Strategy isn’t exclusive to executives - it happens at every organizational level, from individual contributors gathering operational insights to senior leaders making departmental decisions.

The convergence of economic downturn, AI adoption, and demographic shifts has created an unprecedented challenge for new graduates entering the job market. Companies using AI to boost productivity of existing workers rather than create new opportunities are inadvertently creating a generational career gap with long-term consequences.

Six years after receiving ‘Getting Naked’ during Slalom onboarding, I finally read it. The three fears that sabotage client loyalty - embarrassment, feeling inferior, losing business - hit hard. Being vulnerable is terrifying, but it’s also where growth happens.

After a decade of accidentally falling into security and building teams across multiple domains, I’ve learned that the most successful security professionals share three crucial soft skills: genuine passion for the work, empathy for the teams they impact, and understanding of business context over absolute security.

2021 was a year of major transitions - from shifting into leadership roles to earning my private pilot’s license to becoming a father again. Despite missing my health goals (again), I discovered the value of taking extended parental leave and dove deep into reading, while navigating significant career and family changes.