Why the New Baseline Is Domain Expertise Plus Product Building
A conversation with Dustin Lehr, AppSec Advocate @ Security Journey, Co-Founder @ Katilyst
In this episode, I sit down with Dustin Lehr, AppSec Advocate @ Security Journey and Co-founder of Katilyst, to talk about why domain expertise alone is no longer the baseline for knowledge workers. We explore how vibe coding is changing what it means to be a builder, why future enterprises will increasingly value product-building skills alongside domain knowledge, and how knowledge workers can use AI to turn their expertise into real products, prototypes, and experiments. Dustin shares insights from his background in software engineering and cybersecurity to explain how building, not just knowing, is becoming essential for staying relevant and competitive.
Key Topics Covered
- Why domain expertise alone is no longer the baseline for knowledge workers
- How vibe coding enables domain experts to become product builders
- The growing expectation for product-building skills in future enterprises
- Turning expertise into real products, prototypes, and experiments using AI
- What it means to stay relevant and competitive as a knowledge worker
Resources to Check Out
About the Guest
Dustin Lehr, AppSec Advocate @ Security Journey, Co-Founder @ Katilyst
Dustin is an AppSec Advocate at Security Journey, co-founder of Katilyst, and a cybersecurity thought leader and consultant. He helps organizations build developer-centric security cultures through effective security champion programs, training, and behavior-based enablement. A frequent speaker and writer, Dustin focuses on building secure habits through influence, negotiation, and motivation. He is also the author of the Security Champion Program Success Guide and co-leads The League of Cyber Defense Champions community.
About the Host
Marcelo Lewin, Founder @ iBuildWith.ai
Marcelo is the founder of iBuildWith.ai and a Principal Content Architect and Builder at Cigna. He has over 30 years of experience in the tech industry. Having lived through the computer, internet, and mobile revolutions, he is now excited and focused on navigating the AI revolution by helping non-developers build real applications using AI. He founded several startups and held roles at various companies including Toyota, NBC, J.F. Shea, and Walt Disney Imagineering.