Networking and Giving Back: Brayden's Keys to Career Success
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.
Brayden’s journey to success as a Cybersecurity Consultant for Defensive Security Services is a story of passion, persistence, and the power of human connection. From his early days exploring Minecraft mods to navigating diverse industries, Brayden discovered that thriving in the cybersecurity world isn’t just about mastering technology, it’s about building relationships, seeking mentorship, and giving back. In this article, Brayden shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career and the values that continue to guide him, offering a unique perspective on what it truly takes to succeed in the field.
Q: What initially drew you to cybersecurity and how did that lead you to Echelon?
BP: I've always been into computers, starting with Minecraft when I was 8. I got into creating mods and plugins in Minecraft, which sparked my interest in programming. I initially thought I'd go into computer science, but after a few courses, I realized programming wasn't for me.
In high school, my dad's friend, Sean, who worked in cybersecurity at the Air Force, told me about his work. It sounded really interesting, so I decided to major in cybersecurity at Purdue University. I interned at a manufacturing company and a utilities provider, all while building my network on LinkedIn.
I connected with Senior Cybersecurity Manager Paul Matvey at Echelon, and after an internship at Accenture, I realized I preferred the smaller, more collaborative environment Echelon offered. I took an internship here, which ultimately led to a full-time position.
Q: You’ve worked across manufacturing, finance, and now consulting. What's one myth about cybersecurity you wish more people understood or stopped believing?
BP: One myth I wish people would stop believing is that cybersecurity is just a technology problem. It's also a people problem, and in many cases, the people aspect is the bigger issue. The biggest risks don't always come from a lack of tools, but rather from human factors like misused privileges, falling for phishing emails, social engineering, bad password habits, or simply not realizing how big of a risk cybersecurity is.
Across the industries I've worked in, this has been a common theme. Culture, communication, and behavior play a huge role in breaches and other cybersecurity issues. You can invest as much as you want in fancy tech, but it doesn’t matter if people aren’t educated and don’t understand what's at stake. It's not just about the systems; it's about the decisions people make and how they handle those systems.
Q: What's the best career advice you ever got so far?
BP: Networking is everything. It's not just about who you know, but who knows you and what you've done. I’m a big advocate for LinkedIn, and everyone I’ve connected with there has shared similar experiences. They’ve all told me that they didn’t land their positions by just cold applying—it was always through someone knowing them. Whether it’s through LinkedIn, email, or phone calls, opportunities often come from someone reaching out because they remember you. When people know you, they trust you more, and when those opportunities arise, they think, “Hey, I remember Brayden.”
Q: You’re already mentoring others and writing a newsletter. What inspired you to give back early in your career?
BP: I always credit a guy named Ken Ferguson for inspiring me. He’s an IT leadership recruiter and was one of the first people I reached out to early in my networking journey. I asked him for advice on how to break into cybersecurity and land my next internship. At the time, I was 20 years old and still at my manufacturing internship. He agreed to have an hour-long call with me, but we ended up talking for two hours.
He gave me tons of advice on networking, building my brand, posting on LinkedIn, mentoring others, and overcoming imposter syndrome. He told me that I might feel like I'm not worthy, but that’s far from the truth—everyone has unique experiences and perspectives that can help others.
That conversation really motivated me and inspired me to keep giving back. Ever since I met him, I've been posting, trying to connect with others, and mentoring. Launching my newsletter, CareerByte Chronicles, felt like a natural extension of that mission—sharing byte-sized career wisdom, insights, and trends to help others navigate cybersecurity and tech just like Ken helped me.
Q: Are there any specific resources like books, blogs, webinar or communities that have helpful or inspiring in your cyber security journey?
BP: I wouldn’t say there’s just one resource—it’s more of a collection. There are a lot of free resources online that people might overlook because they think they need to pay for premium content, but that’s not true. For example, Let'sDefend.io is a great one for security analyst training. It’s free, and it simulates a SIEM environment where you analyze alerts and try to detect threats on a network. I used that early on.
Another good one is Hack The Box, which is a cybersecurity training platform with hacking labs and penetration testing exercises. Bleeping Computer is another resource I use; it's a cybersecurity IT news publication that posts updates on breaches, incidents, new technology, and other cybersecurity-related topics. It's great for staying current.
And of course, YouTube, I don’t have any one specific channel, but I use it all the time. It’s a great place for free videos on almost anything. If I get stuck on a lab or something I’m working on, I’ll look it up on YouTube. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Q: Outside of work, do you have any hobbies or passions?
BP: Yeah, a little over a year ago, I got a dog named Luna. I love playing with her. We went through a whole training program, so I’m pretty invested in keeping her trained and teaching her new tricks. We also go on walks, so she takes up a lot of my time.
I’m really into weightlifting too, especially working from home. It’s easy to get stagnant, so I try to stay active and get out when I can. Also, I enjoy watching shows and movies with my significant other. We always have to watch something while we eat dinner—usually at least an episode a day.
I also love traveling and trying new coffee places. I've tried almost every coffee shop in my town.
Q: What does being a cybersecurity champion mean to you, and how do you see the role evolving in the face of new cybersecurity challenges?
BP: To me, being a cybersecurity champion means more than just practicing as a security professional. It's about being a mentor, a role model, and giving back to the community. It's about leadership, looking outward rather than inward. It's using your knowledge and experience to motivate others and share what you’ve learned.
At the end of the day, cybersecurity is a team sport. We can’t do it alone; we need to come together to face the challenges of cybersecurity.
As new challenges arise, I think the role will shift. It won’t just be about advocating for security best practices, it will be more about helping others navigate the massive changes happening in cybersecurity, especially with the rise of AI and new emerging threats. Champions will need to become cross-functional communicators, bridging gaps between teams, departments, and even companies.