From Physics to Cybersecurity: Tolu’s Unexpected Career Pivot
Meet Toluwanimi Banji, the tech bro who considers himself a superhero. Here’s how Tolu went from Physics graduate to working as a Cybersecurity Personnel in an international company.
This publication focuses on sharing experiences and narratives on how ‘techies’ have gotten into tech, highlighting their challenges, motivations, and insights on how they have navigated the tech landscape from different starting points. If you would like to share your Rookie to Techie journey please fill this form.
How did you get introduced to tech?
Toluwanimi: My first introduction to tech was quite early actually. Towards my first holiday in university.
I worked with an IT company CWG Plc in Lekki. At the time it was just a “get a summer job to be busy” kinda situation. I was hell bent on studying physics cause of my love for it from secondary school, so when my dad said let’s get you busy each holiday—he meant work (laughs) And I couldn’t really find anything related to physics for a summer job so I ended up working as an IT support intern at CWG.
That’s true, you mentioned that you studied physics, how was that like for you considering you don’t even do anything related to physics now?
T: (Laughs) It was quite frustrating actually. It was like studying and understanding the theoretical part of everything that you learnt in high school and university but not being able to actually apply it. I mean I was so interested in a lot of things physics-wise and was looking forward to trying them. In retrospect, I didn’t get the opportunity back then because there are not so many job opportunities in Nigeria.
I know this. My brother studied physics and now he is doing Digital marketing (laughs).
T: See! It’s like, why have it in the Nigerian education syllabus for universities if we don’t have proper demand for it in the job market? The only option people have is to learn what they can and leave the country to go further their studies in the same field before they can even land a role abroad. It’s just sad. Talk about growing up with an interest in mind, leaving school and not being able to do it. That’s the case with some of us.
What exactly did you do at this summer job that made you want to pivot into tech?
T: The funny thing is that I still didn’t want to get into IT after that. Let’s say I had a second wake up call. At that time I was hell bent on keeping my physics dream alive, I only did the job because I had this pact with my dad. I’m not saying I didn’t like the summer job and all, I loved it. It was fun learning something new and being able to handle, learn and solve technical bits from time to time.
But I still felt it wasn’t entirely what I was going to consider as a first job leaving school.
It was after my second internship at an IT company, IPNX that I realized, yes, I want to pivot into tech!
How nice, some of us don’t even know what we want to do yet. Anyway, I have a simple question for you, Tolu. Why Cybersecurity?
T: My journey into Cybersecurity started after a personal encounter with a security incident at my workplace. I was right in the middle of the chaos. Seeing firsthand the disruption it caused – how it affected my colleagues not just professionally but emotionally was a huge moment for me.
I found myself pondering a crucial question: ‘How can I prevent others from experiencing this?’ This thought became the motivation for my commitment to cybersecurity. I saw it as my duty to contribute to creating a safer online environment.
What started as a personal mission turned into a passion and the more I learned, the more fascinated I became.
Ah ah. Super hero!
T: Yes, I am Spiderman, the Nigerian version (laughs).
Speaking of ‘learning’ where did you get resources from and how long did it take you to grasp what cybersecurity entails?
T: I was lucky enough to start under a team lead who was keen on us understanding IT as a whole before diving deeper into specialized parts. The first resource I approached was the Google IT Support Professional Certificate on Coursera. It covered various IT domains, but Cybersecurity immediately caught my attention. It just stood out from the rest. For beginners who want to get into cybersecurity, Coursera is a really good starting point, plus platforms like edX and Udemy.
And let’s not forget YouTube! Youtubers like John Hammond and David Bombal have made learning Cybersecurity so accessible and interesting.
For how long it took me, I’ll say about a year. But here’s the thing: Cybersecurity is in almost every IT domain because, security should be added at the start, not as an afterthought. So, even though I I learnt the basics in like one year, I see learning in Cybersecurity as a continuous process.
Do you have a job right now?
Yes, I do. I work as a Cybersecurity Specialist at Trend Micro. It’s an international company but I work with the AMEA region.
Look at you, big man. What’s Trend Micro about?
It’s a Cybersecurity software company, we develop enterprise security software for servers, containers, & cloud computing environments. Our platform delivers central visibility for better, faster detection and response and a powerful range of advanced threat defence techniques optimised for environments, like AWS, Microsoft, and Google.
It’s giving! Walk me through how you got the job at Trend Micro?
T: The opportunity at Trend Micro began with a LinkedIn post shared by my mentor, suggesting I apply for the CPITS program by Trend Micro. It was the first time the program was introduced in our region, targeting Nigeria and other African countries. I often joke that I should frame that LinkedIn post one day because it truly changed the course of my career.
I applied, and the recruitment process was so engaging. They wanted candidates who had like the basic knowledge but were also passionate about cybersecurity. After a rigorous 9-week program, which had daily Zoom sessions from 9AM to 5PM, they offered full-time positions to a few people and I was fortunate to be among them.
I was actually impressed by the attention Trend Micro gave to our selection and training. The program improved my technical skills and increased my understanding of the various roles available within the Cybersecurity industry and it helped me see what’s possible in cybersecurity.
There’s no journey without challenges so spill, what challenges have you faced so far and how have you solved it?
T: Every journey has its challenges, and mine in the Cybersecurity field has been no exception to be honest. One of the challenges I faced was when I was transitioning from basic IT knowledge to the advanced part of cybersecurity. I used online resources, sought mentorship and this helped me build confidence when I applied theoretical knowledge to real tasks.
Another challenge was maintaining work-life balance. Omo, the demands of the field often extend beyond regular working hours, especially during a security breach or when a critical update needs to be deployed. I had to establish boundaries and manage my time well.
Lastly, staying updated with the latest trends and technologies in Cybersecurity can be a lot. So what I do is, each week I dedicate time to learning. Whether it’s reading industry publications, attending webinars, or experimenting with new tools, I make sure to keep my skills and knowledge current.
See you waxing lyrical. Tolu on the beat.
T: (Laughs) Album dropping soon.
What are the perks of your job that you like?
T: One of the most exciting perks of my job in Cybersecurity is definitely the opportunity to travel. It’s not just about visiting new places; it’s about seeing different cultures and meeting people.
Also I work remotely which helps me maintain a work-life balance and gives me the freedom to pursue personal projects. So, at the moment, I’m leveraging this flexibility to launch a startup, which is a really exciting.
If you were not doing Cybersecurity, what other role in tech do you think you would be good at.
T: I have a new found interest in product design. The process of building products from the ground up is very appealing to me, especially how good design feeds into user experience and functionality.
Any advice for a rookie looking to get into Cybersecurity?
T: Entering Cybersecurity requires curiosity, continuous learning, and practical experience. Engaging with the cybersecurity community helps.
Also when you get jobs, handle them like you’re securing your network. Remember, every expert began as a beginner. There will be times when you’ll question if this is worth it and this is where passion comes in.
