Edition #7: Preparation in Progress

Author

Dominic Alegrete
September 02, 2025

Lately, I’ve been focused on laying the foundation for what’s ahead.

🚀 Milestones & Moments: Gearing Up & Giving Back

This past month has been all about preparation, whether it’s getting ready for upcoming conferences, planning overseas travel, or staying locked in on personal projects.

One of the biggest things I’ve been working on is something I’ll be releasing soon called The Youngest in Charge Playbook. It’s a guide designed to help young people take control of their lives early.

Whether it’s financial freedom, mental discipline, or building a solid career, the playbook is designed to give you the tools and resources you need to level up. My goal is to help 10,000 young people become financially free within 5 years of obtaining a career in cybersecurity. More to come soon in the next few weeks.

Another reminder, I’ll be speaking at GovTechCon again this year. This time, I’ll be on three panels, two of them are virtual and the other is in person. It’ll all take place at The Square in Washington, DC, which is the new home for the conference.

If you want to catch my in-person panel, I’ll be speaking on the Career Stage on September 12 @ 2:30 PM EST. The topic is Defining Your Legacy in Government Tech. I’m super excited and grateful. Thank you again to Symone Beez and her team for the opportunity.

Outside of that, two of the recent podcast interviews I recorded have officially dropped:

Both conversations were meaningful. I got to tell my story and dive into the creative side of cybersecurity and things we don’t always talk about in tech.

Today also marks nine months since I joined my current company as a SOC Analyst. It’s wild to think that this time last year, I was still looking for a job. It just goes to show that when you lead with positivity and pair it with consistency and discipline, things really can change.

Within my job, I’ve also been looking for ways to grow, so I signed up for SentinelOne’s threat hunting competition happening later this month. It’s my first time doing something like this, but I wanted to challenge myself and further hone my skills.

I’ve also continued my work as a student ambassador with the BEYA STEM Club, which is run by the Becoming Everything You Are (BEYA) STEM Conference, a national event that brings together thousands of students and professionals across all STEM fields. I’ve been grateful for the chance to participate in real conversations with other young students, as well as learn from some of the brightest minds in the STEM field. 

If you’re interested in becoming an ambassador, exploring scholarship opportunities, or watching the show, here are the links to do so:

Lastly, I started college back up for the fall semester. After this semester, I’ll have just one more in the spring, and I’ll be graduating with my associate’s degree in cybersecurity.

Balancing everything hasn’t been easy, but staying committed to the process is what keeps me moving forward. 

🛡️ Cybersecurity Update: TransUnion Breach Exposes 4.4M Records via Salesforce

Targeted phishing campaigns continue to be a major entry point for attackers, and this month, TransUnion was the latest to fall victim.

The company confirmed a breach affecting over 4.4 million people after threat actors exploited their Salesforce environment. It’s another example of how even trusted internal platforms can become risk points if not properly secured.

For more details, read the full article on BleepingComputer.

🔒Breach One, Teach One

This month, I covered a range of topics from how AI is shaping the workforce and cybersecurity space to practical safety tips for travelers and free learning opportunities for students. 

I also broke down recent breaches involving major companies like Allianz and Anthropic.

If you want to keep up with my latest videos, Subscribe to My YouTube.

💪Your Health is Your Greatest Asset

I know summer is coming to a close, and it’s easy to fall out of outdoor habits.

But there are so many health tips out there, and it can get overwhelming trying to keep up. One of the simplest (and free) things you can do for your body and mind is get direct exposure to sunlight.

Just 10 to 20 minutes a day can go a long way. Sunlight helps boost vitamin D, an essential nutrient that supports your immune system, strengthens bones, regulates mood, and even helps with energy levels. It’s one of those things where a little effort each day adds up over time.

And of course, balance is key. Too much sun without proper protection can damage your skin. That’s why it’s just as important to enjoy the sun safely.

Here are some products to help:

Sun Protective Clothing:

❓ Question of the Month

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of preparation behind the scenes, whether it’s building personal projects, sharpening routines, or simply getting ready for what’s ahead.

When it comes to leveling up in your career or personal projects, which skill or mindset shift has given you the biggest return on investment lately?

📚What I’m Reading This Month

This month, I picked up The 12 Week Year by Brian P Moran. It’s all about helping you get more done in less time by focusing on shorter, more effective goal cycles.

If you have any book or article recommendations, reply to this email and send them my way. I’m always open to new insights!

🗓️ Upcoming Events

One upcoming event to check out is GovTechCon, a conference focused on breaking into the government tech space.

📍September 11–13 | The Square, Washington, DC

BEYA Career Day:

On September 13th at 12 PM EST, I’ll be joining other student ambassadors live on the BEYA YouTube channel for Career Day, an open conversation centered around STEM careers, student journeys, and growth in the tech space.

BITCON:

BITCON is the annual Blacks In Technology conference, covering topics like AI, cybersecurity, and software.

I’ll be getting a chance to speak on a panel there. The conference takes place from October 3 to 4 in Nashville, Tennessee.

🔹Resource Spotlight: Fireflies.ai

If you’re like me and find yourself in a lot of meetings, whether for work, school, or personal projects, it can be tough to keep track of everything.

Fireflies is an AI tool that sits in on your meetings and takes notes for you. Afterward, you can review a full summary, pull key points, and even download the audio if needed. It’s helped me stay organized and focus more on the conversation instead of scrambling to write everything down.

Check it out here: fireflies.ai

💭 A Thought to Keep in Mind

“Opportunity does not waste time with those who are unprepared.”

― Idowu Koyenikan

📩 Let’s Stay Connected

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