Navigating Change: Lessons from a 40-Year Journey in Technology and Cybersecurity

Navigating Change: Lessons from a 40-Year Journey in Technology and Cybersecurity

In a rapidly evolving technology landscape, building a successful and resilient career requires adaptability, continuous learning, and the ability to recognize key moments of change.

This session draws on a 40-year career journey—from programming assembly equipment on the plant floor to advising organizations on complex cybersecurity challenges—highlighting the critical pivots that shaped that path.

Attendees will gain practical insights into how technology and cybersecurity roles have evolved, and what skills and mindsets are needed to stay relevant. The session will conclude with 12 practical, field-tested recommendations to help students and new professionals navigate their careers, adapt to change, and build lasting success in technology and cybersecurity.

Bio

Paul Haughey is a senior cybersecurity professional and trusted advisor with over 40 years of experience spanning Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity, Industrial Control Systems (ICS), engineering, and consulting.

He has led multidisciplinary teams and worked closely with clients to implement technical solutions, identify and mitigate cyber risks, and develop sustainable cybersecurity strategies and programs aligned with organizational risk tolerance and business objectives.

Throughout his career, Paul has supported organizations across a wide range of industries, helping transform operations, solve complex technical challenges, and improve resilience, throughput, and efficiency. As an entrepreneur, he has founded two industrial automation companies and established OT cybersecurity practices within consulting firms.