Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Courtney H. Jackson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Courtney H. with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My first job was newspaper sales at the young age of 12. When I turned 14, I was able to work at McDonald’s with a work permit. I had three jobs the summer before my senior year of high school: Foot Action, Party City, and the Gap. Needless to say, I have always been a hard worker. Even at that age, it was important to me to do a great job and excel in every role I worked. While working at Foot Action, I was hired early on to help stock and setup the store. I recall not being on the opening day work schedule. I was admittingly very upset. I felt I had put in the most work in helping to prepare the store so I should have been there that first day. I spoke with my supervisor about it, but he brushed it off. Thinking back, I believe that to be a small part of my work ethic and motivation to excel in all that I do.
Throughout my career I experienced many instances like at Foot Action. Moreso while serving active duty in the military and transitioning into Information Technology (IT field), both male-dominated. It came natural to me to want to do my best. I never believed in meeting bare minimums and checking boxes. To attest to that, I received a lot of promotions in my career. My first IT job outside of the military was at a helpdesk. I had the highest customer satisfaction and closure rate, so I was promoted to a Team Lead. Eventually I wanted to get some hands-on experience and moved on to a Desktop Support position. Being a contractor, I was treated differently than the employees. I recall them having in-office lunches and other events that I wasn’t invited to. It bothered me but I used that to work even harder. It’s also a driver for the importance I place on inclusion in the workplace. No one should ever feel left out or like they’re not a part of the team, whether they’re a contractor or W2 employee.
When I worked my first information security job in 2008, it was in a Security Operations Center (SOC). The only opening they had was third shift. Some people may have frowned or potentially turned it down. I saw it as an opportunity to get my foot door in the door and increase my skills. While my coworkers literally slept during our overnight work shift, I used any down time to study for my CISSP exam. I already had CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ from my time working at the help desk. I felt it was time to level up. Obtaining my experience there and that certification landed my first full-time day shift security role, and I’ve been in the field full-time ever since.
My company name, Paragon, stands for a model of excellence. I have always aspired to achieve that in my work and continue doing so through today. There are a lot of options when it comes to employees, companies, etc. I feel it’s important to give 110% in our work to stand out above our competitors and achieve new heights. Having a strong work ethic is a part of my core and something I look for in my team members.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I joined the United States Navy right out of high school and proudly served my country.
After the Navy, I worked my way up in the computer field working helpdesk, desktop support, system engineering, network engineering, and eventually cyber security, which I have specialized in for over a decade now. I worked as a Security Analyst, a Security Engineer, a Lead Security Assessor, a Cyber Security Subject Matter Expert, and most recently worked over three years as a Chief Security Officer (CSO) with an Executive role in growing a now multi-million-dollar cyber security consulting company. I was the only female executive in the company!
After that CSO position, I said goodbye to corporate and launched my own cyber security firm, Paragon Cyber Solutions, LLC. I haven’t looked back as becoming a full-time entrepreneur was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. As the Founder and CEO of Paragon Cyber Solutions, I impact positive change for companies helping them to protect their sensitive data from exposure and cyber-attacks. I also foster a workplace of learning and growth as my parent company, Paragon Cyber Solutions, has a formal Cyber security Apprenticeship program approved by the Florida Department of Education. My company, Paragon Cyber Solutions, is also an Authorized Delivery Partner with CompTIA and Pearson VUE Test Center. We provide security and workforce training to strengthen the cyber workforce, and I work directly with my staff to increase their Cyber IQ. I am a true advocate for knowledge transfer and helping people excel in their careers, no matter where they currently are.
Being active in my community is very important to me as well. I was appointed as the Vice President for the Women in Defense Greater Tampa Bay Chapter, the Programming Chair for Women in Technology International (WITI) Tampa Chapter and selected as a Fellow for the Cyber Security Forum Initiative (CSFI). I am also an active member of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce – along with several other local community organizations.
In addition to my 20+ years of hands-on working experience in the technology field, I have a Master’s Degree in Information Security and Assurance, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a minor in Information Technology (IT) management, and nearly a dozen career certifications – Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), to name a few. I am now gearing up to release my Gateway to Entrepreneurship Accelerator where I will be assisting entrepreneurs with launching and scaling their businesses.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three qualities that were most impactful in my journey include adaptability, resilience, and grit. Being adaptable has helped me look at the positive side of change. I have never been one to be complacent and comfortable with doing the same tasks daily. I thrive on challenge and diversity, so each time something unforeseen occurs, I adapt to the new situation and look at ways to overcome it. Being resilient helps with being adaptable. As the Founder & CEO of my business, I have experienced a lot of ups and down in my business – anticipated offers that fell through, being burned by people I expected more of, etc. In my role, I employ people that have families and rely on their position with my company for their livelihood. I take that responsibility very seriously, which is why I have contingencies in place for different business scenarios. I typically hope for the best and plan for the worst, to stay ahead of potential challenges that could have dire impact. Grit is that “it” factor. Most, if not all, successful entrepreneurs must have grit to achieve their goals despite any obstacles that may occur.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I have learned so much on my entrepreneurial journey including being a hands-on practitioner for many years before becoming a CEO. I didn’t have a mentor early on in my career. I was often the only female on my team and didn’t have an execution plan for success. My lessons learned are being incorporated into my Gateway to Entrepreneurship accelerator. I am looking for people ready to take the next steps towards entrepreneurship. It doesn’t matter if they haven’t started yet or if they don’t know where to start, that’s what my accelerator program is for. I am finalizing the content to make it the most impactful. For those interested, join my mailing list at courtneyhjackson.com and follow me on social media.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.courtneyhjackson.com
- Instagram: @IamCourtneyHJackson @CyberCourtney
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/iamcourtneyhjackson/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyhjackson/
- Twitter: @Mrschjackson
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamcourtneyhjackson?app=desktop
Image Credits
Auste Graham
