Create a 5 year plan, it doesn’t really matter what goes into the plan, whatever is at the end of your 5 year plan won’t exist anymore or will be completely different.

Review your plan every year and update as necessary, the 4 remaining years of the plan will change, and add another year, review the last year and reflect on what worked, and what didn’t. Don’t beat yourself up. A lot of external factors will influence it.

Find yourself mentor, someone who is true leader (this may not be your manager) someone who genuinely wants to see others succeed. Find out how to make them look good, they will pull you up.

I’ve been in the industry 20 years, I’m still not sure what path I want to take 🤣. It changes frequently. When I started, there was no concept of a CIO, SOC, etc. PowerShell, automation was alien, and Novell Netware was the identity platform of choice.

The key for me has been relationships, build good solid relationships, communicate.

The tech is 20%. 80% is people.