AfroTech's Morgan DeBaun Says Cybersecurity Is Millennials' Safest Bet - Yahoo Tech

DeBaun described a near future where AI agents manage finances, trade, and negotiate on behalf of users. She warned that the financial system still relies on legacy code that requires securing.

The founder and CEO of Blavity and AfroTech told the audience that those who understand cybersecurity, risk, governance, and compliance will have jobs for the next 30 to 40 years.

This concept is known as the defense dividend, the premium that accrues to workers who secure the systems AI makes more powerful. While many career guides suggest learning AI tools, DeBaun believes the more durable position belongs to the defenders.

Skills Shortage Grows

Labor data supports DeBaun's argument. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for information security analysts to grow 21% from 2025 to 2035, compared to 3% for all occupations.

Employers sought more than 514,000 cybersecurity workers over a 12-month span tracked by CyberSeek, a 12% jump from the previous year. The 2025 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study of over 16,000 professionals found that 59% reported critical or significant skills needs, with AI topping the list of skills their teams lack.

Pivot Without A Second Degree

DeBaun emphasized that cybersecurity does not require a college degree. She told the Earn Your Leisure podcast that workers can stack certifications to qualify for roles at large companies that pay multiple six figures.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that while a bachelor's degree is typical, some analysts enter with a high school diploma plus training and certifications. For a 35-year-old paying down student loans, this offers a path to pivot rather than restart their career.

DeBaun advised focusing on skills that manage risk inside AI systems, which are gaining value. She suggested skipping a business undergraduate degree because colleges are not keeping pace, and she placed law on her no list because AI is absorbing contract work and pulling average salaries down.

Leverage Existing Knowledge

DeBaun told the podcast audience that roles in risk, governance, and compliance are not only coding jobs. A professional in banking, healthcare administration, legal operations, HR, or project management already understands how their industry handles sensitive data and regulation.

She advised taking an entry-level job first to learn on other people's dime. Understanding how large organizations operate pays off, even for those who eventually leave to build their own companies.

She suggested that career changers make an internal move into a security, risk, or audit team before an external leap. For those starting now, the work is expected to last decades.