Building up the Talent Pipeline in Cybersecurity

It’s no secret; the pandemic kicked off the great resignation. Organizations in all industries scramble for talent to fill open positions. One sector of vital importance in dire need of skilled workers to fill a talent pipeline in cybersecurity. A 2022 Cybersecurity Workforce Study concluded that the global cybersecurity workforce gap has increased by 26.2% compared to 2021, leaving a void of 3.4 million jobs.

The threats to global infrastructures and organizational networks are never-ending, and without a fully stocked cyber workforce, those threats create untold damage.

The question on Ron J Stefanski’s mind: is there a talent pool waiting in the wings to answer the call, and what are today’s disruptors doing to find this talent and bring them into the cybersecurity space? Two disruptors answered the call and joined Stefanski on DisruptED to talk about talent and to get the right people onto the bus.

Mark Jaster, Founder & CEO of FOUR18 Intelligence Corp, and Marlena Sessions, CEO of NOVAworks, spoke with Stefanski about the situation.

“The problem we are faced with today is there are way too many cyberattacks for our resources and our ability to defend them,” Jaster said. “We don’t have enough people, we don’t have enough knowledge about what’s happening, and it’s happening in real-time, incentivized by the payoff that the attackers have when they succeed.”

Stefanski, Jaster, and Sessions discuss the following:

  • Developing talent to match job seekers
  • How to create skills to increase the talent pipeline in cybersecurity
  • Finding people who may not be thinking of a cybersecurity role but who could be great candidates

“At NOVA works, we are stewards of our taxpayer dollars,” Sessions said. “We don’t say ‘no’ to any job seeker. Anybody can come in. I could find myself out of work or a laid-off mid-level career professional, but we do focus on certain areas of folks who might have been historically excluded.”

Mark Jaster is a growth strategist and innovator with a deep skill set and unique methods for solving the most complex problems of innovation strategy and product adoption in complex markets such as information systems, medical devices, biotechnology, and enterprise risk management. Jaster holds an MSE in Engineering Design & Management from Stanford University and a BSE in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University.

Marlena Sessions has over two decades of experience working to change lives. Before her role with NOVAworks, Sessions was the Executive Director for San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board, worked in leadership roles for Grant Associates, and led the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County as the COO and CEO for seventeen years. She holds her BA in History/Political Science from Whitworth University and her MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

School infrastructure
Can a Docuseries Change the Way Communities Think About School Infrastructure Reform?
April 28, 2025

School infrastructure in the United States is in a critical condition. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an estimated 54% of public school districts report needing upgrades or replacements for multiple building systems, such as HVAC, roofing, and structural elements. In a few states (like Idaho), the situation is compounded by laws…

Read More
dock scheduling
C3 Solutions Boosts Delivery Speed Through Intelligent Dock Scheduling and Yard Automation
April 28, 2025

Logistics networks continue to grow more complex as supply chains race to meet rising ecommerce demand. As of 2024, 80% of consumers expect retailers to offer same-day delivery, with 30% anticipating this service to be free. This pressure is pushing supply chain operators to modernize traditionally overlooked segments like yard management and dock scheduling….

Read More
trucking
The People Business: Keep on Truckin’ & Earning A Good Income
April 28, 2025

In this Career Paths episode of The AppleOne Podcast, host Brett Howroyd explores the essential—and often underestimated—world of trucking with two guests who know it well: Chip Stewart, VP of Service Operations at Select Transportation Resources in Houston, and Jill Apperson, Area Manager at AppleOne in North Carolina. Together, they break down why trucking…

Read More
england veteran series
Honoring Service Through Sport: The New England Veteran Series
April 25, 2025

The New England PGA REACH Foundation is opening new doors for veterans with its inspiring New England Veteran Series. Designed exclusively for those who have served, this golf tour offers competitive opportunities at premier courses across New England, blending the spirit of service with the love of the game. Veterans will not only sharpen their…

Read More