Category: Pathways

San Diego Cybersecurity Leaders Tackle Talent Gap Amid Rising Cyber Threats

Posted on by Sharla Schuller

The Growing Threat Landscape

Cybersecurity is no longer an IT concern; it’s a critical business imperative. FBI data reveals a staggering 150% increase in cybercrime complaints over the past five years, translating to $37 billion in losses. Couple this with IBM’s report of a $4.88 million average cost per data breach, and the financial implications become clear. Small and medium-sized businesses, the backbone of San Diego’s economy, are particularly vulnerable.

The Talent Crisis

The challenge is compounded by a severe talent shortage and the rapid evolution of required skills, driven by AI and other emerging technologies. With 457,000 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S. and 5,500 in San Diego alone (Cyberseek.org), organizations are struggling to build robust defenses. Moreover, only 14% of organizations are confident they have the necessary skills to meet cybersecurity objectives (WEF). As Journeys Map CEO, Peter Sibley notes, “It has never been more important for Cybersecurity employers to communicate the skills they need currently and as these needs change in the incredibly dynamic environment they operate. AI is literally changing everything.”

Panel Discussion Highlights

Key Insights:

  • Skills Matching: The importance of skills matching to optimize existing talent pipelines.
  • Strategic Workforce Development: Tanner advised organizations to develop strategic workforce plans to leverage untapped potential. 
  • Collaborative Partnerships: Journeys Map works with the military, educational institutions, and employers to create a diverse talent pool.

A recent CCOE panel, featuring industry leaders including one of our very own, Erin Tanner, Client Services Specialist at Journeys Map, Dr. Lance Larson, Co-Director of the Graduate Program in Homeland Security at SDSU and Co-Director of the San Diego Cyber Clinic, and Captain Jonathan Patrick, Cyber Network Operations Officer, Marine Corps Installations West, addressed these critical issues.

Dr. Lance Larson’s Insights

Dr. Larson brought his expertise on emerging threats and AI-driven cybersecurity to the forefront. He emphasized the urgency of proactive defensive strategies, particularly in light of AI’s potential to automate and amplify cyberattacks. “We need to put up those defensive strategies now,” Dr. Larson stated, highlighting the need for robust safeguards and countermeasures. 

Captain Jonathan Patrick’s Perspective

Captain Patrick provided a unique perspective, focusing on the challenges of securing legacy systems and the Marine Corps’ shift to a zero-trust architecture. He stressed the importance of adapting mindsets to the evolving cyber landscape. “We are moving towards zero-trust architecture and having that mindset of ‘Never trust, always verify’,” Captain Patrick explained, emphasizing the need for continuous verification of identities and devices. He also highlighted the importance of updated skill sets and cyber resiliency, noting that a security breach is “not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”

Journeys Map: Bridging the Talent Gap

Erin Tanner highlighted Journeys Map’s role in addressing the talent shortage and the need for agile upskilling. Journeys Map’s platform is designed to translate employer skill needs to applicants and organizations, providing essential upskilling and connecting individuals with personalized career pathways, aligning their strengths and interests with in-demand cybersecurity roles.  

“We offer a sustainable, cost-effective solution,” Tanner explained, detailing Journeys Map’s Employer Recruitment Platform. This platform leverages intelligent landing pages, reverse skill matching, and comprehensive talent ecosystem management to build robust talent pipelines. As Peter states, “We are working to make 2025 a watershed year to grow a sustainable and agile cybersecurity talent pipeline.”

The Journeys Impact:

Journeys Map’s approach enables organizations to build a resilient cybersecurity workforce, reducing time-to-hire and expanding access to skilled talent.

Optimize your cybersecurity talent pipeline. Schedule a Journeys Map demonstration to learn how. Schedule Your Demonstration today!

To delve deeper into the discussion and explore San Diego’s cybersecurity resources, listen to the full panel discussion.

Journeys Map: A Month of Empowering San Diego’s Future

Posted on by Sharla Schuller

From the cutting-edge of cybersecurity to the wonder of STEAM discovery, Journeys Map painted a vivid picture of career pathways across San Diego last month.

The San Diego Cyber Summit 2025 brought together the brightest minds in cybersecurity, and Journeys Map was in attendance to learn the latest from industry experts on the evolving landscape. We shared about Journeys Map as a personalized guide, meeting professionals and organizations where they are and supporting them in their unique journeys. This message resonated deeply, fostering conversations about talent pipeline development and skill gap analysis. The cybersecurity summit displayed how Journeys Map is a valuable tool for professionals and organizations alike, and we were excited to show how it can be used for people of all ages at the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering.

The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering was a vibrant celebration of STEAM education, and Journeys Map proudly represented the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence. Erin hosted a table in the Cybersecurity Zone, an interactive space where attendees of all ages could dive into the fundamentals of online safety, ethical hacking, and cyber defense.

“The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering aims to make learning exciting and accessible for all ages by immersing kids and adults in STEAM education,” says Sara Pagano, Managing Director, San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering. 

Journeys Map seamlessly complemented the other exhibits in the Cybersecurity Zone. We provided a holistic view of cybersecurity pathways, enabling attendees to visualize their potential careers within the field. Being positioned alongside San Diego’s ISACA chapter, which focuses on professional development and best practices, further enhanced our impact.

