Tolulope Michael’s Post

2 weeks in at ESPROFILER & I’m trying my best to channel my inner sponge. 🧽 🖥️ Starting a new role in a new industry can be daunting, but here are some tips that have helped me massively over the last couple of weeks: 🧠 EMBRACE THE BEGINNER MINDSET Going into a new industry can feel overwhelming, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t exciting! Embrace every chance you get to ask questions, observe & actively learn from your new colleagues. 🧽 BECOME A KNOWLEDGE SPONGE Actively seek out opportunities to soak up information. Jump into meetings, get involved with client calls & shadow your colleagues. Also, don’t be too shy to take advantage of training resources! 🤝🏼 BUILD RELATIONSHIPS & FIND A MENTOR Network with others in the industry & learn from their experiences. Seek out mentors within your team who are willing to answer your questions and guide you through the ropes. That’s it from me, let’s go Week 3! ✨ #marketing #newrole #cybersecurity #technology

Never be afraid to start over again It’s easier said than done, right? Quick story: I met someone I've looked up to from a distance this weekend. Believe me, to say I was excited to be in the same room with them would be an understatement. We got introduced and started chatting right away. As we conversed, we touched on the idea of starting fresh. They shared how they've had to begin anew several times, changing careers and facing new challenges. This was news to me, of course. And my interest was piqued because, as far as I knew, this person was one of the best brains in their field. However, as our conversations continued, what stuck with me was their attitude - they saw each change not as a setback but as a chance to grow and learn something new. It made me think about how we often fear starting over because it feels like admitting defeat. But really, it's a brave step towards discovering new parts of ourselves and our abilities. That conversation reminded me that life is full of opportunities for those willing to take the leap. Sometimes, taking the leap starts with a reset button. _______________ What are your thoughts? Have you ever taken a leap of faith and started over? Would definitely love to hear about your experience Ready to make the switch from any career path, gain in-demand skills and start a multiple-six-figure career in cybersecurity in 90 days? Comment“START” to get my free webinar. #CareerChange #PersonalGrowth #NewBeginnings #90days #CareerTransition #ProfessionalDevelopment #SuccessMindset #LifeLessons #Resilience #EmbraceChange #CareerAdvice #Tolulopemichael #multiplesixfigurecoach #Excelmindcyber #Cybersecurity

This could be the week when everything changes for you I can tell you this for a fact because it happened to me. My life took a turn for the best on a particular Monday just like this one. I had gone to church the previous day, weary and totally tired of the trajectory my life was on. I barely made it to service that day because I had spent the weekend working multiple jobs to meet up with rent. But thank God I went. I have often spoken about the church acquaintance who introduced me to Cybersecurity and encouraged me to pursue a career in it. That conversation happened this particular Sunday. However, not many people are aware of what I did the next day; a Monday. As I prepared to go start my work for the day as an Uber driver that day, I promised myself three things: 🔵I will transition to a career in cybersecurity in 4 months. 🔵I will put in the work required to get the skill I need. 🔵I will not take “NO” for an answer; even from myself. Then I got to work! The rest they say is history. In hindsight, I am convinced that asides God’s grace, the understanding of the extent of my say in what becomes of my life and career turned the tides in my favor. It dawned on me that I could either allow life to happen to me or take an active part in it. So, as we start a new week, I encourage you to step up and take charge. Be determined that this week will yield it’s best for you, and put in the work. Ask for favors, knock on doors; including the ones that may have been previously shut in your face. Just make sure that this week, you are not passive about the change you want to see. Cheers to a very productive week ahead. __________________ Ready to gain in-demand skill and transition into a career in cybersecurity? Comment ‘READY” to get started. #MondayMotivation #CareerChange #Tolulopemichael #Excelmindcyber #Cybersecurity #PersonalDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #Productivity #careerdevelopment #multiplesixfigurecoach #NewBeginnings #SuccessStory

Something happened recently that has convinced me that a setback might just be the perfect propelling force some of us need. Earlier this week, we had a wonderful #testimonial from one of our students who got a job offer in just 39 days of joining our #trainingprogram. She came just like many of our other students: with a mixture of hope and hesitancy. And you can't blame them. A lot of them have invested heavily in trainings trying to break into #cybersecurity for years without making any significant progress. Our #training takes 90 days and we work with our students to gain in-demand skills, prepare them for interviews, revamp their resume, build their confidence and try to restore their faith in themselves. Truth being told drawn-out expectations can do a number on you and this lady was no exception from this rule. In the case of this particular students, her anxiety level was really off the charts, but we did everything we needed to do to get her ready for her interview. Long story short, she was offered a #job in 39 days of her joining our 90 days training. I said all that to say this; your #success story may have taken a while but NEVER WRITE YOURSELF OFF. You might have experienced a setback in the trajectory you planned for your #career, but all is not lost. You can get back on track and achieve your dream #career still. If you need help starting your own multiple six-figure career in #cybersecurity, join our 90 days training program. We specialize in helping people write their own #success stories. #Cybersecurity #DigitalTransformation #InfoSec #Leadership #Inspiration #TechLeadership #AIinTech #CyberAware #Resilience #EmergingTech #PrivacyMatters #womenintech

𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 ✨ Thank you, Alexander Hagenah, for your kind words and unwavering support. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn within our team. Your insightful leadership and keen vision for assembling the team have fostered an environment of growth and collaboration 🧠🐘. I must admit, I initially questioned the legitimacy of encountering the vulnerability accidentally, but Thomas F. rightly pointed out how it serves as a prime example of uncovering a security flaw without intent. Your reassurance during my moments of doubt means a lot to me ⚔️🛡️. I'm deeply grateful to Lukas Reiter for being an exceptional teammate and for his valuable guidance since I joined the team 🧗🐱💻. And to Jorge Escabias, your mentorship has been pivotal in my development. The foundation you provided during every initial step has been instrumental, and I couldn't have asked for a better mentor 🦑. Let's continue to inspire and support each other as we navigate the dynamic world of offensive security 💻🚀🔍. #offensivesecurity #ethicalhacking #teamwork #mentorship

