CloudSEK Announces Winner of the Student Challenge: “Talk to a Cyber Security Professional”
The CloudSEK Student Challenge: "Talk to a Cyber Security Professional" was launched to bridge the gap between academia and the cybersecurity industry through authentic connections and storytelling. We invited college students to step away from textbooks and engage directly with industry leaders who defend our digital world every day.
The response was overwhelming. We received a wave of submissions — each article and video reflecting insightful interviews with CISOs, Security Engineers, and Researchers from diverse domains. The quality, depth, and diversity of entries were truly inspiring, proving that the next generation of defenders is ready to make their mark.
The Winning Story: Curiosity Over Credentials
After careful deliberation, CloudSEK is thrilled to announce the winner of the inaugural Student Challenge, who will receive the top prize of a brand-new PlayStation 5!
Congratulations to Sheldon Menezes for his outstanding entry:
Winning Entry:From Pastebin and IRC to Black Hat: The Journey of Seedon Adlin D'Souza
Sheldon’s piece was a masterclass in showcasing the non-linear, passion-driven path to a successful cybersecurity career. He interviewed Seedon Adlin D'Souza, a Security Engineer and Black Hat Arsenal 2025 Speaker, whose journey from Mechatronics engineering underscores that curiosity and persistence outweigh formal credentials.
The article stood out for its unique insights into:
The power of hands-on, self-taught learning and personal projects like the innovative "Kali on Wheels" portable hacking rig.
The critical role of early community building through platforms like IRC and forums, and later through authentic events like Seasides.
The essential truth that technical skills must be paired with the mental fortitude to overcome the feeling of "why reinvent the wheel" when building custom tools.
A Spotlight on Our Runner-ups and Top Entries
The caliber of submissions revealed a clear theme: the most valuable lessons in cybersecurity extend beyond technical code. Our top entries consistently emphasized the importance of soft skills, adaptability, and mindset.
The following students produced truly remarkable work, earning them the title of Runner-ups, which includes internship interviews with CloudSEK and exclusive goodie bags:
Entry No.
Student/Author
Interviewee
Key Theme/Lesson Extracted
1.
Sheldon Menezes
Seedon Adlin D'Souza
Curiosity Over Credentials: Success is driven by passion, community building, and hands-on persistence, not just formal degrees.
2.
Aadithya Koppikar
Sreenarayan Ashok Kumar
Beyond the Hacker: The importance of soft skills, continuous learning, and integrating security into the development lifecycle.
3.
Hizan Rahman
Anugrah S.R.
Multidisciplinary Roots: Non-CS backgrounds (like Biology) can be an asset, with consistency and problem-solving being the true differentiators.
4.
Kavitha Kumari
Kunal Gambhir
Mentorship and Hands-on Practice: The necessity of having a mentor, utilizing practical platforms, and having a clear career roadmap.
5.
Jagadish B
Kaushik Hatti
Diversity & Psychology: Cybersecurity requires a diverse perspective (Microbiology to CISO) and understanding the human element is critical.
6.
Akshit
Sahil Saini (CISO)
Security as Business Risk: The role of a CISO is primarily about managing business risk, defining policies, and building enterprise-wide resilience.
7.
Mayank Kumar Karn
Akshit Mittal
GRC and Reputation: The importance of Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) and how security protects an organization's brand reputation.
8.
Sanya Bhatia
Mr. Arjun Mehta
Communication is Key: Technical skills are only half the battle; communication is the essential superpower for a security leader.
9.
Chandan L
Adhokshaj Mishra
The Researcher Mindset: Success lies in deep technical fundamentals, discipline, and a persistent, problem-solving attitude.
10.
Sai Jayanth
Vandana Verma
The Passion Path: Cybersecurity thrives on curiosity, consistency, and community — a lifelong journey of learning and sharing, not just coding.
11.
Anirudh H Krishnaprasad
Hussein Misbah (0xMesbaha)
From Competition to Career: The pathway from competitive Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges to becoming a professional Security Engineer.
These top entries, along with the winner, will be featured on CloudSEK’s official blog and social media channels.
Across all the top-ranking articles, a few universal lessons echoed from the professionals to the aspiring defenders:
Focus on the Fundamentals: Do not rely solely on tools; understand the basics of networks, operating systems, and how systems are built.
Soft Skills are Superpowers: Communication, explaining risks to non-technical leaders, and understanding human psychology are essential for success.
Practice and Persistence: Consistently use hands-on platforms like Hack The Box or Bug Bounty programs to demonstrate your ability to solve real problems.
Nurturing the Next Generation
CloudSEK believes that as cyber threats grow globally, initiatives like this ensure the next generation enters the field with a deeper understanding of what it truly means to defend the digital world. The challenge successfully built a bridge between academia and industry, nurturing the talent of young techies.
We extend a massive thank you to every student who participated and to the professionals who shared their stories, struggles, and wisdom. Your contributions are invaluable to the wider security community.
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