1.     Describe five businesses or non-profits that have been created in my field.

One non-profit organization in the field of cybersecurity is one that I had the honor of interning at during the summer of 2022. The MITRE Corporation provided cybersecurity solutions across the country developing solutions for problems with the mission of creating a safer world. The second business would be the SANS Institute which conducts research in cybersecurity. The SANS Institute provides a range of services that include penetration testing, certification, and incident response. The third business would be the Center for Internet Security or CIS. A nonprofit organization that offers a variety of services for cybersecurity, and acts as a trusted resource for digital threats. The fourth business is the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium or ISC2. This non-profit organization provides certifications for cybersecurity professionals and is recognized as a trusted source for certifications across all industries. The last business I will mention is Norton AntiVirus. This business is known for developing software to combat malware and viruses for consumers. It was a popular choice for consumers throughout the 2000s and one I remember growing up with as a teen.

2.     What is your overall perspective on the entrepreneurship experience?

The entrepreneurship experience is more complicated than I originally thought. I learned that an entrepreneur must be adaptable and open to learning the different areas necessary to start a business. It provided me with a new respect for entrepreneurs and an understanding of how difficult it is to initially start a business. Personally, entrepreneurship does not appeal to me simply because of the financial risks associated with it. Having to support a family, the appeal to take financial risk and uncertainty is off-putting personally. However, I fully support those with entrepreneurship aspirations and respect them for taking such a great risk.

3.     How did the entrepreneurship prepare or not prepare you to be a competitive candidate for vacant positions?

I feel that the entrepreneurship experience helped me to be a competitive candidate by giving me greater insight into the industry. I now have a better understanding of how the industry works behind the scenes. From the legal requirements involved in running a business to effective budgeting to optimize profits. I learned that it is not always in the best interest of a company to waste resources on unnecessary security measures. I have also refined my critical thinking skill in solving problems. It allowed me to take on different perspectives to develop creative solutions. Not only has this experience helped me in my professional life, but personal as well.

4.     What suggestions do you have to improve the experience?

My suggestion to improve the class would be to cut back on the amount of work. The workload wouldn’t be an issue during a full 16-week term; however, it was a lot of information to put into only 6 weeks. I would suggest allowing students to choose between a presentation or an academic paper, rather than assigning both. Or even shortening the length requirements for both projects. Other than that, this was a great course. The group I was assigned to was amazing, with everyone providing their unique insight and making the course enjoyable. Another suggestion would be for more clarity on how to format assignments. Our team was initially confusion about whether the paper was double space or not. Along with confusion concerning the elevator pitch and if it was separate from the presentation video.

5.     What’s next for you?

As of writing this, I am currently attending my final semester at Old Dominion University. The next steps for me include seeking employment and saving enough money to take my certification. I eventually would like to move out of the state, so I’ve been seeking employment opportunities across the country. However, I understand that I am still at the entry level and don’t want to limit my options, so location is not a priority for me starting. My long-term goals consist of traveling and working with the federal government. The cybersecurity industry has a promising outlook, and I am excited to start my professional career within the next few months.