Insider Perspectives: The Pathways of 5 Cybersecurity Pioneers in their Rise to Prominence

In the nascent field of cybersecurity, which emerged in the 1970s, we find a diverse array of individuals who have made significant contributions. These cybersecurity professionals, driven by various paths and backgrounds, are meeting the increasing demand for their skills.

Om Moolchandani, the CTO and CISO at Accurics, began his journey in cybersecurity after a manager recognised his hacking skills and encouraged him to pursue formal training. Masha Sedova, co-founder and president of Elevate Security, started her career as a cyber analyst for Northrup Grumman, where she specialised in Russian cyber threat accounts and honed her fluency in Russian.

Ted Wagner, VP and CISO at SAP National Security Services (NS2), joined a reserve unit focusing on information assurance in early 2000. In 2003, he was accepted into the Army Computer Emergency Response Team, where he spent nine years monitoring one of the largest computer networks in the world while continually threatened by nation states attempting to break in. His service culminated in a deployment to South West Asia in 2005 to secure the Army network.

Brent Johnson, CISO at Bluefin, started his career in technology and found his passion in cybersecurity through various roles. Ferruh Mavituna, founder and CEO of Invicti Security, began as a penetration tester but realised the importance of helping customers secure their systems rather than merely pointing out vulnerabilities.

Interestingly, a majority (58%) of people seeking jobs in cybersecurity are looking to transition out of IT, while 42% are new to cybersecurity from an unrelated field, according to an (ISC)2 survey. This trend is reflected in the personal stories of our cybersecurity pioneers.

Masha Sedova, born in the Soviet Union, came to the U.S. in 1990. Her family consisted of programmers and computer scientists, and she was taught how to program by her father in the sixth grade. After studying liberal arts for two years, including philosophy and psychology, she switched to the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program run by the U.S. government.

The demand for cybersecurity roles is booming, with a projected 31% growth from 2019 to 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As the digital world continues to expand, so too does the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals like Om, Masha, Ted, Brent, and Ferruh. Their stories serve as an inspiration for those considering a career in cybersecurity, demonstrating that with the right skills and determination, anyone can make a significant impact in this ever-evolving field.

Insider Perspectives: The Pathways of 5 Cybersecurity Pioneers in their Rise to Prominence