Hard Work Leads To Opportunities For Baltimore Entrepreneur
The Cyber Incubator at UMBC, which provides business and technical support to early stage cyber security companies; and recently awarded two prizes through the Invest Maryland Challenge to local cyber security startups. Neil Sikka is founder and managing partner of one of these companies, A1Logic.
Sikka graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in computer engineering.
What inspired you to get involved in the computer field and then to start your own company?
"I became very interested in computers in middle school, which led to programming courses in high school. This fed my curiosity. Having a mentor pushed me along as well, and internships in college guided me to my interests. My parents were also influential; they gave me very good advice along the way. Since college, I have wanted to start my own software company because I realized I could have the biggest impact on the industry this way. I used my time at Microsoft to sharpen my skills, find another mentor, and spent my 'free' time researching, programming and experimenting with computers. I continue to do this in my free time."
How does your educational background relate to your current role?
"My education helped me understand how software is designed and built so when I am writing code and developing software, I am using exactly what I learned in school."
How has your education helped to further your career and contributed to your success?
"My education gave me the critical tools I needed to understand and build complex software systems, and it also gave me connections I use to this day, who are helpful when I'm trying to find employees or business for my company."
What is some advice you can offer others looking to go into cyber security?
"My biggest piece of advice is do what you love. I started college in two fields but I was most interested in computers. Also, in the computer industry, you can become as good as you care to be without an extremely expensive education. I learned most of what I know by using free learning tools such as Coursera. Last, you can prove your worth by contributing to open source projects, getting patents or writing articles. To do research, all you need is a laptop or a computer available at the local library or high school."
Susan Brown originally spent many years in banking/finance before confronting her addictions. She has now been in recovery for 20 years.
Primary interests include metaphysics and energy healing in which she has several certifications. She has written for Examiner.com since 2009 and also writes for Om Times. Sue lives in Baltimore.
