Famous with 12 People

Richard Bird has worn many hats in his diverse career: a fishing captain's son, a US Army paratrooper, a construction project manager, a competitive master's level athlete, a gym owner, an award-winning technology executive, a Chief Information Officer, and a Chief Security Officer. Now, he's a globally recognized figure in cybersecurity. After over 20 years in corporate roles, Richard shifted gears to join a late-stage start-up, where his unconventional and engaging speaking style quickly garnered attention. This led to an expanding network of connections across multiple industries and numerous opportunities for public speaking, podcasting, and media appearances.Richard's journey opened his eyes to the world of micro-famous individuals-leaders in their fields, from movie stunt coordinators to ghostwriters, cryptocurrency traders, woodworkers, mathematicians, and even cybersecurity practitioners, each with dedicated followers seeking their knowledge and expertise. Though not a household name, Richard's influence runs deep in his areas of expertise. He has thousands of followers, attracts large audiences to his speaking engagements, and is frequently quoted in major media outlets worldwide. Despite his successes, Richard remains "micro-famous"-a term he uses to describe experts renowned within niche circles but unknown to the general public. His first book, "Famous With 12 People," explores this concept, offering a guide to understanding expertise, micro-famousness, and the art of personal brand development. Drawing from his own experiences, Richard shares insights on storytelling, effective speaking, networking, and social media management-skills that can benefit anyone, professionally or personally. Based in Colorado, Richard is the Chief Security Officer at Traceable AI. When he's not busy traveling or speaking, he enjoys music festivals with his wife, Marie, and keeping up with his six grown children, who live around the globe.