Stephanie Montalvo
“Build your own personal ‘board of directors’ that can give you advice about your career. Make sure that a few people on that board can be very honest with you and let you know when you need to pivot.”
Stephanie Montalvo is a Managing Director for Deloitte’s Global Cyber practice, helping teams around the world navigate their most complex cyber challenges. After starting her career as a computer engineer, she joined Deloitte in 2004, and has more than 20 years of experience working in cybersecurity. Her professional background spans projects globally, including internal leadership roles and client advisory roles serving clients across a broad range of industries. She has driven strategic technology and management consulting projects in cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, and IT strategy.
What is one skill, interest or talent of yours that makes you great at your job?
I do my best to listen to my colleagues and to the data. To anticipate changes in the market and to “see around the corner” in cybersecurity, we have to listen closely to our clients’ challenges and to customer behavior. We use those insights to take informed risks and position our people for success in a rapidly evolving industry.
What is the best piece of unconventional career advice you’ve gotten?
Build your own personal “board of directors” that can give you advice about your career. Make sure that a few people on that board can be very honest with you and let you know when you need to pivot.
What is your proudest moment working in the cybersecurity industry?
When I saw someone who I mentored early in his career (and was new to cybersecurity at the time!) give a talk at a conference on cyber. The time you spend coaching and mentoring really does pay back in so many ways.
When did you become interested in pursuing a career in cyber and what prompted it?
I worked as an engineer for 2 years out of college and I had read articles about hackers. Interested, I signed up for a masters in Network Security at a local university. I never finished my masters because I found the role at Deloitte soon after and relocated. Being a cybersecurity consultant in the early 2000s was an education on its own!
What are the top 3 things you would tell people hoping to enter the cybersecurity industry?
- Don’t be scared of jargon. Everything can be broken down and explained in a simpler way.
- Ground yourself in how the work you do in cyber helps the organization’s business or mission.
- Be curious, ask questions, and you can learn so much from free online courses.
What are some misconceptions people might have about the cybersecurity industry and what can we do to change these misconceptions?
I think a misconception is that you have to be deeply technical. Some of my most successful cybersecurity clients and colleagues have non-technical backgrounds. We can change that misconception by prioritizing coaching and mentoring for people interested in the field.
Do you feel like you’re contributing to helping keep our world secure and can you share why that matters to you?
Absolutely. I feel privileged to work in a field where I am helping to prevent cyber criminals from doing harm. I feel personally “connected to the cause” of online safety, as I have two children who will spend time online as they grow up. Cybersecurity is one of the most important challenges of our time.
What positive change do you think will take place as we bring the next generation into the cybersecurity industry?
The next generation will have grown up using technology, will know more about threats and social engineering, and will be comfortable using AI. All of these life skills will make them a stronger cybersecurity practitioner.
Who is your role model in the cybersecurity industry and why?
I have been lucky to work with several leaders over the course of my career who I would consider role models. Emily Mossburg, Deloitte’s Global Cyber Leader, is one of them. She is a relentless innovator, and has an unwavering commitment to her people. Emily’s leadership and communication style have had a profound impact on the way I approach my work.
