8: In your view, what’s the biggest cultural or mindset shift organizations need to make to strengthen their cyber and operational resilience?

Organizations must stop treating security as something they “enforce” on operations and start treating it as something they build with them. When frontline technicians and engineers are empowered as partners rather than problems to manage, security becomes practical, sustainable, and actually effective.
_____________________________

If you enjoyed this interview series, please follow Osman. He is a security infrastructure expert and has helped organizations build IoT and OT security programs.


P.S. Which sector needs the most security attention?

Cybersecurity professionals struggle in OT organizations.

Especially if they don’t take the time to understand operations.

I interviewed my friend Osman Saleem, the Managing Director of Actimeta, who helps his clients secure their OT and IoT infrastructure.

What Makes OT/IoT Security Complex

Q3: What makes protecting operational environments fundamentally different from traditional IT cybersecurity?

OT environments have physical processes, so organizations prioritize safety, reliability, and availability of OT systems. Confidentiality of data takes a back seat. Additionally, OT systems have a much longer life cycle. As a result, these systems operate 24/7 on legacy equipment and networks making patching and rebooting a challenge. Security changes can directly impact physical processes, which means risk management must balance cyber controls with operational continuity.

Q4: Can you share an example of how operational and security priorities sometimes conflict — and how organizations can bridge that gap?

Security teams may recommend immediate patching or network changes, while operations teams push back due to downtime risks or safety concerns. Capital upgrades of legacy equipment are also cited as reasons for avoiding immediate patches. Bridging that gap comes from joint risk assessments, staged mitigation plans, or designing controls that reduce risk without disrupting critical operations
_____________________________

If you enjoyed this interview series, please follow Osman. He is a security infrastructure expert and has helped organizations build IoT and OT security programs.


P.S. What’s the biggest challenge in OT security?

OT & IoT Cybersecurity | Smart Building Technology | Smart Cities

“I’ll take a break from writing/posting”. 

That’s what I told myself as I returned from my vacation. 

“It will be easy to get back into it”. 

Just like my exercise routine, my writing and networking rhythm were severly derailed. 

Even though my systems and tools were in place, I need to reconvince myself of the intend of being active on this platform. 

And it really does fall back to the why. 

Once that is reaffirmed, then the other pieces of the how kicks back in. 

Here’s back to sharing:
- how organizations should use cyber exercises to improve their readiness and resilience 
- how cyber CEOs should use LinkedIn to drive brand awareness 

P.S who thinks the LinkedIn feed is darn boring these days. Let’s start sharpening our storytelling skills.

Cyber CEOs are missing one of the biggest opportunities on LinkedIn.

Your founder story.

Not the pitch.
Not the product.
The reason you started.

Here is why it matters.

1. It builds trust faster than yr website.

People want to know the conviction behind your company. Your story answers the core question every buyer has: why should I trust you.

2. It humanizes your brand.

Cybersecurity is technical and crowded. Your story cuts through the noise and shows the person behind the mission.

3. It creates instant differentiation.

Competitors can copy language, pricing, and positioning. They cannot copy your journey.

4. It strengthens every future conversation.

When people understand your why, your product demonstrations, sales calls, and partnerships become warmer and easier.

Your founder story is not optional.
It is a strategic asset.

If you do not tell it, your audience will never hear it. And don’t wait for permission to share too. 

No one is gonna give you that.

Waiting for someone to interview you?

Stop waiting. Interview yourself. 

Many cyber CEOs are waiting for conferences to reach out for speaking opportunities, for organizations to invite them for expert panelists, or for a intimate podcast session. 

Some wait and nothing ever arrives. 

Use this platform, interview yourself and share your insights immediately. 

Here are 7 questions to answer:

1.	Who does your product help (role, industry, company size), and what does a “bad day” look like for them?

2.	What trigger pushed your client from “we should address this” to “we need a solution now” (audit, incident, board pressure, customer requirement, insurance renewal)?

3.	How has your clients describe the problem in plain language, without cybersecurity jargon?

4.	Where does the pain show up in your client’s day-to-day work (broken handoffs, constant exceptions, unclear ownership, reporting gaps)?

5.	What have your clients already tried, and why did it fail or stall (tool sprawl, consultants, spreadsheets, policies that didn’t stick)?

6.	What happens if nothing changes in the next 6–12 months?
How does that impact your client? (business impact, personal accountability, reputational and compliance exposure)?

