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UC Berkeley Cybersecurity Grad Left Silicon Valley to Build Her Own Company (Here's Why)
Description
In this episode, we’re joined by Oluwadamilola Obamehinti, a cybersecurity executive with over 15 years of experience working across Fortune 100 companies like eBay and the Founder of Cyber Culture.
She shares her journey from building a successful career in cybersecurity to leaving Silicon Valley to start her own company, along with the real strategies that helped her grow her personal brand and expand her influence in the tech space.
We dive into practical insights on breaking into cybersecurity, navigating corporate environments, building a strong C-Suite network, and attracting high-value clients. Oluwadamilola also breaks down the differences between GRC and Incident Response, the evolving role of certifications in tech, and the emerging risks around AI and security.
This episode is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to grow in tech, transition into cybersecurity, or build a long-term, sustainable career.
⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 Opening Remarks & Appreciation
1:04 Meet Oluwadamilola Obamehinti
1:33 Cyber Culture & Her Entrepreneurial Ventures
3:23 Her Cybersecurity Career Journey
4:56 Transition Into Entrepreneurship
5:16 Why She Made the Leap
5:54 Biggest Challenge in Building Her Brand
6:30 How She Built Her Personal Brand
8:00 Posting on LinkedIn While Working in Corporate
9:08 Building a C-Suite Network
10:06 Navigating C-Suite Conversations
11:16 9–5 vs Entrepreneurship
12:19 GRC vs Incident Response
13:15 Breaking Into Big Tech
14:58 Do Certifications & Degrees Still Matter?
16:24 Cyber Culture Scholarships & Membership
17:20 Clients & Services
18:59 How Cyber Culture Started
19:41 Tech Exit Strategies
20:45 How to Get Clients
22:00 Cybersecurity Consulting Areas
23:15 AI Security Risks
25:22 Identifying AI Scams
26:54 Roadmap to Top Companies
28:51 Soft Skills in Tech
29:58 Future of Cyber Culture
31:05 Corporate Politics Strategies
33:51 Growing HackerproofHQ
35:00 Closing Remarks
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