East Meets West: Pakistani Professional Journeys
§ The goal of this podcast is to provide stories and experiences of Pakistani professionals in their respective industries and to allow listeners to be more informed of their field of interest.
§ A common connection being Pakistani roots allows for relatable stories for individuals who are looking to grow in their profession or simply want to learn more about a particular field.
§ There will be no industry left untouched from start-ups, traditional careers paths or newer outlets such as podcasts, YouTube or side hustles. Join me as we explore the various careers that Pakistani professionals are working at in the West.
East Meets West: Pakistani Professional Journeys
S2 EP6 | CTO At Armis | Ft. Mohammad Waqas
In this episode of the East Meets West Pakistan Professional Journeys podcast, we feature Mohammad Waqas, a seasoned information security professional with a rich background in IT and cybersecurity. Born in Karachi and raised in New York before moving to Canada, Waqas shares his unique journey from his initial aspirations in healthcare to becoming the CTO at Armis. Highlighting the importance of embracing one's roots and the value of family history, Waqas also discusses the significance of resilience, personal growth, and the power of mentorship in shaping successful careers. Additionally, he offers insightful advice for those aiming to break into the cybersecurity field, emphasizing the broad opportunities available and the importance of starting somewhere to foster continuous learning and development.
0:00 Intro
01:30 Experience in Pakistan
05:57 Transition To Canada
08:43 Struggle of Shifting University Field
13:44 When to Know The Best Time To Pivot From University Degree
18:13 Appropriate Planning For Your Career
19:54 Interest in Information Tech
22:41 Microsoft Career Mapping
24:13 Importance of Soft Skills
27:59 Importance Of Figuring Solution Yourself
33:23 experience at Trilium health partners
38:49 Security Analyst Role at Trillium
45:15 Breaking Into Cybersecurity
49:33 Experience at Armis
56:01 How do you Define success
01:00:54 Culture Roots to Maintain