Security may be high stakes, but building a career in it isn’t always a straight line.
In this episode of “Rookies to Rockstars,” hosts Camille Tuutti and Amanda Ziadeh sit down with Mario Orsini, vice president of security at Nightwing, to talk about the unconventional path that led him from a criminal justice degree to a surprise CIA recruitment call and into the world of national security.
Orsini shares what he wishes he knew early on, including why the security field is “a lot smaller than you think,” and how relationships, reputation and respect can follow you for decades. He also dives into how his communications background became an unexpected advantage, and pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest misconceptions about working in and around the CIA.
In this conversation, you’ll learn about:
- Why security professionals are ultimately in a customer service business,
- How to “play in the gray” while still protecting mission and compliance,
- The importance of understanding the “why” behind policies, not just the rules themselves,
- Why saying “yes” early in your career can open doors you didn’t even know existed, and
- How leadership evolves, and why even senior leaders still deal with imposter syndrome.
Orsini also reflects on the real stakes behind security work, where even small missteps can have ripple effects and shares why he prefers picking up the phone over sending “75 emails back and forth.”
And tune in to hear why, according to the motorcycle enthusiast, strong fundamentals — much like navigating with a paper map on the open road — still matter in a world full of advanced technology.