7.	What proof did your client need before they’ll trust and buy (success criteria, non-negotiables, deal killers), and what niche-specific insight made them say “this person gets our world”?


You do realize no one is going to ask you those questions in an interview. 

Yet these are the questions you need to answer to position yourself and your solution as the go-to in the market. 

Now stop waiting and start answering.

Addressing security issues in an OT heavy organization is an uphill battle.

Especially if we blindly apply IT security principles.

Where should one start? Or is it an impossible task?

I interviewed my friend Osman Saleem, the Managing Director of Actimeta, who helps his clients secure their OT and IoT infrastructure.

Building Secure and Resilient Systems

Q5: When you work with clients on OT/IoT cybersecurity, what guiding principles or frameworks do you find most effective?

Common sense, to start with. We also rely heavily on frameworks like NIST SP 800-82 and ISA/IEC 62443, focusing on asset visibility, segmentation, and defense-in-depth. These frameworks take a risk-based approach. There are industry-specific regulations that may also apply. Effective cybersecurity programs align cybersecurity controls directly to safety, reliability, and regulatory objectives rather than treating security as a standalone effort.

Q6: How can organizations take practical first steps toward improving their OT or IoT resilience without massive overhauls?

Work on foundational knowledge first. Document your environment and how OT intersects with and affects other organizational departments. Start with visibility - and I don’t mean deploying a tool. Understand what assets are connected, where data flows, and who owns them. Understand your existing staff's skill set. Establish your risk tolerance thresholds. Document everything. Then implement basic segmentation, access control, and incident response planning — small changes that dramatically reduce risk without major system interruptions.
_____________________________

If you enjoyed this interview series, please follow Osman. He is a security infrastructure expert and has helped organizations build IoT and OT security programs.


P.S. What are some key differences between IT and OT security?

It seems like privacy is a premium these days.

And it can be sidelined if we don’t preserve it.

AI models feed on data. And yet so many organizations have headed straight for the AI gravy train without due consideration for the impact on data management and privacy. 

I interviewed my friend Patrick Lo, the CEO of Privacy Horizon, who helps his clients make sense of the ever-changing landscape of privacy and the impact of AI.

The Future of Privacy Leadership

Q7: What qualities will define the next generation of privacy leaders in healthcare?

Future privacy leaders will combine a strong understanding of technology, turning intricate risks related to AI, data, and cybersecurity into transparent, human-focused governance approaches that build trust among stakeholders.

Q8: If you could change one thing about how organizations approach privacy today, what would it be and why?

I would change the perspective from viewing “privacy as compliance” to seeing “privacy as strategy.” Privacy doesn’t have to be a boat anchor. Privacy is about common sense. Privacy is nothing more than good information management and good customer service. When organizations integrate privacy with trust, innovation, and brand value, compliance occurs naturally and a culture of accountability becomes self-sustaining.

_____________________________

If you enjoyed this interview series, please follow Patrick. He is a healthcare privacy expert and has helped organizations build privacy and security programs.


P.S Is privacy a top concern when implementing AI?

Take a second to count your personal connected devices.

Now, estimate that number for an enterprise set-up.

Enterprises struggle to keep up with the inventory, tracking, management, and governance of their IT systems. Industries and companies that rely heavily on physical systems, such as monitoring devices, automated systems, and highly integrated systems, add layers of complexity and associated risks to maintaining operational efficiency and security.

I interviewed my friend Osman Saleem, the Managing Director of Actimeta, who helps his clients secure their OT and IoT infrastructure.

The OT/IoT Security Landscape 

Q1: How has the growing interconnection between physical systems and digital networks changed the way organizations think about cybersecurity?

Organizations that run physical systems and OT are more aware now of the risks that come with connecting them to digital networks. Asset owners are increasingly focused on securing these environments—marketing hype can amplify the fear, but the concern is justified. More connectivity expands the attack surface and links cyber incidents to real-world impacts on safety, reliability, and finances. As a result, there is a shift to treat cybersecurity as an operational responsibility, not just an IT issue.

Q2: From your experience, what are the biggest misconceptions business leaders still have about securing operational or connected environments?

Many business leaders place more emphasis on tooling and technology. Their main focus should be prioritized towards embedding cybersecurity practices and controls in their business workflows, organizational processes and ensuring their governance is not just documented, but functional. 
_____________________________

If you enjoyed this interview series, please follow Osman. He is a security infrastructure expert and has helped organizations build IoT and OT security programs.


