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Phillip, Senior Director - Information Security at CarParts.com: Advize Career Interview
A career in information security offers diverse and engaging opportunities, as evidenced by a Senior Director's journey at CarParts.com.
This professional's path began with a computer science degree, transitioning to systems engineering and administration before culminating in a leadership role managing a team and overseeing cybersecurity strategies.
A typical day blends technical work with executive-level responsibilities, requiring strong organizational skills and a "jack-of-all-trades" mentality.
The most rewarding aspect is the holistic understanding of organizational operations, requiring curiosity and strong communication.
While challenges include managing expectations, the industry values individuals with both technical expertise and excellent people skills.
Entry-level positions exist, but a common path involves gaining technical skills before transitioning into security.
The interview emphasizes proactive ambition and hands-on experience as key to success, highlighting that a willingness to seek opportunities and demonstrate competence are critical for career advancement.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Phillip Chang
Senior Director - Information Security
CarParts.com
Michigan State University - 2007
UCLA Anderson MBA
Communications
Automotive & Auto Parts
Cyber Security and IT
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
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Career Path of a Senior Director Information Security at CarParts.com
Phillip's career path began with a computer science major at Michigan State University, shifting to information technology after an internship at a recording studio revealed sound engineering's lower earning potential. This led Phillip toward a systems engineering and administration focus, ultimately shaping their journey to a Senior Director - Information Security role at CarParts.com.
Main Responsibilities Of A Senior Director Of Information Security At CarParts.com
As Senior Director of Information Security at CarParts.com, Phillip builds, manages, and strategizes "cybersecurity, security operations, and governance or compliance," leading a team of six engineers. This role blends significant technical responsibilities, including "architectural responsibility helping to lead and develop engineering projects," with executive-level management and project oversight.
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Director Information Security At CarParts.com
A typical day for the Senior Director of Information Security at CarParts.com includes daily stand-up meetings, vendor discussions regarding contracts, and collaborations with senior executives on large-scale initiatives; the role also allows for direct engineering work, "maybe 10-15% of the day," in addition to project management and budget tracking.
Most Important Skills For A Senior Director Information Security At CarParts.com
Phillip, a Senior Director of Information Security, emphasizes the importance of a "jack of all trades" mentality, requiring curiosity about "how an entire organization works" to effectively provide security services across diverse departments. The ability to be "super organized" and a diligent note-taker is highlighted as crucial for success in this role, exceeding mere technical engineering skills.
Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Director Information Security at CarParts.com
Phillip's favorite aspect of his Senior Director - Information Security role at CarParts.com is "the joy of understanding how organizations work," stemming from a natural curiosity that drives him to learn about all departments and their operations, going beyond purely security-related concerns to encompass broader business strategy. This holistic approach allows Phillip to effectively collaborate and identify pain points across the company.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Senior Director Information Security at CarParts.com
Phillip's biggest challenge as Senior Director of Information Security at CarParts.com is "managing expectations," both upwards with executives who want things "fast and cheap," and downwards with subordinates, requiring clear communication and adaptable planning. This highlights the inherent balancing act within a middle-management role, demanding effective communication and realistic goal-setting across different levels of the organization.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Information Security Industry As A Senior Director Of Information Security
Phillip, a Senior Director of Information Security, finds the most rewarding aspect of the industry to be "having to be curious," acting as an internal consultant across different departments, learning about various business functions while applying technical skills without the need for external client travel. This allows for a diverse and engaging career path within a single organization.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Information Security Industry According To A Senior Director Of Information Security At CarParts.com
Phillip, a Senior Director of Information Security, highlights that success in the cybersecurity industry requires a combination of technical skills and strong interpersonal abilities. The industry favors "go-getters" who are not only "intelligent from an engineering perspective," but also possess excellent "people skills" and communication abilities, as these are crucial for advancement beyond senior engineering roles.
What a Senior Director of Information Security at CarParts.com Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Information Security Industry
Phillip, a Senior Director of Information Security, learned that "titles don't necessarily mean a whole lot," discovering many roles were attainable earlier in their career than initially perceived; this realization encourages more ambitious pursuit of roles beyond perceived qualifications.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Information Security Professionals
Entry-level security roles such as "Junior SOC analysts" and "Junior compliance analysts" offer direct entry points into the field; however, a more common path involves gaining a technical skillset through roles in systems engineering, systems administration, or computer science, then pivoting to security projects and eventually full-time security work.
Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Director Information Security At CarParts.com
Phillip, a Senior Director of Information Security, learned that "you don't get what you don't ask for," highlighting the importance of proactively seeking advancement and new opportunities in corporate environments. This requires not only requesting raises and new work, but also consistently demonstrating the performance to justify those requests.
College Experiences That Helped A CarParts.com Senior Director Information Security Succeed
Phillip's undergraduate success stemmed from hands-on robotics experience, "getting your hands dirty and doing work" by mentoring high school students and leading a fraternity. This combination of technical skills and "project management people experience" from organizational leadership proved invaluable for their career trajectory in information security.
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