From curious K-12 students to aspiring computer science majors and seasoned professionals, we engaged with a diverse audience. One particularly impactful interaction involved a transitioning military service member enrolled in National University’s cybersecurity program. She experienced a moment of profound clarity when she could visualize her current skills and educational progress, validating her military experience and academic achievements within the context of the broader cybersecurity landscape. 

The Classroom of the Future Foundation’s 8th Annual, “College and Career Pathways Summit” provided a valuable platform for business and education leaders to explore best CTE practices and innovative technologies. As an annual supporter of CFF and this event, Journeys Map found that the conversations and innovations discussed were perfectly aligned with its mission to bridge the gap between education and the world of work. By providing exposure to diverse career pathways and fostering a deeper understanding of industry needs, Journeys Map empowers students to take control of their future.

Across all events, Journeys Map aimed to instill a sense of empowerment and clarity. We showcased Journeys Map as a personalized guide, meeting individuals and organizations where they are and supporting them in their unique journeys. Whether facilitating talent pipeline development for businesses, illuminating career pathways for students, or bridging the gap between education and industry, Journeys Map provides agency, clarity, and confidence. Our goal was for attendees to understand that they can take control of their future, both individually and as a company, with the support of Journeys Map.

This past month has been a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of empowering individuals to pursue their passions. We are excited to continue building connections and supporting the San Diego community through Journeys Map.

Ready to explore how Journeys Map can support your organization? Schedule a demonstration by contacting Erin Tanner, Client Services Specialist.

Taking Stock of Our National Pathways Infrastructure

Posted on by Sharla Schuller

This week (March 3-5, 2024) was the Educating for Careers Conference, curated by the California ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education) and California Partnership Academies. Nationally, the need for the creation of educational resources, guidance, and pathways to high quality careers has been gaining more attention, but only because the cost of college has become so egregious and out of reach for so many, that policy makers are finally taking notice. Of course the COVID pandemic threw gas on the proverbial fire, as more and more graduating high school students began to choose alternate pathways to employment. 

The Higher Education Act:

In his book Apprentice Nation, author Ryan Craig discusses how we were once a nation of apprenticeships (think George Washington and Paul Revere) which slowly began to introduce higher education as a way for the merchant elite to distinguish themselves. The tide fully turned in the 1960’s with the Higher Education Act which put into law provisions for financial assistance to students and to strengthen the educational resource of the colleges and universities of the United States. Craig states “The ethos of college — equipping young people to fulfill their potential in whatever direction it may take them — is the ethos of America.” He goes on to say how the tide is turning again, and the country has fallen far behind other industrialized nations in the development of robust apprenticeship programs. Far too many students are being left behind, and too many well paying, high quality jobs are going unfilled. Craig offers solutions for addressing these problems, which includes the development of robust pathways programming and a national apprenticeship system. 

One of the keystones of Craig’s augment is the lack of Federal Funding and leadership, with the little money that is trickling into the existing programs often being spent in the wrong places. Having been in the pathfinding space for the past 12+ years, I wholeheartedly agree with Craig’s assessment. 

Building Pathway Programs:

What was clear from the Educating for Careers Conference was that there are legions of dedicated individuals and small teams out there doing yeoman’s work building pathway programs, helping our children find their way, and doggedly staying as current as humanly possible on all the new career clusters, jobs, technologies and industries that are cropping up like daisies after a springtime shower. If you’re a guidance counselor today — you have to familiarize yourself with careers in AI, Cybersecurity, Green Energy, Transportation, and a plethora of new Healthcare jobs — just to name a few. There are so many great new high paying jobs available that don’t require a college degree, that these overworked souls are finding it difficult to keep pace with change. To top it off, they are not given the tools and support to enable enough advancement to keep pace with the rate of change.

Advancement with Little Funding:

Unlike the many higher education and EdTech conferences I’ve attended with fancy graphics & logos, clear leadership organizations, and the extra ‘bells and whistles’ that add to their cache, this conference was bare bones in comparison — a meat and potatoes event as they say. There were hundreds of great speakers and sessions, a solid hall of vendors ready to service the market, but little else. I don’t say this to disparage the organizers, but rather make an example of the fact that there is so little funding and leadership from a national level, that any advancement of the work being done in this space is possible through the sheer will of those involved, and little else. 

I was blown away by the dedication and passion of the attendees — all searching for better ways to guide their charges in the exploration of careers of meaning. They are truly heroes without capes, mild-mannered citizens dedicating their lives in the service of others. 

Just like President Johnson’s Higher Education Act did in 1965, it’s time that our current administration establishes programmatic leadership and funding for the development of a robust pathways program, including apprenticeships. The United States has fallen behind countries like Germany, Great Britain and Australia who have funded, developed and maintained pathways to solid middle class jobs, far outpacing the United States. While access to college remains important for many students, pathways to non-college careers today require skill-based training and systematic change — not college debt. I say let’s support our friends in guidance and pathway management programs, and those students looking for career options that may not require a 4-year degree. There is plenty of financial incentive to do so, as the painful college debt epidemic and >700,000 open cybersecurity positions will attest. 

Final Thoughts:

A big thank you to the wonderful people I met at the 2024 Educating for Careers Conference who dedicate their time, talents and treasures to our nation’s youth. It is my mission to support your work through the development of world-class pathway tools, and advocacy to our elected officials who have the power to affect change on a national scale, which is sorely needed today more than ever.