I currently enjoy the honor of serving Gideon Taylor (GT) not only as a Security Analyst but also as the Compliance Program Lead for the company. This role has given me some of the greatest growth and leadership opportunities of my career thus far.

My strong drive to improve the security of the company as a whole made me a perfect fit for leading the company's SOC 2 Compliance Program. I make it a point to show dedication and initiative in my work, which has helped me find tons of opportunities to help leave things better and more secure than I found them.

I've also learned so much about the importance of strong people skills, a friendly attitude, and an eye for usable security in this role. People want to do the right thing; but they need to know they have an ally who will help them succeed. People can't be forced into a box, and my experience in this role has given me a chance to meet people where they're at. That's the best way to keep them and the company safe.

My first few months at Gideon Taylor (GT) taught me a LOT about technology. I was definitely drinking from a firehose, but I loved it! I wanted to learn more. After only a few short months, I moved from the Help Center team to the Product Development team, where I focused on functional testing and documentation.

While I was proud of the value I could provide as a functional tester, I quickly learned that I could provide a lot more value by embracing technical tasks. By pursuing challenges, I got better at troubleshooting and developed a deeper understanding of the products I helped build.

The growth I was experiencing was exciting to me, and I knew I wanted to continue my growth in meaningful ways. One day, as I was contemplating the path I should pursue to develop my skills further, my wife suggested that I should research Cybersecurity. I'll always be grateful for her insight, because it has helped me to discover my strong passion for protecting people and their safety by securing information systems.

With so much constant growth, I quickly realized I had discovered something I love, and became excited about learning new things every day. As I worked with GT to strengthen their Application Security (AppSec) program, I felt proud to be involved. I leaned into my role as a protector and defender by looking for ways to help everywhere I could, even outside of the AppSec program.

Upon returning from my mission (which you can read about below 👇), I had a strong desire to continue my personal growth, so I resolved to find a job that would push me to learn new things. Through previous work experience, I had proven to the leaders of Quality Distribution (QDI) that I was a dedicated worker with strong determination and leadership skills. Thanks to that, they didn't hesitate to offer me a position as an Assistant Warehouse Manager.

During my time at QDI, I made it my goal to improve processes daily and treat everyone with respect. I found immense enjoyment in making operations run smoother than before. I also took time to develop onboarding processes for new employees and personalized training that helped them understand and embody the company values.

The growth I experienced while I worked at QDI was amazing. I developed a passion for continous growth, and I found myself — for the first time in my life — researching topics and skills that would make me a better employee and leader during my free time.

This habit of self-motivated study would come to propel my career significantly. Though I was fascinated by the world of Logistics, I was even more fascinated with the technology that made it all possible. My continued desire to push myself and learn new things drove me to pursue that interest further, which led me to Gideon Taylor.

I spent the first half of my full-time, 2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ digging in and working hard to develop meaningful connections and empower others to make lasting positive changes in their lives.

The second half of my mission brought with it a huge change when I was transferred to Paraguay, where I continued those efforts in a new language and a new culture. There, I developed an extraordinary appreciation for the wonder and diversity of the world, and the marvelous ways that effective communication opens doors.

Less than two months after being transferred to Paraguay, I took on my first of many leadership roles in the mission. Those leadership roles highlighted and strengthened my ability to build up others, resolve conflicts, and improve processes. I developed and delivered trainings for other volunteers, coordinated projects, and built a social media program from the ground up.

The experiences I gained during my mission accelerated my growth and maturity remarkably. I saw amazing changes take place in my own life and in the lives of those I met, taught, and mentored.

Bottega provided remarkable flexibility that empowered me to take charge of my own growth. The two years I spent there armed me with skills I utilize daily and a sense of confidence that I can make a positive impact on the world.

Studying communications taught me to be curious about other people and the world around me. The skills I gained there helped me become a better listener, team-player, and leader. Through the university's flexibly structured classes and timeline, I learned to champion my own growth by developing and working my own study plans. Classes like Psychology and Interpersonal Communications ignited my passion for connecting with others in meaningful and effective ways.