The PWN: Issue 017

Welcome to another edition of The PWN! Conference season is off to a great start. I have attended and spoken at five so far for the year. It has been great seeing friends at the conferences. Shout out to TJ! It was great seeing you at Zero Trust World 26.

Season 4 Episode 15

Most people hit rejection and double down on job applications.

Marie Hamilton took a different route.

After getting turned down for cybersecurity and AI roles, she decided she wasn’t going to send out hundreds of applications, hoping for one “yes.”

She started her own company instead.

In the latest episode of The Phillip Wylie Show, Marie talks through how she:

• Taught herself tech without a clear roadmap

• Took a detour into the culinary world

• Found her way back into cybersecurity through community

• Walked away from the traditional job hunt

Now she’s building Opis Cybersecurity, working in digital forensics, OSINT, and positioning herself for where the industry is headed next.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind or not following the “right” path, this episode will probably resonate.

👉 Check it out and see how she made the pivot.

📺 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eftjDEq7
🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ej4YTeaU
🍎 Apple: https://lnkd.in/gkfjJecz

You can find the episode on your favorite platform, which can be found here: https://phillipwylieshow.com/subscribe

My Hacker Origin Story

In this solo episode, I share my own journey into the field, one that began far outside traditional tech paths. From professional wrestling and powerlifting to construction work and eventually penetration testing, I walk through the experiences that shaped my career.

I highlight the roles of curiosity, persistence, and mentorship in making the transition, and how stepping into public speaking and content creation helped open new opportunities along the way.

This episode is a reminder that there is no single roadmap into cybersecurity. Whether you are coming from IT or a completely different industry, your path can still lead you here.

If you have ever questioned whether you can make the switch or if you are starting later than others, this conversation offers perspective and practical encouragement to keep moving forward.

Catch this episode:
📺 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eERKfzmz
🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gsQJMUya
🍎 Apple: https://lnkd.in/gkfjJecz

Upcoming Events

I always love connecting with people in my network and my podcast listeners.

(https://phillipwylieshow.com/subscribe).

I hope you enjoyed this edition of The PWN!

Cheers!

Phillip Wylie

https://phillipwylie.com

https://phillipwylieshow.com