2025-06-21 –, Track 2 (Moody Rm. 101)
Breaking into cybersecurity can feel overwhelming, especially for those without a traditional background. After mentoring over 130 students including college graduates, career changers from other industries, high school grads, and individuals of all ages I've seen firsthand what it takes to make the leap into tech and security. In this talk, I’ll share the key strategies, mindsets, and resources that consistently helped them succeed.
In this talk, I’ll dive into real-world data gathered from mentoring over 130 individuals from diverse backgrounds as they pursued careers in cybersecurity. I’ll break down key metrics that reveal common traits among those who struggled versus those who succeeded, highlighting patterns in behavior, mindset, and commitment.
You’ll hear a comparison of outcomes between students who paid out of pocket for cybersecurity bootcamps and those who participated in employer sponsored or free programs.
The session will also explore the personal and professional challenges these students faced, from imposter syndrome to work life balance. I’ll discuss what kept them motivated, how they stayed focused, and the mindset shifts that played a major role in their success. If you’re curious about what it really takes to break into cybersecurity or to help others do itthis talk offers a data-backed, human centered perspective.
Bonifacio Capuyan is a cybersecurity professional with over 20 years of experience. He holds a degree in Business Management and maintains several certifications, including ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA), Certified Application Developer (CAD), Certified Implementation Specialist – Vulnerability Response (CIS-VR), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). At ServiceNow, he works within the ServiceNow Security Organization (SSO) and was most recently a lead on the Platform Engineering and Development team. He is currently transitioning into a Product Management role, where he will partner with customers and product teams to deliver meaningful, value driven solutions to the SecOps Software Suite. Outside of work, Bonifacio is passionate about mentoring and dedicates his time to guiding aspiring cybersecurity students.