Exit Buddy 🎙️ Finding Your Personal Brand and Cyber Tribe
We’re excited to share another episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You from our community partners.
In this episode, Army veteran John Stoner shares his resilient path from signals intelligence analyst to cybersecurity leader. With a decade of Army service—spanning time in Afghanistan, Bagram, Ottawa, and NSA headquarters—John was primed for a return to intelligence work after separating. Instead, repeated inconclusive results on the NSA Full Scope Polygraph exam challenged those plans and sparked a career pivot. He opens up about embracing authenticity through his iconic mohawk, navigating a volatile cybersecurity job market, and leveraging military-honed skills like briefing under pressure to bring calm to cyber chaos. John also offers candid advice on building support networks, prioritizing mental health, and discovering purpose.
Key Takeaways
- Authenticity > Conformity: Rock your vibe (mohawk or otherwise). Find a workplace or community that supports your authentic self.
- Prioritize Mental Health: Therapy isn't a last resort—and your spouse and family are not your therapist. Lean on pros to unpack the load.
- Find Your People: Swap Reddit rabbit holes for one-on-one mentors and community. Join cyber tribes like VetSec, BSides, or the Diana Initiative to build support mechanisms outside of your job.
- Fulfillment Hack: True passion can be found in the side quests—not just your 9-to-5.