4 minute read
to cybersecurity
LIBERTY MUDZAMBA
MY JOURNEY: FROM ACCOUNTANCY TO CYBERSECURITY
Liberty Mudzamba is a senior consultant in cybersecurity at EY. One aspect of his role represents the achievement of a long-held goal, the other does not.
“I always wanted to work for one of the Big Four,” he says. However, cybersecurity was not on his radar initially: he gained a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Curtin University and then worked in accounting before landing a role as a security analyst with a not-for-profit organisation. This was followed by various other roles before he joined EY in 2019, after gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Cyber Security from a reputable university in Western Australia, where he faced considerable challenges as one of few students without a technical background.
“The course was delivered in technical jargon, and this required me to study twice as hard to stay on top of my grades,” he says. “I doubted my ability to survive in this industry several times, but I remained focused on the bigger picture, to help simplify the cybersecurity technical language into simple, consumable language by non-technical decision makers.”
Today, he works with EY’s client organisations undertaking cybersecurity maturity assessments, assurance, transformation programs and crisis simulations to understand their business needs and ensure solutions meet the requirements from a security, business and technical perspective.
In this role, he says problem solving, communication skills, collaboration/teaming skills and stakeholder management are of paramount importance.
CURIOSITY AND CONTINUOUS LEARNING
It is a long way from his early roles in accountancy, but he says those roles helped him develop these skills. “These were some of the transferrable skills and knowledge I found to be relevant in cybersecurity from my early roles,” and taught him some valuable lessons. “In hindsight, I realise that my initial fear of not transitioning into cybersecurity because I wasn’t techy enough were exaggerated. I am glad I managed to fight the imposter syndrome and step out of my comfort zone. I also redirected my fear towards growth, reading books and watching as many podcasts as I could to accelerate my learning. The process imparted an important lesson: that we all can restart our careers as long as we carry enough drive and curiosity.”
And Mudzamba has certainly learnt continuously. In addition to his Postgraduate Diploma in Cyber
Security, he is also an ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) as well as a Microsoft Certified Security Operations Analyst Associate. He has also completed three executive level programs at the Cyber Leadership Institute, where he was one of the youngest in a class of seasoned global cyber leaders and CISOs.
STRATEGIC CHOICES
He says his certification choices have all been strategic. “Accounting and finance gave me a solid understanding of how business decisions are made. My postgraduate cybersecurity diploma accelerated my understanding of core foundations in computer science. Certifications from the Cyber Leadership Institute and ISACA’s CISM equipped me with the skills to lead with confidence and accelerate change through transformational programs.”
Also, these programs gave him opportunities to collaborate with, and learn from, CISOs around the world, and further that it is the support of people— friends, family, managers, lecturers, mentors etc— that has enabled his career achievements.
“Now more than ever I understand cybersecurity is a team sport. As such, I would like to continue making a difference through collaboration, driving and accelerating the creation/adoption of resilient digital ecosystem.”
Mudzamba says he is happy he made a career shift into cybersecurity. “The most important decision was to get out of my comfort zone to pursue what set my soul on fire. If I were to go back the only thing I would do differently would be to find a mentor early and to strategically attend networking events to build meaningful relationships.”
GIVING BACK THROUGH MENTORING
Now, he himself is a mentor and cites the opportunity to give back to the community through mentorship as being one of his most satisfying achievements. “Through my current organisation I have participated in university mentorship programs where I get to share my journey with aspiring cybersecurity professionals, encouraging them to see beyond the obstacles and remain curious and focused. Most importantly, being able to educate my daughter about cybersecurity and teaching her how to be cyber safe has been the most satisfying experience to date.”
Beyond mentoring, Mudzamba sees a need for established cybersecurity professionals to reach out to young people who might not even be contemplating a career in cyber.
“Without structured educational at grassroots level cybersecurity will always be viewed/perceived as a topic of the future. The time to train current and future cyber heroes is now. To champion this, top leadership at national and corporate level has a pivotal role to play to ensure there is a mindset shift at every level.”
To those already contemplating a career in cybersecurity, he says internships and volunteering are good ways to start. “Hone your soft skills and identify a specific area you are passionate about. Study the main relevant topics and be exceptionally good at that. Trust is important in cybersecurity and being authentic is one way to earn trust. Being curious and having a good attitude towards learning is a great way to stay ahead of the curve. The threat landscape is continuously changing, hence the need for one to be a continuous learner.”
He would particularly like to see more women enter the profession, saying the industry needs people with diverse experiences and perspectives. “There are various security programs that aim to support women and tackle barriers that hinder women looking to enter cybersecurity or progress their careers.”
www.linkedin.com/in/liberty-mudzamba-b4634243
