Ep 15 - How To Become A Cybersecurity Specialist With Kenneth Ellington

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we chat with Kenneth Ellington, a driven cybersecurity professional dedicated to nurturing new talent. He went from the deli counter to Senior Cybersecurity Consultant at a Big 4 firm within just 3 years. With expertise in SIEM, SOAR, and endpoint security, he aims to inspire students through training on security solutions and real-world threat scenarios. A Florida native now based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Kenneth formerly taught cyber infrastructure part-time at the University of Houston. He volunteers with Blacks in Cybersecurity (BIC) and trains in boxing and kickboxing, approaching all endeavors with relentless dedication. Tune in as Kenneth shares his rapid growth in cybersecurity consulting, the keys to accelerating your career, and advice for becoming a leader in your role. Packed with actionable tips and unfiltered wisdom, this episode provides a masterclass in leveling up in #cybersecurity! CONNECT WITH ME Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH KENNETH LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-ellington CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:55 - Why Tech? 4:14 - Manifesting Career Goals 5:35 - Learning Cybersecurity Skills 7:05 - Choosing Cybersecurity 11:50 - Hands-on Learning and Transferable Skills 14:15 - Networking 17:12 - Top 3 Skills 19:54 - Salary Progression 21:13 - Foundational Cybersecurity Certs 22:47 - Advice for Newbies 26:20 - Beware! Unrealistic Expectations 31:15 - Importance of a College Degree 32:42 - Exciting areas in Cybersecurity 35:48 - Cybersecurity Roles 40:17 - Teaching and Training Program 47:10 - Gaining Experience 52:37 - Biggest Mistake 54:25 - Explaining Tech to Non-technical Stakeholders 55:15 - Networking as an Introvert 57:50 - Mentorship 1:01:35 - Final Words 1:02:17 - Conclusion