Part 4 – Cybersecurity journeys: What I’d tell my younger self - Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Eleven AWS security professionals reveal the hard-won lessons they wish they'd known earlier in their careers, emphasizing discomfort, trust, and diverse backgrounds as keys to growth.
In the final installment of a four-part series, Amazon Web Services (AWS) security professionals share the wisdom they've gained throughout their careers. These experts reveal what they would tell their younger selves, emphasizing that growth often comes from discomfort and that diverse backgrounds can be significant advantages in cybersecurity.
The series follows 11 security professionals through their unconventional paths into the field, highlighting how their previous experiences shaped their current expertise. Their insights address common challenges like imposter syndrome, career stagnation, and the evolving nature of security work in the age of artificial intelligence.
Seek Discomfort
Justin Mills, a security engineer with over a decade of experience, advises newcomers to "seek discomfort." His own career accelerated after he committed to taking on difficult challenges, earning two promotions in approximately two years. Mills emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with people who push growth rather than provide comfort.
Surround yourself with people who push you, not people who make you comfortable. Ask the right questions. Do the hard things. That's the whole playbook.
Mills credits his career progression to both supportive relationships and earned trust. His manager gave him autonomy to solve problems independently, which taught him to ask better questions rather than relying on existing knowledge. He also learned that leadership eventually requires delegation and trusting team members.
Hardware Security
Tyler Gabor's journey from fixing cell phones to sanitizing server hardware demonstrates how practical experience can lead to specialized security expertise. His work involves physically destroying data through methods like degaussing or reducing hardware to "a pile of dust," ensuring sensitive information can never be recovered.
It doesn't matter if the front door is locked if all the windows are open.
Gabor's interest in security was sparked by high-profile data breaches during his student years. He compares his job to fixing Pandora's box while making sure Pandora doesn't get outside of it. His background in telecommunications gave him unique perspective on protecting people's information, and he advises newcomers to simply ask for help when needed.
Diverse Backgrounds
Zlata Pavlova, who transitioned from political science to cybersecurity, addresses imposter syndrome directly. She notes that non-technical professionals often excel at explaining complex concepts because they remember what it's like to need explanations. Pavlova emphasizes that sharing knowledge, even when you think others already know it, can be valuable.
Don't feel embarrassed sharing something you think people already know. They might not, and you might help somebody who's just starting out.
The series reveals how professionals' previous careers became advantages rather than detours. Pavlova's political science background helps her communicate effectively, while Gabor's telecommunications experience gave him unique insight into data protection. These diverse perspectives contribute to their effectiveness in security roles.
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