P.S. What are some IoT/OT security assumptions that many have?

If growing your LinkedIn presence as a cyber CEO is not part of your 2026 plan, it is a huge marketing miss. 

The others parts are shaping up:
- website copy
- marketing swag
- cold email blasts
- conference booth
- CISO wine and dine 😃

All that is important and probably takes up the bulk of your budget. 

And then when your prospects land on your LinkedIn page, it blands (yes bland) in with the rest of the corporate copy. 

“We are on brand.”
“Our product speaks for itself.”

What could have been a differentiator from your competitors and a vibrant platform to build a community and awareness for your company. 

Instead, it just fades to the background. Like many of the other passive accounts. 

Is your LinkedIn account working your you, your company, and your vision?

Or will 2026 be another missed opportunity? 

Your platform. 
Your choice.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn has never worked for me. 

Many Cyber CEOs tell me that. 

“What have you tried?”

- had 1 video call w a new contact
- create 2 posts every quarter 
- msg 3 CISOs every week
- like 4 posts every day 
- read 5 cringey posts

Bruh, what were you expecting. 

If you execute prod dev like a hawk,
raise funds like the fed, why do you neglect your professional presence?

You may be causing more damage missing more opportunities than u thk. 

Is 2026 going to the same for u?

Most cyber CEOs make the same LinkedIn mistake.

They publish generic cyber opinions.

Humans are the weakest link.
Zero Trust is hard but important. 
AI is risky but is changing the world. 

It feels safe. 
It feels like thought leadership.

But it is a losing strategy.

Cut the noise and focus on:
- industry constraints
- operational challenges
- tech stack experiences

When you post generic cyber content, you create three problems:

1. You blend in.
If 50 other CEOs could have written it, the market will not remember you.
	
2. You attract the wrong attention.
Likes from practitioners and vendors, not conversations with decision-makers.

3. You confuse prospects of yr niche.  

Instead, pick a niche and own it.

Not “ransomware.” 
Ransomware for school boards, manufacturers, or healthcare suppliers.

Not “incident response.” IR for mid-market teams, OT-heavy environments, or critical infra orgs.

It is much more efficient to build in a specific niche than to spam. 

P.S: If I read your last 10 posts, would I know exactly who you’re writing to?

How to instantly instill confidence during an incident response call?

One of the key features in every incident response plan is the incident response call or CSIRT (cybersecurity incident response team) call. 

Yet, it is hardly ever practised and you can confuse everyone if it is a mess. 

There is no clear lead, the agenda is sketchy, and the conversation goes all over the place. Even worse, it drags on with no end in sight. 

A simple way to fix this. 

Meetig structure + Practice

Here is a sample meeting structure:

1. State the objective and summary
2. Facts so far (what we know, what we think, what we don’t know)
3. Impact and scope 
4. Top 3 priorities and risks
5. Decisions needed now
6. Action item review
7. Comms and notifications
8. Recap key next steps
9. Open for questions 
10. Timing of next call 


You need to practise these calls. 
And run it with military disciple. 

P.S what agenda item wld u add?

Here’s one signal to know yr cyber exercise is highly effective. 
And most TTXs never trigger this. 

We recently executed a cyber range simulation exercise that put an IT team through a stressful scenario. 

The team was actively analyzing the IOCs and raise many relevant points for decision making. The leadership team weighed the risks and make a decision for containment. 

This decision was communicated to the technical teams and it spark a behavior which I didn’t expect but was glad it happened. 

The IT team responded to seek clarification on the decision. The instructions from the leadership team was clear on intent but the IT teams wanted to ensure that the leadership team understood the risks and nuances of the decision. 

And the discussion got pretty heated. 

This is termed as “Challenge and Response” and is something that we used while we manage the navigation team to ensure the safety of the ship. 

Team members would challenge the instructions (not the authority) if they were unclear or they had information that may impact the decision. The officer of the watch will have to respond to confirm or clarify the order. 

The purpose of this mechanism was to ensure that there was an avenue for clarification of an order without the risk of insubordination. 


So to my surprise, I saw this playing out as we ran our exercise. 

This is a healthy sign that the team had the right culture and understood the intent of the team’s actions. 

How did the heated discussion end?

I had to intervene, acknowledge the perspectives of both parties, and park the issue aside to continue w the exercise. 

