Cyber career mentoring · Australia
You’ve done the courses and sent the applications, and you’re still waiting for your break. With the right plan and a mentor in your corner, you can find your way in.
A relaxed chat to talk about where you are and where you want to go.
The gap
You’ve studied, finished a bootcamp or taught yourself. But every “entry-level” job wants 2 to 3 years of experience, and most applications go unanswered. It’s not because you’re not good enough. Nobody has shown you how to cross the gap, and that’s exactly what we’ll do.
“Entry-level” cyber jobs ask for 2 to 3 years of experience. You can’t get experience without a job, and you can’t get a job without experience. You’re not sure what to do next.
Your resume reads like a list of courses, and you’re not sure how to make your past jobs and study count for a cyber role.
You don’t know anyone in the cyber industry to ask for advice, feedback or a referral. Every application goes in cold, the rejections and silence keep piling up, and you’re starting to wonder if cyber is really for you. You’re close to giving up on the dream.
The Purple Squirrel approach
Launchpad is a 4-week mentoring program for early starters who are ready to land their first cyber role. You learn alongside others in the same spot as you.
Every week has a clear purpose, and each one builds on the last. By the end, you’ll have a direction, a stronger resume and real interview practice behind you.
Each cohort has only 4 to 6 people. Everyone gets time to talk through their own situation, ask questions and learn from each other.
Group sessions give you the big picture and the support of people on the same journey.
You won’t just listen. Each week ends with a small, practical task that sets you up for the next one, so you keep moving forward between sessions.
You’ll learn what hiring managers actually look for, from someone who has built cyber teams and hired junior analysts. No guesswork, no generic online advice.
We won’t promise you a job, because no one honestly can. What we will do is make sure you walk into every application and interview prepared, clear and confident.
The four pillars
Launchpad is built on four pillars that work together to take you from learning cyber to landing your first role. They cover the part of breaking in that courses and certifications leave out.
Pillar 01 / 04
Find the cyber role that suits your strengths, spot the gaps you need to close, and set clear next steps.
What you work towards
Knowing exactly where you’re headed, and why.
Pillar 01 / 04
Find the cyber role that suits your strengths, spot the gaps you need to close, and set clear next steps.
What you work towards: Knowing exactly where you’re headed, and why.
Pillar 02 / 04
Turn your resume and LinkedIn into a story employers understand, and make your past jobs and study count.
What you work towards: Being seen for what you can really do.
Pillar 03 / 04
Build experience before your first role, find opportunities beyond job boards, and prepare for interviews.
What you work towards: Walking into every interview prepared and confident.
Pillar 04 / 04
Handle rejection and silence, keep your momentum, and stay focused when progress feels slow.
What you work towards: The staying power to keep going until you’re in.
Who this program is for
Launchpad is for early starters who are ready to land their first cyber role. However you got here, if you’re putting in the work and still waiting for your break, you’re in the right place.
“I’m finishing my degree, but I have no idea which cyber role to aim for, and I’m struggling to land an internship.”
You’ve learned the theory, but internships are competitive, and your course hasn’t shown you which path suits you.
How Launchpad helps: A clear target role and a plan to stand out from other graduates.
“I paid for the bootcamp and got the certificate, but I’m still not getting interviews.”
You’ve invested time and money in your skills, but your resume isn’t turning that effort into interviews yet.
How Launchpad helps: A resume and LinkedIn that show employers what your new skills are worth.
“I’ve watched hours of training videos and finished a stack of free courses, but I can’t prove any of it to an employer without real experience.”
You’ve shown real drive by teaching yourself. Without a job title, though, it’s hard to get employers to take your learning seriously.
How Launchpad helps: Practical ways to build real experience, and the confidence to talk about what you know.
Your journey with us
Five steps from your first conversation to your plan.
See your 4 weeksPick a time that suits you on the contact page, or send an enquiry if you have a question first. A booked call is confirmed by email.
Talk it through together: where you are, where you want to go, and whether Launchpad is the right fit. Enrolment details and next cohort dates are confirmed by reply.
A small cohort of 4 to 6 people, live on Google Meet in Melbourne time. This is where the learning happens and where your network starts.
Email support between sessions, so questions don’t have to wait.
You finish with a clear career plan, a stronger resume and LinkedIn, and real interview practice, so you know exactly what to do next.
Why Launchpad
There’s no shortage of cyber courses and online advice. What’s missing is someone who knows how hiring really works, and who will take the time to help you through it. That’s what Launchpad gives you.
I’ve built cyber teams and hired junior analysts. I know what makes a candidate stand out, and what quietly gets them passed over.
What it means for you: You’ll know what actually gets you shortlisted, instead of guessing.
Each cohort has only 4 to 6 people. Everyone gets time to share their situation, ask questions and get advice that fits them.
What it means for you: You’re never just a face on a screen.
No hype and no job guarantees, because no one can honestly promise one. Just clear advice and practical steps you can act on every week.
What it means for you: Real progress you can see, and guidance you can trust.
Meet your mentor
I didn’t start in cyber. My first role was on the IT helpdesk, resetting passwords and fixing laptops, and wondering how people ever made the jump into security. So I know what it feels like to be on the outside looking in.
I worked my way in, and went on to lead cyber security across banking, retail, energy and local government, most recently as Head of Cyber Security. Along the way, I’ve built teams, hired analysts and helped many people start their careers.
I’ve also seen too many talented people give up on cyber because no one showed them the way in. Launchpad is the guidance I believe every early starter deserves: honest, practical and personal.
I found my way in. Let’s find yours.
Bootcamps and certifications teach you technical skills. Launchpad helps you use those skills to land your first role. We focus on the part courses leave out: choosing the right direction, presenting your experience, standing out to employers and preparing for interviews. Think of it as the bridge between learning cyber and getting hired.
Group sessions are live and not recorded. That keeps the space open, so everyone feels comfortable sharing their situation. If you know you’ll miss one, let me know beforehand and I’ll send you the key points and any tasks for the week.
Yes. All sessions run live on Google Meet, so you can join from anywhere. Sessions are scheduled on Melbourne time, so if you’re in another state or overseas, check the session times work for you before you join.
You’ll finish with a clear career plan, a stronger resume and LinkedIn, and real interview practice, so you know exactly what to do next.
Whether you’re exploring your first cybersecurity role or looking for clearer direction, we’re here to help you find a way forward.