The art and chaos of starting a new leadership position

Nicole Darden-Ford: Inheriting a Team, Finding Her Voice

Nicole Darden-Ford joined the league under unique circumstances: taking over a roster after the draft and even after Week 1, when the original manager bowed out. That’s like being appointed CISO after an acquisition—suddenly inheriting systems, processes, and decisions you didn’t design.

She’s now 0–2, but she’s already shown strong leadership. She immediately connected with me, the commissioner, and the rest of the league to understand the rules, expectations, and culture. That’s what strong leaders do: assess the environment before making moves.

Nicole’s inherited team actually has strengths: a loaded WR corps with Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, plus suspended aces Rashee Rice and Jordan Addison who could become difference-makers by midseason. And she’s got her favorite NFL player, Jalen Hurts, running the show.

If she can stay competitive through Week 6, she’ll be positioned to flip surplus WR talent into RB upgrades through trades and waiver wire moves. In leadership terms: she’s stabilizing operations now, then building capacity for a strategic pivot later.

Dustin Sachs: Preparation Meets Opportunity

On the other side of the spectrum, Dustin Sachs came into the Phish Bowl with a year to prepare. He was present on draft day, drafted his own roster, and it shows: he’s one of just two managers to start the season 2–0.

That’s the difference between entering a new CISO role with time to plan your stack versus being thrown into the fire. Dustin looks like a contender because he set a foundation aligned with his strategy from Day 1.

Jerich Beason: Strategic Pivots for Championship Goals

For years, Jerich Beason zigged while others zagged—drafting elite QBs like Josh Allen in the first round, betting on their week-to-week dominance to carry his team. It worked in the short term, but it often left his roster thin at scarce positions like RB and WR.

This year, Jerich pivoted. He drafted Patrick Mahomes later, then built out depth across the board. Why the change? His goal shifted. It’s no longer about regular-season fireworks—it’s about winning a championship. That strategic pivot already looks sharp, and his team is built to contend.

For CISOs, this is the equivalent of moving from “point solution heroics” to building a balanced, resilient stack that wins not just the sprint, but the marathon.

Ryan Boulais: Juggernaut Status, Early Momentum

We also have to talk about Ryan Boulais, who wins the Week 2 awards for both Best Team Name—“KPop UR Skibidi Server”—and League Juggernaut. After steamrolling me (Eliot, your humble commissioner) in Week 1, he dropped a league-high 163 points on Jerich in Week 2.

Ryan’s start shows what happens when preparation, execution, and a little luck align. Every leader wants to be in his spot: confident, dominant, and feared. But in fantasy as in security, early momentum doesn’t guarantee long-term success—you have to keep adapting.

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Antonio Mecci: Managing Risk with a Balanced Approach

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[.c-quote-box][.c-quote-wrapper][.c-quote-icon][.c-quote-icon][.c-quote-right-col][.c-quote-text-wrapper][.c-quote-text]"Starting off this fantasy season, I decided to stick with just a couple of proven vets and fill the rest with some promising rookies. It feels a lot like ocming into a new cybersecurity role or some big change. In these scenarios, success starts with understanding the landscape and the real goal -- then building a strategy that combines known strengths with trust in emerging talent. Sometimes those fresh faces bring the perspective and drive that pushes everyone (and, honestly, the whole team) further."[.c-quote-text][.c-quote-text-wrapper][.c-quote-name-wrapper][.c-quote-name] Antonio Mecci, CISO of DSwiss [.c-quote-name][.c-quote-name-wrapper][.c-quote-right-col][.c-quote-wrapper][.c-quote-box]

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Leadership Lessons: Starting a Season vs. Starting a Job

Whether you’re managing a fantasy team or stepping into a new CISO role, the principles overlap:

• Assess the environment. Nicole stepped in midstream and immediately oriented herself to the rules, culture, and opportunities. In security, this means understanding the organization’s crown jewels, threat landscape, and risk appetite before making big moves.
• Preparation pays off. Dustin had time to prepare, built his team his way, and is thriving. Leaders who walk into a new role with a clear plan often get off to fast starts.
• Pivot when the mission changes. Jerich shifted strategy this year because his goal shifted—from regular season dominance to a championship mindset. Security leaders must do the same when business priorities evolve.
• Momentum matters, but resilience wins. Ryan is off to a blazing start, but sustaining success will take smart management and midseason adjustments—the same way cyber programs must evolve to handle new threats.

The Road Ahead

The Phish Bowl is unusually balanced this year, with just two undefeated teams after two weeks. Everyone is in it, and everyone wants to win. For Nicole, it’s about turning an inherited challenge into a long-term opportunity. For Dustin, it’s about proving preparation leads to championships. For Jerich, it’s about seeing if a strategic pivot can finally deliver the title. And for Ryan, it’s about holding onto juggernaut status.

Just like in cybersecurity, the season is long. It’s not the flashy early moves that decide the winner—it’s the leaders who adapt, communicate, and stay resilient all the way to the championship.