The Road to Cyber
Alumni Stories from the Accelerated Cybersecurity Training Program
Cybersecurity is one of the most complex and pressing global issues of our time, and to tackle such a multifaceted problem, we need a diversity of perspectives. The Accelerated Cybersecurity Training Program empowers people from diverse backgrounds to launch new careers in cybersecurity.
Our alumni are united by a passionate interest in and high aptitude for cybersecurity. These qualities can come from many life experiences. We’d like to share with you stories of some of our recent alumni, and the paths they took that led them to their new, rewarding cybersecurity careers.
Marilena Danelon began her career in Risk Management at a professional services firm before joining the ACTP’s October 2020 Women in Cyber cohort. “I’m a lifelong learner, I love problem-solving, and I’m motivated by making an impact in my work and my community. I’m also energized when I have the opportunity to work with different technologies. Cybersecurity hit all those boxes for me and it was clear to me to make the switch.” Now she works full-time in the international cyber sector and brings all her Risk Management experience to a whole new career. “When I started on this path, I was very excited to learn that risk management plays such an important role in security!” Marilena also volunteers in the Canadian cybersecurity community through her work with DEFCON Toronto.
“I am a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Information Technology Auditor who has worked in government, healthcare and consulting industries, done full time as well as independent consulting work and have experience as an IT/Financial auditor and Internal controls specialist,” says Anita Ali, a graduate of the ACTP’s Women in Cyber stream. She’s had a dynamic and diverse career, and it has equipped her with a range of skills and experiences to bring to her new cybersecurity role at Grant Thornton LLP Canada.
“In my previous role, I worked as a Regulatory Compliance Auditor,” she says. “Audit requires skills like attention to detail, influence, communication and report writing. All this is helping me in my current role as senior cybersecurity associate.” Her real-world experience was boosted by the training she received at the ACTP. “This program has given me the credibility, skills and confidence to start a career in cyber.”
Nariman Hashemi began his career in software development before becoming a cybersecurity analyst. “It’s a really rewarding career no matter what subsection of cybersecurity you work in,” he says. “For me, it’s the most rewarding when I’m able to use tools to derive meaning from heaps of network traffic information to identify potential attacks.”
He developed his skills in the ACTP, graduating in the May 2021 RBC New Careers in Cyber cohort. He looks back on the program as personally and professionally transformative. “While the education and training are top tier, the program also teaches skills that allow professionals to be current and competitive in an industry that is constantly changing.” He also still uses the knowledge he built in his previous career to succeed in his new one. “I apply a lot of my scripting/programming skills in different areas at my job. This includes automation of manual tasks to free up time and allow our team to focus on critical tasks and derive data from various platforms in order to facilitate better decision making.”
“Cybersecurity is constantly evolving, nearly impossible to predict, and always presents an interesting challenge.” In short, this is why Junior Williams decided to make it his career.
Junior is a graduate of the RBC New Careers in Cybersecurity stream. “With over two million vacant cybersecurity jobs worldwide, the ACTP provides a clear-cut path to a career in cybersecurity,” he says. “The training is comprehensive and practical. The SANS Instructors are some of the best in the business.” Previously in his career, he gained diverse experience in systems and network administration, software development, special investigations, sales, and account management. Now he’s bringing that range of experience to a cybersecurity career. “The future of warfare is cyber warfare. I want to make the world a safer place.”
“I always wanted to be a superhero, not in the movies but in real life.” That’s what Bashir Hassan (Rogers New Canadians in Cyber) said when asked why he came to cybersecurity. Formerly employed in the finance industry, Bashir spent hours mastering reconciliation and budgeting, building the skills and temperament that would be necessary to fight cybercrime. “The ability to be patient and watch out for anomalies. In auditing, you double and triple check to make sure all the confidential information is accurate, unaltered and available for use when required. The same principle applies to cybersecurity.”
Today, Bashir is a SOC Analyst at Open Systems and is living his dream of being a new kind of superhero. “With cybercrime on the rise and digital transformation among all industries, I can happily be on my desk working from home, fighting cybercrime, protecting digital assets and defending against cyber threats from adversaries.”
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The ACTP is a seven-month, intensive cybersecurity training and certification program designed to give promising learners the skills they need to launch careers in the cybersecurity sector. Over the course of the Program, students will earn three GIAC certifications (GFACT, GSEC, and GCIH), which are recognized worldwide as providing the highest and most rigorous assurance of cybersecurity knowledge and skills. Learn how you can apply here.
Our ACTP alumni have a broad variety of personal and professional experiences that provide them with unique perspectives on cybersecurity threats. Learn how you can hire our alumni here.
