2 answers
Seth
Student
College Station, Texas
2
Questions
Asked
591 views
What is the roadmap to a cybersecurity/FinTech CISO position?
I'm a 12th-grade student committed to Texas A&M, where I plan to major in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity Track, minor in Finance and/or the new AI minor, and possibly return for an MBA after gaining industry experience. My goal is to build a career in cybersecurity and eventually become a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in the FinTech sector. What certifications, key experience milestones, and networking strategies would you recommend for this path?
Login to comment
1 answer
James Patterson Wicks
Cyber Security Leader
30
Answers
West Orange, New Jersey
Updated
James Patterson’s Answer
Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree: Computer Science with Cybersecurity Track (Texas A&M).
- Minors: Finance, Artificial Intelligence
Advanced Degree:
- MBA with focus on Information Security or Technology Management:
Certifications:
- Early Technical Career (0–3 years experience): CompTIA Security+, GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
- Mid-Technical Career (3–6 years experience): Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM),
- Late Technical Career (6 - 9 years experience): Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Management Track (9+ years experience): Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO)
Key Experience Milestones:
College Internships (Years 1–4):
- Summer internships in cybersecurity (especially in financial services/FinTech firms).
- Participation in cybersecurity clubs, hackathons, Capture the Flag (CTF) events.
Early Career (0–3 years post-graduation):
- Security analyst roles in financial services or tech companies.
- Incident response, SOC analyst roles, vulnerability assessment teams.
Mid-Career (3–7 years):
- Team lead or senior analyst positions (Incident Response, Threat Intelligence).
- Management of small projects/teams; involvement in compliance frameworks (NIST, PCI DSS, ISO 27001).
Senior Management (7–12+ years):
- Information Security Manager or Director roles.
- Oversight of cybersecurity programs, regulatory audits, strategic risk management.
- Active role in executive committees, policy formulation, and governance.
Networking Strategies/Professional Organizations:
- Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
- ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association)
- InfraGard (FBI public-private cybersecurity initiative)
- LinkedIn—Build connections with current CISOs, senior security leaders, and alumni groups.
- InfraGard - A national non-profit organization serving as a public-private partnership between U.S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mentorship:
- Seek a mentor currently serving as a senior leader or CISO within the FinTech sector.
- Bachelor’s Degree: Computer Science with Cybersecurity Track (Texas A&M).
- Minors: Finance, Artificial Intelligence
Advanced Degree:
- MBA with focus on Information Security or Technology Management:
Certifications:
- Early Technical Career (0–3 years experience): CompTIA Security+, GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
- Mid-Technical Career (3–6 years experience): Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM),
- Late Technical Career (6 - 9 years experience): Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Management Track (9+ years experience): Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO)
Key Experience Milestones:
College Internships (Years 1–4):
- Summer internships in cybersecurity (especially in financial services/FinTech firms).
- Participation in cybersecurity clubs, hackathons, Capture the Flag (CTF) events.
Early Career (0–3 years post-graduation):
- Security analyst roles in financial services or tech companies.
- Incident response, SOC analyst roles, vulnerability assessment teams.
Mid-Career (3–7 years):
- Team lead or senior analyst positions (Incident Response, Threat Intelligence).
- Management of small projects/teams; involvement in compliance frameworks (NIST, PCI DSS, ISO 27001).
Senior Management (7–12+ years):
- Information Security Manager or Director roles.
- Oversight of cybersecurity programs, regulatory audits, strategic risk management.
- Active role in executive committees, policy formulation, and governance.
Networking Strategies/Professional Organizations:
- Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
- ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association)
- InfraGard (FBI public-private cybersecurity initiative)
- LinkedIn—Build connections with current CISOs, senior security leaders, and alumni groups.
- InfraGard - A national non-profit organization serving as a public-private partnership between U.S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mentorship:
- Seek a mentor currently serving as a senior leader or CISO within the FinTech sector.
Thank you for the advice, James Patterson.
Seth