From NATO to the Corporate World: The Story of a Cyber Expert

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

Hello, my name is Maria Grozdanova and I am a cyber security expert. The position I currently hold is that of global director of cyber threat intelligence at a British company. I studied in London and lived there for many years, as well as for a shorter time in Belgium and Paris as part of my personal and professional journey. I have worked for organizations such as NATO, the British Parliament, and the European Parliament, which gave me extremely valuable experience and laid the foundations for my career development.

 

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood years?

I dreamed of becoming either a singer or a police officer – well, one of them is to some extent fulfilled with the profession I have chosen, while the other, to my great regret, remained just a hobby, despite my numerous performances in childhood and teenage years. I hope very soon to have the opportunity to revive this passion for music and singing with greater strength.

 

At what age did you earn your first money? Share an interesting incident with us?

I was quite young, maybe 5-6, I was the host of a children's television show and I remember that I really wanted a bicycle – well, I managed to buy it with my own money. At that time, I didn't realize much about what was happening, but I remember that this incident was a source of pride and a sweet memory years later.

 

What are the main factors and examples that shape us as individuals at an early age and form our interests? What is your recipe for curiosity, sources of information, and inspiration at this stage of human development?

I believe that the most important prerequisite for a calm and happy childhood, where you could develop your creativity and curiosity, is a close-knit and loving family that supports you unconditionally. Of course, when your parents are engineers and have a passion for knowledge, that cannot help but transfer to you, so I would say personal example is extremely important. My recipe for curiosity is to never stop being inspired by what is happening around you, always read and be interested in how to make your life, as well as that of your loved ones and society better, I believe that only then can you truly find meaning to continue. The development of technology is truly wonderful, but humanity's focus should shift significantly towards a balanced and nature-friendly life if we want to have a future. The main sources and wells of information in the digital age we are in are mainly articles on the internet, but for me, there is nothing better than the touch of a good book or reaching conclusions through experience, empirically.

 

Has there been any significant change in your perceptions in a more mature age regarding what motivates you to do or not do something?

Of course. At different stages of life, perceptions change regarding what would motivate you. If at first it is the desire to prove that you are the best in university or in your internships afterwards, to get the dream job, then at a later stage it is a combination again of wanting to give your best, but also the motivation to find more quality time for rest, for recharging, for time with your closest people.

 

Whose decision was it where to pursue higher education and what to study? Was that decision correct, looking back today?

The decision was mine, despite all the difficulties along the way, I believe that, yes, it was worth it, because it taught me to be more independent and to fully trust myself and my abilities in every situation, as well as to touch different cultures that changed my perceptions a lot and developed me as a person.

 

Share more about your interests, knowledge, skills, and hobbies?

As I already mentioned, music and singing are a great passion of mine, but I am also passionate about tennis for quite a few years and I play whenever I have the chance. I love to travel and explore new places. I am also interested in psychology and personal development.

 

Would you change your profession today and which fields of activity capture your interest?

At the moment I wouldn't, but I am always open to new qualifications and challenges – after all, my profession is quite multidisciplinary.

 

They say that personal branding is everything that people say about you when you are not in the same room with them. What would you like to hear today?

I would like to hear:

“Maria is one of those people with whom you can just be sincere and genuine - whether you are discussing how to stop the next global attack or just having coffee on some terrace and discussing life’s matters. There is always time for her to listen to you, she always finds a way to make you laugh, and notices when you need support and you just want to be part of her life because with her the world seems a little better place.”

That would truly make me happy because it would mean that I have succeeded in being not only a professional but also a person, in front of whom there is no need for roles or masks.

 

Emotional intelligence, adaptability, and flexibility, as well as our soft skills are key conditions for success in recent years. How do you cope with the daily challenges of life to stay in good shape and mood?

I absolutely agree that emotional intelligence, adaptability, and flexibility are key in every aspect of our lives. To cope with stress, I rely on quality time with my loved ones, where I feel loved and shared, sports, time outdoors, away from the office and the screen, time spent in the sun and in nature.

 

What are the most important conclusions you have made so far about maintaining proper communication considering the different characters of the people you meet daily – colleagues, friends, close ones?

-       The analyst falls in love with data - Give him data.

-       Fear hates vacuum. Fill it with a clear picture and plan immediately.

-       In our profession, unprofessionalism and lies are like malicious code with a timer - always detonates at the worst moment.

-       The ego is like a child – if you feed it with attention, then you can calmly say “no” to it.

-       We have two ears and one mouth. Nature obviously knew what it was doing.

 

What do you think about money? What is their influence on your life? What is your advice to people who often ask themselves questions related to money and how sufficient they are?

Money is necessary and important, but you should not live for them, but perceive them as a pure and simple means to feed yourself with better food, to have access to higher quality sports, more travels that will develop you, etc. But that’s it – truly important emotions and virtues like love, sharing, empathy, kindness, compassion cannot be bought even with heaps of money, they are cultivated from early childhood and nurtured by conscious parents! Let the focus be there! And for the more pragmatic people who are tormented by “how much is enough”: calculate the amount that allows you to sleep peacefully and not think about money every day. Everything above that invest in experience, education, people, and experiences - not in things.

 

What is the most valuable career advice you would give to people?

Never accept a job just for the money or the title. Accept it only if you will learn something there that will make you irreplaceable in 5 years and will not kill your curiosity and creativity - this is an investment. And secondly: build a reputation as a person who is highly responsible and always delivers more than promised.