Why do I coach?

Why I Coach - I’ve felt imposter syndrome too. Early in my career I survived on caffeine and peer-reviewed checklists—until a mentor coached me through my first big presentation. - I love “aha!” moments. Watching a client finally connect the dots on risk modeling or confidently negotiate a salary bump is pure magic. - I believe expertise should be shared. If I can help you shave months (or years!) off your learning curve, we both win. Who I Help I specialize in coaching individuals who are: - Tech leaders ready to step into CISO or architect roles - Auditioning for top MBA programs or FAANG security teams - First–gen professionals navigating unfamiliar corporate cultures - AI/ML engineers seeking to embed security into every pipeline Core Coaching Pillars - Strategic Career Mapping: Build a 12-month blueprint for your next promotion, pivot, or pay-raise. - Interview Mastery: Craft STAR stories that land you offers at Amazon, Microsoft, and beyond. - Technical Deep Dives: Hands-on labs in Cloud Security, Zero-Trust, DevSecOps, AI Safety. - Executive Presence & Negotiation: Command the room (and the offer letter) with confidence.

Work Experience

Lead Principal Security Architect Consultant

Xyples

November 2016 - Present

Hiring Manager

At Xyples, I’ve architected and deployed end-to-end security solutions for both government and private-sector clients—ranging from DoD contracts to fintech startups—all while pioneering our AI Security practice. I led cross-functional teams to: Design Zero-Trust frameworks across multi-cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) infrastructures, reducing incident response time by 40% Embed AI/ML threat detectors into SIEM pipelines, catching novel attack patterns with 92% accuracy Implement DevSecOps at scale, building Terraform-driven guardrails, automated OWASP ZAP scans, and IAST integrations that slashed vulnerability-remediation cycles by 50% Mentor 20+ junior architects, guiding their transition into leadership roles through hands-on code reviews, threat-modeling workshops, and “fail-fast” lab sessions This blend of strategic vision, deep technical rigor, and people leadership means I coach my clients not just on security best practices, but on how to lead technical teams, pitch complex solutions to executives, and scale high-impact security programs.

Senior Venture Architect / Consultant

Treasure Height Montessori School

January 2015 - November 2016

Hiring Manager

At THMS, I served as the bridge between cloud-native engineers, school leadership, and business stakeholders—turning classroom-grade needs into secure, automated solutions. Highlights include: Spearheading IAM guardrails across AWS and Azure educational platforms, boosting threat detection by 54% Developing self-service access automation, cutting manual ticket volume by 70% and empowering five departments to manage their own cloud permissions Rolling out serverless encryption workflows (Lambda + KMS) that ensured all student data met GDPR/FERPA standards I honed my ability to translate highly technical concepts into clear, actionable roadmaps—an essential coaching skill for clients who must communicate security strategy to non-technical audiences or craft persuasive project proposals.

Senior Security Analyst

Franklin Templeton

February 2013 - December 2014

At Franklin Templeton, I dived deep into PCI-compliance and real-time data protection for global investment platforms. My leadership footprint includes: Redesigning secure sales portals, driving a 49% surge in encrypted transactions while adhering to the latest PCI-DSS controls Leading daily risk-analysis briefings for senior stakeholders, synthesizing network telemetry and threat intelligence into board-ready insights Establishing an incident-response playbook, coordinating cross-continent teams to shrink mean-time-to-contain by 30% This high-stakes environment sharpened my coaching on executive presence, risk communication, and the art of leading diverse, distributed teams under pressure.

Information Security Manager

Poplar Spring Water Company

March 2005 - February 2013

In my foundational role at Poplar Springs, I built the company’s first enterprise-grade security function from the ground up: Conducted end-to-end security audits of water-production OT systems, applying NIST CSF controls to critical SCADA networks Launched automated vulnerability scans and PI-data encryption schemes that reduced compliance gaps by 25% Mentored cross-disciplinary “security champions” in manufacturing and logistics, embedding security mindsets into every team These early experiences taught me the power of hands-on mentorship, culture-change leadership, and tailoring technical programs to industry-specific challenges—skills I now pass on to my coaching clients to accelerate their own leadership journeys.

Education

Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern)

Master of Science - MS, Engineering/Industrial Management

2011 - 2012

Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Northwestern’s prestigious Kellogg School of Management taught me the power of combining cutting-edge technology with strategic business thinking. There, I mastered lean processes, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional leadership—skills I now pass on to my coaching clients. Whether you’re mapping out your next promotion or designing an AI security roadmap, I’ll help you think like a senior executive and act like an engineer, so you land roles that value both vision and technical excellence.

King's College London, University of London

Post Graduate - PG, Electrical and Electronics Engineering

2009 - 2010

At King’s College London, I dove deep into complex signal processing, control systems, and hardware-software integration—solving problems that demanded both creative ingenuity and rigorous analysis. Living and studying in the heart of London’s innovation hub also sharpened my ability to communicate across cultures and hustle in fast-paced environments. I leverage that blend of global perspective and hands-on technical chops to coach clients through challenging interviews, real-world project blockers, and cross-disciplinary career pivots.

DeVry Institute of Technology

Bachelor of Science - BS, Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician

2005 - 2007

My foundation in applied engineering from DeVry means I’ve built everything from packet-sniffing scripts to wireless sensor networks—so I know firsthand what it takes to turn a theory into a working prototype. That “roll up your sleeves” mentality carries over into my coaching style: I don’t just strategize, I work side-by-side with you on real deliverables, mock-up labs, and action plans. You’ll walk away not just with a clarified career path, but with tangible artifacts—resumes, project frameworks, and negotiation scripts—that get you hired and keep you growing.