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UTICA COLLEGE – TV : Changing to a career in Cybersecurity can be achieved with a degree from Utica College

This is a great time to start a new career in cybersecurity. Numerous employment and industry surveys have shown that while the demand for professionals with cyber skills are at unprecedented levels and growing, there is a severe shortage in the number of experts available to fill these posts. So there will be good job security for people with good cybersecurity skills. Need another reason to consider this career? This high demand/low supply combination also drives up the earning potential of cyber professionals.

In this video, UCTV Host, Dr. James Norrie speaks with Leslie Corbo, MS Cybersecurity graduate-turned-lecturer, about how with no technical background, she was able to successfully change from an established career in Human Resources, to a Cybersecurity career.

Video Transcript: Changing to a career in Cybersecurity can be achieved with a degree from Utica College.

Dr. Norrie: Welcome back to UCTV, and today, we're here with Leslie Corbo. And Leslie, you're a bit unusual because you are not only a graduate of our program, but now we've brought you back and you're teaching in our program.

Leslie Corbo: Exactly.

Dr. Norrie: So you graduated in ...

Leslie Corbo: In 2012. I'm a proud member of Cohort One.

Dr. Norrie: Great. And what was your specialization?

Leslie Corbo: Cyber intelligence.

Dr. Norrie: Cyber intelligence. And did you like our programs?

Leslie Corbo: I loved it. I loved it so much I wanted to come back and teach in the program.

Dr. Norrie: Teach, right. Well, so tell me a little bit about that. You've moved from obviously being a graduate student to now being an instructor. And I'd be curious what your blend of professional and academic backgrounds is that makes you a great candidate to do this with our students.

Leslie Corbo: Okay. I think I have a unique background because I'm actually what we call, here in our program, a “career changer”. I came from a human resources background. I did that for almost two decades for a pretty large company, and then one day, I decided I wanted to go into the cyber world. So that's what I did. I actually came here as an undergraduate student, and then I came back as a graduate student.

Dr. Norrie: Wow. Now, for our viewers out there, they are a lot of them probably in the same boat. They're thinking maybe they're in a career where they feel they're blocked or dead-ended, or maybe they are looking for a new career opportunity. That's a big shift. That's a big change.

Leslie Corbo: You know what? It was, but the program itself makes it to where it's very doable. It's challenging, but it's something that, once you get into it, you get so excited. And cyber covers so many different aspects of our world between economic crime, cyber crimes, digital forensics, all of that stuff. It just opens up so many opportunities for you, not to mention all of the government work in intelligence and counterintelligence and those kinds of things.

Dr. Norrie: Right. Well, it's certainly a growing field that nobody should worry about joining.

Leslie Corbo: Yes. No.

Dr. Norrie: So now, as an instructor, you bring that same view of what you experienced as a student to your teaching. So what advice would you give a prospective student, who is a career changer, about our programs at Utica?

Leslie Corbo: I would say don't even hesitate. The Cyber 605 class that I teach opens you up to so many different aspects in cyber that you should be able to leave that class with an idea of what you really liked in it. So you're exposed to so much, so many different things, I'd say take the chance without hesitation.

Dr. Norrie: Jump right in.

Leslie Corbo: Yes.

Dr. Norrie: Great. Well, thank you so much for joining us. A repeat guest, so you can look for Leslie's other videos. They're on UCTV. Thanks for joining and have a great day.


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