Launch your cybersecurity career by finding a mentor | Guest Mike Gentile

Learn how mentors in the cybersecurity community can help launch your career on today’s episode featuring Mike Gentile, the Founder and CEO of CISOSHARE. Mike discusses the CyberForward program, which creates a mentorship and support system for new students of cybersecurity — often those with diverse cultural or economic backgrounds! CyberForward addresses not just skills training, but quality of life issues that might prevent entrance to the security field. If you’re feeling blocked and unsure how to enter the industry, you’ll really want to hear this episode!
0:00​ - Intro
2:24 - Starting a career in cybersecurity
5:39​ - Creating CISOHandbook.com
7:35 - What is CISOSHARE?
9:38​ - What is CyberForward?
11:15​ - Thoughts on the cybersecurity skills gap
17:40​ - Mentoring students through CyberForward
25:13​ - The training value system is broken
29:33 - Creating a network of support
32:44 - Helping the “beaten down” break through
36:52 - What’s next for CyberForward?
39:15 - Advice for getting started in cybersecurity
43:28​ - Outro
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Mike Gentile is the Founder, President and CEO of CISOSHARE, headquartered in San Clemente, CA. He has led the company since inception to become a global leader in security program services and solutions. Initially an experiment, the CISOSHARE culture centers around learning and teaching to make the confusing security discipline understandable.
In 2019, Mike founded CyberForward Academy by CISOSHARE using this learning and teaching culture to address both the cybersecurity resource shortage and the livable wage gap issues felt in many communities. This partner-enabled professional development program identifies and then rapidly develops effective job-ready cybersecurity professionals.
About Infosec
Infosec believes knowledge is power when fighting cybercrime. We help IT and security professionals advance their careers with skills development and certifications while empowering all employees with security awareness and privacy training to stay cyber-safe at work and home. It’s our mission to equip all organizations and individuals with the know-how and confidence to outsmart cybercrime. Learn more at infosecinstitute.com.