Breaking Barriers: How Alyson Pisarcik Carved Her Own Path in Cybersecurity Consulting 

In line with Echelon’s value of People with Personality, we are excited to continue our Cybersecurity Champions series, where we spotlight monthly the incredible individuals who make up our team. These features highlight the talent, dedication, and unique perspectives of our cybersecurity professionals, showcasing the people behind the work that keeps organizations secure. 

This month, we’re featuring Alyson Pisarcik, Cybersecurity Manager for Risk Advisory and GRC services at Echelon, whose journey into cyber started with a leap of faith and a passion for solving complex problems. From navigating pressure from consulting to taking control of her own career trajectory, Alyson shares how she navigated an industry that’s always evolving and how she’s using her experience to help others break into the field. 

Her story is one of resilience, mentorship, and challenging the status quo in cybersecurity. Let’s dive in. 

Q: What brought you to Echelon? What got you interested in cybersecurity?  

I got into cybersecurity because of my sister. She was in the field, and I followed in her footsteps. I wanted a career that was always evolving, where I wouldn’t be stuck doing the same thing every day. Cybersecurity felt exciting and fast-paced, with new threats and attack vectors emerging constantly. I knew I didn’t want a job that felt repetitive, and cyber gave me the challenge I was looking for. 

Consulting also appealed to me because of the people aspect. I love getting to work with different clients, helping them solve problems, and seeing the real-world impact of my work. When the opportunity at Echelon came up, it was the perfect fit. I could combine my consulting background with my cybersecurity expertise and finally take on a leadership role in a way that felt natural to me. 

Q: You’ve had an impressive career journey through Palo Alto Networks, Accenture, and now Echelon. What’s one unexpected challenge you’ve faced in the cybersecurity field, and how did you overcome it? 

One unexpected challenge I faced was pushing past any bias or preconceived notions a client could have about me. I’ve had moments where clients would question if I was really the one leading a project or making the key decisions, and that added pressure to navigating the corporate world. 

Another challenge was taking ownership of my own career. Early on, I used to  think opportunities would be presented to me and rather than seek out new areas to explore on my own, I figured the leadership at my job would bring me relevant training, job transfer opportunities, and networking events.   I had to shift my mindset and realize that no one is going to build my roadmap for me—I had to be proactive. I started asking myself: What do I want out of my career? What areas excite me? Am I taking the right training? Am I going to the right networking events? 

Over time, I learned that if I didn’t speak up about my goals or desires for growth, no one would hand me those opportunities. I had to be intentional about building my career, which is a lesson I share with others now. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting in this field especially women looking to break into STEM? Are there any specific resources, books, blogs, websites or communities that have been particularly helpful or inspiring in your cybersecurity journey? 

My biggest advice is to push through self-doubt. It’s easy to question if you belong, especially in a male-dominated field, but you do. If you’re here, you have the skills and the potential—own it. Also, don’t put yourself in a box. Cybersecurity is a broad field with so many different areas to explore, so try different things and figure out what excites you.  

Mentorship has played a huge role in my journey, and I try to pay it forward by mentoring other women in cyber. I’ve been involved in programs that help people transition into cyber from the military, as well as women-in-STEM organizations like ISACA. If you’re just starting, I highly recommend getting involved in communities like Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) and ISACA. Surrounding yourself with a strong network makes a huge difference. 

Some of the best cybersecurity content I follow comes from industry reports and podcasts. CrowdStrike has a great podcast that highlights new threats, and Unit 42 (Palo Alto Networks) puts out excellent threat reports. Staying informed is key, but I also emphasize balance—disconnecting from cyber after work hours is important too. 

Q: What do you like to do outside of work? 

I love to travel. Last year, I visited Hawaii, Seattle, France, Monaco, and Italy. I try to see as much of the world as I can and take full advantage of the flexibility that remote work provides.  I live in New York City, so I’m always out exploring, whether it’s seeing a show, a comedy performance, a sports game, or trying a new restaurant. I always joke that I don’t have hobbies, I just like experiencing things.  I also have a dog who pretty much runs my life! She calls the shots when it comes to my schedule, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Q: What does be a Cybersecurity Champion mean to you, and how do you see that role evolving in the face of new cybersecurity challenges? 

To me, being a Cybersecurity Champion is about more than just technical skills—it’s about making cybersecurity approachable for everyone. 

So many people—friends, family, colleagues—think cyber is this niche, overly technical field that only hackers understand. That’s not the case. I believe part of my role as a Cybersecurity Champion is breaking down those walls and making security a conversation that everyone can engage in. For example, my mom used to click on every suspicious link that landed in her inbox. Ten years ago, she wouldn’t have thought twice about it. Now, she’ll message me and ask, “Does this look legit?” That’s progress! If we can make cybersecurity more digestible and easy to understand, we’ll all be in a better place. 

As threats evolve, so must our approach. The future of cybersecurity isn’t just about technology; it’s about education, advocacy, and creating a culture where everyone understands their role in security. That’s what being a Cybersecurity Champion means to me.