I recently went one-on-one with Kyle Hanslovan, founder and CEO of Huntress.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Kyle: For those who don’t know, I grew up on the poorer side of the tracks. That experience gave me a relentless drive to work for something better. It's also why I’m so passionate about serving small businesses—I've lived the underdog story. I’m here to empower fellow underdogs who are often overlooked or completely discounted by the system.

As for pivotal experiences, I learned a ton from my time in the military and NSA. As a Technical Sergeant, I had to speak some uncomfortable truths to powerful people to enact security measures that protected millions of Americans. I had to know my stuff, trust myself, and rely on my team. All of this directly impacts how Huntress operates today.

Adam: How did you come up with your business idea and know it was worth pursuing? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with and test business ideas?

Kyle: When I transitioned from the military to the commercial cybersecurity market, there was plenty of opportunity to make a quick buck protecting big business. But doing what everyone else was doing? No thanks. I saw who really needed my skills—the smaller entrepreneurs who employ much of the workforce but can’t afford full-scale monitoring and remediation services. There was interest and a need for our help. We just had to streamline our approach to serve the middle market affordably.

To come up with the next great business idea, look for market gaps where nobody else is looking. Discover who might need your specific skill set and figure out how to creatively package your services for that demographic. A successful business solves pressing problems, so find those problems and be brave enough to help.

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?

Kyle: My main goal has always been to keep operations lean. I don’t want twenty hands in the pot telling me how to approach every decision. I want to see a problem and act on it quickly. That’s the only way to stay ahead of today’s hackers. I kept the business small, building a tight team of 300 who share my vision for creative innovation and market leadership. Together, we’re defining this new field and steering where the SMB cybersecurity movement will go next.

I’m constantly thinking 20 steps ahead. When we started, I was already building a strong list of industry partners and seeking funding sources who would trust us to do what we do best without heavy oversight. You have to stay nimble to stay ahead of hackers.

Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?

Kyle: Create a great product that solves people’s problems. Listen to customer feedback. Build solid relationships with industry partners and thought leaders. I never aimed to just sell a product—I wanted to start a movement that changed the cybersecurity market. You can’t do that alone. You need the best minds around you to strengthen your voice and sharpen your approach.

Adam: What are the most important trends in technology that leaders should be aware of and understand? What should they understand about them?

Kyle: AI is changing everything at light speed, including how hackers target private data. No single company can cover all the vulnerable ground left by this new technology. That’s why HUNTRESS is bolstering our R&D and acquiring new frameworks. We’re moving into Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Posture Management (SPM) to help our partners and customers strengthen their endpoints, identities, and SaaS applications.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Kyle: As a leader, the best thing I can do is make sure my team and partners are united on our mission. It’s my job to ask the tough questions to keep us on task toward our true North and avoid getting sidetracked, even by profitable opportunities that don’t align with our goals. Our aim is staying ahead of the game and advancing this field through relentless innovation. If you want to be a great leader, stay crystal clear on your destination.

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?

Kyle: We’ve built our company on what works best for our team. If I want everyone to do their best work, I’m committed to supporting an environment where that can happen. For us, that means working remotely. We also aim to hire the best and pay competitively for that honor. As a leader, it’s my role to model and encourage the kind of candor that keeps us sharp. Sometimes that means giving or receiving constructive criticism.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?

Kyle: You only live once, so make it worthwhile. Solve the problems nobody else is trying to solve. Think beyond today. There’s a whole generation coming after us, facing enormous odds. How can we create a better situation for them? Use your resources and success to amplify the impact of others. There are so many creative voices out there seeking to do good—they just need help expanding their platform.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Kyle: Maybe it doesn’t count as “advice,” but much of my progress has been fueled by people telling me I can’t. My inner renegade will set out to prove just about anything possible against those two words.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Kyle: Not much else to add, Adam. Just remember, the key to success is not just about having a great idea but also about being relentless in the pursuit of it. Stay hungry, stay humble, and never stop pushing the boundaries.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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