College Experiences That Helped A Senior Cybersecurity Analyst At Aleta Technologies Succeed
Ian's undergraduate experience significantly shaped their career success by fostering "relationship skills," including navigating group dynamics, managing conflict, and balancing competing priorities—skills directly transferable to professional team environments. This emphasis on emotional intelligence and learning "how to listen, um, when to listen, also, when to not listen," proved invaluable in their career as a Senior Cybersecurity Analyst.
Teamwork, Communication, Networking, Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Resolution
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ian Knutson
Senior Cybersecurity Analyst
Aleta Technologies Inc.
University of Arizona 2015
Western Governors University Masters of Science Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Computer Science
Technology
Cyber Security and IT
Video Highlights
1. Successfully navigating group projects and teamwork, including conflict resolution and balancing priorities.
2. Developing strong relationships with peers and utilizing networking for career advancement.
3. Cultivating emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills such as effective communication and appropriate responses in different situations
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I would say I formed relationships with people. I learned how to collaborate, and being a business major, it is sort of forced upon you to collaborate.
I learned how to maintain and foster mutually beneficial relationships, whether it was for schoolwork, projects, or eventually into a career. I was able to use some of those relationships in my network to help me get my first job.
So, I learned a lot of relationship skills. If you're in a group project and someone isn't pulling their weight, I learned how to deal with that conflict. I also learned how to deal with conflict between teams, working on deadlines, and balancing priorities between personal and school relationships.
For example, knowing when to study with a group instead of hanging out with roommates. That's probably the biggest thing I learned.
That gave me a lot of success in my career because I learned there are many parallels between working in teams in a professional position and in student groups. For the most part, I've found it to be about 90% true. You always have an overachiever, two people in the middle, and somebody who does a little bit.
Everybody takes the credit equally. Learning how to manage those relationships and deal with conflicts was huge.
If I could give some advice, learn emotional intelligence. Learn how to listen, when to listen, and also when not to listen.
Learn when to judge, and what is an appropriate response for certain situations. Learning those personal skills, people skills, has been huge.