Diana is patient. I’m nervous. I arrived from Europe just a few weeks ago and this is my third job interview. My English is not great. I sometime ask to repeat the questions. We talk about my experience, and France.

The office, or “The Lab”, is located in Southport at the Gold Coast. It has an amazing view on the Pacific Ocean. A wall is covered with research patents. About 50 people are working there. Many are wearing a black polo shirt with a red windsurfer logo. Some are barefoot. They are very quiet and absorbed in their monitors.

The job is Software Engineer at the IBM Tivoli Gold Coast Lab, a R&D Lab for IBM Security technology. It is too good, and I think I have no chance of getting it.

I got the job, in 2002. I started by developing adapters for Tivoli Privacy Manager in Java, and it was my introduction to the world of cyber security.

20 years have passed. I have driven my career in different roles, and I have never looked back. I still love cyber security, and the challenges and rewards it provides. I have also learnt a few important things along the way. I’ll highlight three items.

1. Learn. Whether you are in a technical, sales or management role, cyber security is moving fast. Cyber threats and risks evolve continuously and so do the ways to manage them. Keep learning every day.
2. Connect. The cyber security community is very diverse. There is a lot of value in connecting with peers in the industry.
3. Disconnect. The IT industry can be stressful at times, and this is quite true of cyber security. The job can be intense, for example when dealing with an incident. It can also come with some lack of recognition. Watch your mental health. Take time to disconnect.

Thank you Diana. I am looking forward to my next 20 years in cyber security.