Join us for a Q&A-style blog featuring Connor Mansfield, a Business Development Representative at Swimlane, as he shares his inaugural experience at RSA Conference 2025. Connor provides a firsthand look into his first time attending the cybersecurity mainstage and some tips for first time attendees.

Q: What was your first reaction stepping onto the RSA show floor for the first time?

This was my first time attending RSA, and my immediate impressions were that it was exciting, chaotic, and a bit intimidating. I knew going in that it was a major conference, but I wasn’t prepared for just how massive it would feel until I experienced it firsthand. It’s difficult to conceptualize what 600+ vendors and 45,000+ attendees actually look like—until you’re surrounded by them. Despite the overwhelming scale, the energy was infectious. You could feel the buzz of innovation and collaboration, with so many brilliant minds gathered together, all working toward the shared goal of improving the cybersecurity landscape.

Q: What were the top questions people asked at the Swimlane booth?

The most popular question we got at the booth revolved around our Agentic AI and what exactly that was. Most folks were quite impressed and intrigued to hear about the level of privacy and application of our Agentic AI can provide. Another popular question was how our low-code solution differed from other competitors’ solutions. Although there are many differences I can point to, the ability to be flexible and perform the capabilities of both no-code and high code solutions seemed to resonate with many. 

Q: What’s one interaction or demo moment that really stood out to you?

The wildest conversation I had at RSA was with an attendee who was deeply concerned about people being “too mean” to their AI. He explained how this could lead to serious consequences, saying that as an industry, we need to show more respect to our AI—more “please” and “thank you”—or else we’re on the fast track to a Skynet-style future (terminator reference). After about 15 minutes of this hot-take, I decided it was time to make a strategic handoff… Sorry (not sorry), Carter, haha.

Q: What was the most exciting thing you learned or saw at RSA?

The most exciting takeaway from RSA for me was the overwhelming interest in Swimlane. Most attendees were already familiar with us, while others were hearing about us for the first time—but across the board, there was a shared fascination with the value we offer. Whether it was SecOps teams, vulnerability management, compliance groups, or other business process owners, everyone seemed to find a use case that resonated with them. It was fascinating to see how our platform’s flexibility and impact hit home with so many folks and translated across such a wide spectrum of needs.

The most exciting thing I saw—outside the conference—had to be the self-driving Waymo cars cruising around San Francisco. I’ve never been so amazed and terrified at the same time. On the last day, our team finally got to ride in one, and the experience was nothing short of incredible. It was also a hot topic of conversation at RSA: “Have you seen all the Waymos?” and “Did you get to ride in one yet?” were questions we heard constantly.

Q: What made Swimlane stand out at this year’s event?

There were several factors that made Swimlane stand out at RSA this year. Our booth design and the looped Agentic AI video caught a lot of eyes, and the Walnut demos—paired with the always-popular Gannett charts—drew in even more attention. But what I believe made the biggest impact was the energy and tenacity of our team. With no surprise, it all started with our Chief Marketing Officer, Tony Thompson, who set the tone by fearlessly engaging with the very first visitor on day one. He quickly sparked that visitor’s interest, and from there, the momentum only grew. The entire team followed his lead, creating a steady stream of meaningful conversations and making our booth one of the most active and engaging spots on the floor.

Q: Any unexpected or funny moments on the floor?

The biggest surprise at RSA was seeing the extreme lengths some companies went to just to drive traffic to their booths—regardless of how unrelated the incentives were to their actual business. Puppies, video games, monster trucks—you name it. I get the need to stand out but some of these tactics seemed a little crazy in my opinion. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone attending RSA for the first time?

The best advice I’d give to someone attending RSA for the first time? Wear comfortable shoes—seriously. The days are long, and you’re on your feet for most of it. Without my running shoes, I think my team would’ve had to carry me out by the end of each day.

Another tip: RSA is a marathon, not a sprint. Over four full days, it’s crucial to pace yourself—hydrate, take breaks when you can, and control your desires to have too much fun post events. There’s no shortage of festivities once the sessions wrap up, but finding the balance between networking fun and staying sharp for the next day is key to making the most of the experience.

Q: Final thoughts — how did this experience shape your perspective on the industry or your role?

Overall, I thought RSA was an incredible experience. It was a privilege to connect with so many vendors and attendees to talk about cybersecurity and where the industry is headed. I had countless fascinating conversations and learned a ton from those interactions—insights that will definitely help guide me as I continue to grow in my cybersecurity career. One of my biggest takeaways is this: while we may all have different opinions on the best solutions, emerging trends, or the future of the industry, we’re united by a common goal—making the cybersecurity landscape safer for everyone.