The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 13, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place virtually Dec. 8.
Next is Cybersecurity Industry Executive of the Year (Private Company) finalist Amanda Kane, who’s a director of cybersecurity at Guidehouse. Here, she talks career turning points, primary focus areas going forward, shaping the next generation of industry leaders and more.
What was a turning point or inflection point in your career?
Shortly after joining Guidehouse, I was offered the opportunity to lead the firm’s Identity and Access Management practice. I had hired and led project teams and led business development initiatives, but never had the responsibility of building a practice.
I accepted the responsibility and quickly oriented myself to thinking about the big picture on top of client service delivery. I began to think about strategy, hiring, marketing, networking and partnerships — all factors for building a business portfolio. This started my path of becoming an executive and thinking about leadership from the corporate perspective.
What are you most proud of having been a part of in your current organization?
I’m most proud of seeing my team grow and expand. Starting with just a couple of people three years ago, the team has grown with a robust and comprehensive set of cyber skillsets. I’ve enjoyed seeing the team’s success through promotions, technical certifications and winning new work.
It has been wonderful to see a team grow professionally, while also growing personally with expanding their families, getting pets, moving and volunteering in their communities. I find that work is more enjoyable when you can connect with your team both professionally and personally.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation?
My focus will be on how existing technology and cybersecurity investments can be leveraged with newer technologies to protect the nation’s critical assets from the latest cyberthreats. Cybersecurity is a continuously evolving industry that requires organizations to review their security posture and evaluate how best to implement their cyber strategies.
How do you help shape the next generation of government leaders/industry leaders?
In my role, I provide guidance and career advice to my team through goal setting and performance management processes. I like to consider each team member’s personal goals and interest areas to align throughout their career progression.
I find that people are most happy when they are working on something that interests them and aim to find projects that support those interests as well as provide a path for career advancement.
I’m also an active member of the Women In Technology organization, where I serve as a mentor in their mentor-protégé program. I think it’s important to support other females in their technology career journeys and provide outlets outside of their organization to talk through corporate experiences.
What’s your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Always be open to learning. If you have the drive and willingness to learn about new subjects/technologies, you can quickly pivot into new roles and projects.
I graduated college with a business administration degree from a liberal arts school and had not spent a tremendous amount of time in technical computer science or engineering classes. Most of my technical knowledge has come from on-the-job training, vendor demonstrations and technical standards review. I like to remind my team that there is always room to learn and grow more with all the resources available today.