- Describe five businesses or non-profits that have been created in my field.
Since there have been many businesses that have been created in the cyber field in the last decade, I tried to focus my search on non-profits only. The five non-profits that I learned about were the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), CyberPeace institute, and Internet Security Research Group (ISRG). These non-profits all share a common mission to improve cybersecurity and online safety. They all place a strong emphasis on education and aim to raise awareness and improve understanding of cyber issues. They all also contribute to the development of cyber resources such as tools, guides, and best practices, and publish them for free.
2. What is your overall perspective on the entrepreneurship experience?
Navigating the world of entrepreneurship was somewhat of a rollercoaster. From what I have seen, it’s a space that pushes you to stay on your toes, be inventive, and roll with the punches. I also felt as though I was keeping up with a never-ending learning curve. There were times that I felt really positive about what my team and I were putting together; however, I felt like I was facing a lot of unknowns and sometimes out of my depth. While I can’t say it’s something I would enjoy doing in the future, I definitely recognize the value of the skills that were taught. I’ve also gained even more appreciation for the entrepreneurs of the world.
3. How did the entrepreneurship prepare or not prepare you to be a competitive candidate for vacant positions?
Diving into entrepreneurship did give me a crash course in thinking on my feet and tackling problems head-on. Creating a start-up with a group of strangers was like a trial by fire for leadership and teamwork skills, which I guess does count for something when you’re eyeing any job out there. It pushed me to be flexible and to improvise, which is a plus in the cyber job marker. I think that what I could apply to my career the most from this course is the information I learned about pitches and how to sell an idea. I think that information could also be applied in an interview type setting when you are trying to essentially sell yourself.
4. What suggestions do you have to improve the experience?
It’s hard to say how I would improve the experience since I am in an entirely online course. Having to do a group project with others that are also enrolled in the course was challenging for me because I knew we weren’t going to be able to meet in person. If I absolutely have to work in a group that is my ideal form of collaboration, so that definitely made things more difficult. To improve the experience of the course I would have liked maybe live Q&A session or webinars that could answer more of my questions. Also, hosting online pitch sessions or crowdfunding platforms that mimic real-world scenarios might be fun.
5. What’s next for you?
The next significant milestone for me is the commencement of my Cybersecurity MS this January. This academic pursuit is not only about obtaining a higher qualification, but also a way to enhance my career and ideally position myself for promotional opportunities within my current company. The entrepreneurial skills I’ve learned are truly important and I intend to leverage them in both school and work moving forward. I also plan on continuing to network, as I’ve made many connections in unpredictable places that have helped me in my journey thus far.