This learning point would not occur in a benign tabletop exercise. It took a realistic high pressure scenario to tease out the practical considerations of incident response. 

P.S can u guess what the discussion was about? 
I’ll give a prize if anyone guessed it!

I consult with many Cyber CEOs. 

These 4 questions come up in every strategy call I run with founders.

⸻

1/ What should I post without oversharing or sounding salesy

They worry about balancing:
- Oversharing insights 
- Being authoritative vs promotional

But the real issue?

This isn’t a writing problem.
It’s a positioning + content strategy problem.

Once you define your POV and boundaries, posting becomes easy.

⸻

2/ Will this really generate business, or is it just vanity?

They’re skeptical because:
- Impressions ≠ pipeline
- “Likes” don’t close deals
- Decision-makers feel invisible on LI

Behind this question is a deeper fear:

“Will my effort pay off?”

LinkedIn is a trust engine, not a slot machine. It compounds if you show up consistently.

⸻

3/ How do I stand out when every cyber CEO sounds the same?

Their feed is full of:
- News reposts
- Corporate announcements 
- Zero Trust / AI buzzwords

Their real question is:

“What is MY unique point of view?”

The answer is always the same. 
Stand out by being specific, not louder.

Your niche, your observations, your client stories, your lessons.

Those are the differentiators.

⸻

4/ How much time does this take each week?

They assume LinkedIn is:
- Daily posting
- Daily commenting
- Constant DMing
- Full time social media diva

But what they actually want is simple:
A strategy that is intentional. 
A plan that drives results. 

You don’t need to post daily.
You need clarity, consistency, and relevance.

⸻

If you’ve have all these questions too, the good news is they’re all solvable.

Cyber CEOs don’t need more content.
They need a clearer strategy, stronger positioning, and a repeatable system.

P.S what other qns do u have?

Here are 4 silly TTX lessons that you never plan for but do happen. 

You have gone through the rigor. 

Study the IRPs and escalation flows. 
Deep dive into sector intel and risks. 
Create the most compelling scenario. 

You executed the exercise w precision. 

Then realize this is what they gained. 

1. Some participants have never met. 

Whether it is high turnover or there never as reason to meet, don’t be surprised if some members have never met before and the exercise served its purpose of building relations. 

Silly but happens more often than u thk

2. Some plans have never been read. 

Or in some cases, no one knew it existed or didn’t event realize annex C-7 had a whole section dedicated to the responsibilities of said department. 

Better late than never to realize you have a role to play in an incident. 

3. Some words have diff meaning. 

You used industry defined nomenclature as you peppered the response plans with actionable and detailed terminology. Only to realize no one cares about your glossary on page 54. 

Fav terms. Isolate. Asset. Segregate. Sanitize. Take offline. Clean up. 

Record the lesson learned. 
Create an action item to synch. 

4.  Some roles and ppl r gone. 

This always happens but don’t let u derail the exercise. Plans are never perfect. They are there to serve as a kick off point and reference, not a step by step instruction booklet. 

Don’t be so rigid. 

P.S what other interesting TTX encounters have you experienced?

Cyber CEOs have endless stories. 

Here are some ideas if u r stuck.

1. The moment you realized the cybersecurity problem you’re solving was real (A client incident, a failure you witnessed, or a blind spot in the market.)

2. Why you decided to start the company instead of joining another one (Your conviction, frustration, or spark.)

3. The first obstacle you faced as a founder and what it taught you
 (Funding, product clarity, hiring, credibility.)

4. The early version of your solution and how different it was from today
 (Show evolution and persistence.)

5. A hard lesson you learned that shaped how you lead now
 (Trust, communication, resilience, decision speed.)

6. The turning point when you knew the company would work
 (First client, first renewal, first big validation.)

7. A belief you hold about cybersecurity that most people overlook
 (Your “why” behind your mission.)

8. How your background shaped the way you approach security problems
 (Past industries, roles, failures, or personal experiences.)

9. The sacrifice most people don’t see
 (Time, stability, opportunity cost, personal growth.)

10. Your vision for the industry and why you’re committed to it
(Where things are going and why you care.)

P.S Expand on each point in a few different angles and your content is set for months. 

Any other story ideas?

taplio

The Battle

Pascal Wagner

Lester Chng

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taplio

The Battle

Pascal Wagner

Lester Chng

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Pascal Wagner's LinkedIn Performance

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