Insights

On Thursday, November 20th, at SuriCon 2025 in Montréal, Patrick Kelley, CEO of Critical Path Security and Léargas Security, will deliver a session unlike any other on the agenda: "Mental Health in Cybersecurity: Balancing the Scales." Beyond Dashboards and Packet Captures Cybersecurity is often defined by dashboards, packet captures, and detections. But this talk shifts the focus to the people behind them. For more than 30 years, Patrick Kelley has worked in the trenches-securing critical infrastructure, responding to incidents, and building platforms that protect organizations around the world. Along the way, he has carried invisible wounds: trauma, CPTSD, Bipolar Disorder, and burnout. Rather than hide behind accolades, Patrick will speak openly about the personal costs of this work and the realities that so many in the industry quietly endure. A Raw, Human Conversation This session won't be a therapy lecture or a clinical analysis-it's an honest conversation. Patrick will explore:…

On Thursday, October 23rd, the Mid-Continent Compliance Forum (MCCF) Fall Forum will bring together compliance and reliability professionals from across the region for a full day of collaboration, shared experiences, and timely discussions. This year's theme emphasizes resilience, collaboration, and well-being as the foundation for navigating today's compliance and reliability challenges. Patrick Kelley on Mental Health in the Workplace One of the most anticipated sessions will be led by Patrick Kelley, CEO of Critical Path Security. His talk, "Mental Health in the Workplace," will confront the realities of stress, burnout, and imposter syndrome that affect professionals in highly demanding compliance and technical roles. With a rare blend of vulnerability and expertise, Kelley will share not only personal perspective but also practical strategies to foster healthier work environments. His session aims to leave attendees with tools to better recognize signs of stress, support colleagues, and advocate for authentic leadership that prioritizes…

On October 8th, Critical Path Security CEO Patrick Kelley will lead a breakout session at GridSecCon 2025, focused on a challenge many cybersecurity professionals quietly face every day: burnout, imposter syndrome, and the toll of constant pressure in defending critical infrastructure. The Session: Copenhagen Burnout Inventory - Cybersecurity Edition The session, "Mental Health in Cybersecurity: Leveraging the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory," will explore both the personal and financial impact of burnout in the cybersecurity field. Unlike traditional assessments, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) has been adapted specifically for SOC and IR environments. Attendees will learn how the tool measures operational stress across three key dimensions: Emotional Exhaustion - the drain defenders feel after endless incidents and alerts. Cynicism & Detachment - when users or systems start to feel like "the enemy." Personal Accomplishment - whether the work feels meaningful and successful. By quantifying stress, teams can move past guesswork and take…

On October 2nd, Critical Path Security's Patrick Kelley will lead an important session at the Cooperative Technology Conference in Indiana, tackling a topic that hits close to home for every cybersecurity professional: mental health in cybersecurity. The Pressure Cooker of Cybersecurity This industry doesn't come with an off switch. Teams are understaffed, under-resourced, and often left to carry the weight when high-profile technology projects falter. The result is a cycle of overwork, constant vigilance, and mounting pressure that fuels burnout. Burnout and Imposter Syndrome Kelley's session, "Utilizing the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory - Cybersecurity Version," will address how burnout and imposter syndrome intersect. Many in our field feel that stress is theirs alone to manage, but burnout isn't about weakness-it's about conditions that force people beyond sustainable limits. He will outline how frenetic burnout takes hold when ambition collides with shrinking resources, and why those who care most deeply about their…