So you want to be promoted… why? It’s time for a promotion. I’m not talking about time in grade, a lateral transfer, or adding “Senior” to my title and continuing business as usual. I’ve realized I’m at the point where if I want to continue growing, I need to expand my area of responsibility and impact. However, in order to get where I want to go, I need to find my “Why” behind this desire for promotion. Soft Side of Cyber recommends going through these mental gymnastics before embarking on a quest for promotion: 👉🏽 Understand your motivations 👉🏽 Explore alternative routes to your goal 👉🏽 Find what fills your cup I acknowledge that positioning myself for promotion is more than doing my job well. I’ll have to make my aspirations known and demonstrate potential to add value at a higher level. Here are some promotion Do’s and Don’ts: Do: Express your aspirations, expand your skill set, and leverage your network Don’t: Be a lone wolf, neglect soft skills, or be complacent Getting promoted into both technical or managerial roles in cybersecurity requires a combination of multiple skillsets and techniques. But hey, every step forward is a step in the right direction! Let’s go 🚀

🚀 Don’t wait for the opportunity—create it. 🚀 In cybersecurity, opportunities don’t always come knocking. Sometimes, you have to grab a hammer and build the door yourself. 🔨 Whether it’s mastering a new skill, launching a side project, or finding innovative ways to solve security challenges, the possibilities in this field are endless—but they often require us to take that first step. The truth is, the cybersecurity landscape—and life in general moves fast, and waiting around for the perfect opportunity might mean you get left behind. The most successful professionals in this space aren’t just reacting to trends—they’re shaping them. Whether you’re developing a new solution, forging connections, or volunteering for that challenging project, the initiative is the name of the game. So, how have you carved your path in cybersecurity? Have you ever created an opportunity where none seemed to exist? Ask yourself: ❓ What did I do this week to better equip myself for my role? ❓ How did I improve to make me a better fit for that dream role? ❓ How did I show those around me that I can be a team player? ❓ How did I prove that I am an asset to any team? ❓ What can I do to build on the successes of this week? ❓ What did not go so well that I can improve upon? Reading and hearing stories of innovation, resilience, success, and stepping out of your comfort zone is always refreshing and motivating. 💪 That is why I love LinkedIn. 💙 We can all learn from each other’s journeys and inspire one another to push boundaries. So, please share one (or more!) success you had this week. You might motivate someone else. 👍🏾 🤘🏾 #CreateOpportunities #CyberCareer #InnovationInAction #Cybersecurity #CareerGrowth #TakeTheLead

Hat tip to the folks over at TechTarget who've published a piece I wrote on what #softskills I think are imperative for #cybersecurity professionals at multiple stages of their #careers. I'll link it in the Comments to satisfy the LI algo. 🙄 I mention in this piece the importance of self-advocacy; many of you may believe that your actions and your best work will speak for you. Sadly, that's not necessarily the case and if you're not able to find a way to embrace keeping track and drawing attention to your legitimate successes, you will continue to watch others find the opportunities you want. You're not alone. I am absolutely terrible at self-advocacy. Recently, when crafting a response for a CFP, I was asked to pull together a list of the appearances, published content, and speaking engagements I've made this year. I had to create that list and was genuinely surprised when I had completed it. I wasn't sure if that list belonged on my resume or on my next performance review. SPOILER: for *all of us*, the answer is BOTH. What soft skills did I miss out on? Any I wrote about that you disagree with? Let me have it.

I Made a Bold Choice in My Career: (and you could do the same) I Chose Values Over Everything. What guided this decision? My core beliefs. What I avoided that others might have expected: - I don't chase every trend. - I don't prioritize profits over principles. - I don't overlook the human element in cybersecurity. - I don't work in isolation; I believe in collaboration. What I focused on instead: - Continuous learning to stay ahead of threats. - Building resilience to bounce back stronger from every challenge. - Maintaining responsibility for my actions and their impact on clients. - Harnessing the power of teamwork to achieve collective goals. The moral of the story: Choosing what truly matters can redefine your professional life. It leads to a career that not only defends against cyber threats but also builds lasting trust. Ask yourself: Are you following the crowd, or are you defining your path based on your values? #values #professionallife #professionalgrowth #career Catharsis.net.au

- How can I consistently excel during performance reviews and maintain favourable relations with my manager? - How can I highlight my strengths effectively at work, despite some of my perceived shortcomings/weaknesses in specific domains when compared to standout colleagues ? - What are the strategies for navigating a challenging relationship with a ‘difficult’ manager? - How do I know when and how to initiate career discussions with my manager? . . . Do these questions resonate with you and you would like to know more especially at this peculiar time of the year ? Then, register for Ladder Tech Career Webinar 2.0 for free holding this Saturday, January 27th 2023. https://lnkd.in/eQyu55Gx // Please note that registration is not required if you already registered for the previous webinar ‘Excelling at Tech Interviews’ #techcareers #mentorship #careerguidance #ladderTech #techjobs #softwarequalityassurance #devops #backendEngineering #frontendengineering #productdesign #cybersecurity #cyber #informationsecurity #tech #womenincyber #menincyber #womenintech #softwareengineering #mentorshipprogram #techOpportunities #techMentorship #laddertechmentorship