When Yossi Barishev joined hosts Noa Eshed and Ronen Menipaz on the Real Life Superpowers podcast, the result was more than an interview. It became an inside look at how modern founders navigate uncertainty, innovation, and leadership in cybersecurity’s most transformative era.
Barishev, featured by New York Tech Media and NewsBlaze as one of the top emerging voices in cybersecurity, now leads a stealth-mode venture that focuses on redefining digital identity and trust in the age of artificial intelligence. His philosophy blends technical precision with emotional intelligence, capturing what it truly means to build resilience in an increasingly complex digital world.
Experience as the Foundation of Credibility
Barishev’s path is rooted in years of leading security operations and advising Fortune 500 clients at Sygnia and Fireblocks. These experiences gave him a deep understanding of both the technical and human sides of cybersecurity, equipping him to lead through volatility.
His belief that discomfort drives growth defines his leadership style. It also aligns with broader market realities. Gartner’s 2025 forecast projects that global cybersecurity spending will rise by more than 15 percent next year as companies invest heavily in identity management and data protection. For founders like Barishev, credibility built through real-world experience is now one of the most valuable currencies in the industry.
The Stealth Paradox and the Importance of Visibility
A recurring theme in the conversation with Eshed and Menipaz is what Barishev calls the stealth paradox. Founders often need to keep their technology confidential while still establishing trust and authority in the market.
He believes a founder’s professional reputation is often the company’s earliest asset. By maintaining a visible and credible presence, leaders can create the trust that eventually converts into partnerships and business opportunities. At the same time, he warns against relying too much on external opinions. Balance, he explains, comes from combining outward credibility with inward confidence. This mindset allows founders to make clear decisions and remain aligned with their mission even when uncertainty dominates.
Why Identity and Trust Are the Next Frontiers in Cybersecurity
Barishev’s stealth venture operates at the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital identity, a space that is becoming one of the most critical in cybersecurity. As AI reshapes how people interact online, it has also introduced new risks, including synthetic identities and deepfake attacks.
Fortune Business Insights estimates that the global identity verification market will surpass $40 billion by 2030. These figures highlight a clear opportunity for innovation and leadership.
For Barishev, identity and trust are not just security topics but the foundation of digital society. His startup’s goal is to create systems that protect authenticity and enable secure interactions across an increasingly AI-driven landscape.
Controlled Chaos as a Framework for Leadership
Barishev describes his leadership philosophy as controlled chaos, a concept that encourages deliberate exposure to uncertainty in order to build adaptability and resilience. By putting himself in unpredictable situations, he learned to stay composed under pressure and lead with clarity.
This same principle defines his partnership with co-founder Yonatan Rosenberg, whom he met during his time at Sygnia. Their collaboration is built on trust, communication, and a shared commitment to continuous learning. Together, they have built a culture that values experimentation and accountability, proving that innovation often grows out of well-managed chaos.
The Human Element Behind Cybersecurity Innovation
The discussion between Yossi Barishev, Noa Eshed, and Ronen Menipaz highlights a fundamental truth: technology evolves, but human judgment remains essential. Behind every breakthrough lies courage, adaptability, and the ability to lead without guarantees.
In a field defined by automation and machine learning, Barishev’s insights remind us that leadership grounded in trust and authenticity will always matter. His story demonstrates that true progress often begins when leaders step into the unknown and transform uncertainty into opportunity.
