The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 11, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 30.
Next is Cybersecurity Industry Executive of the Year (Private Company) finalist Amanda Kane, who leads the Identity and Access Management offering within the Advanced Solutions Cybersecurity Solutions Team at Guidehouse. Here, she talks shaping the next generation of industry leaders, career advice and more.
How do you help shape the next generation of government leaders/industry leaders?
I like working with team members to achieve alignment between their personal goals and interest areas and their career progression. I find that people are most happy when they are working on something that interests them, and I 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 with all the resources available today, there is always room to learn and grow more.
What are you most proud of having been a part of in your current organization?
I’m most proud of the growth that my team has seen during my tenure at Guidehouse. The team is diverse and brings a variety of technical skillsets to protect our clients against cyber adversaries. I’ve worked with technology vendors to establish training programs for the team to increase both personal advancement and quality client service.
Additionally, my team is working with every segment within the organization on growth and delivery, demonstrating that cyber challenges and solutions span across industries, requiring collaboration between business and technology delivery teams.