Last updated at Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:28:34 GMT
Welcome back to 7 Rapid Questions, our blog series where we ask passionate leaders at Rapid7 how they’re challenging convention and making an impact. In this installment, we talk to Adrian Stewart, a product manager working on InsightAppSec, Rapid7’s dynamic application security testing (DAST) tool.
How have you grown professionally since joining Rapid7?
The majority of my career has been as an individual contributor, which is where I’ve felt most comfortable. I’m now becoming more involved with the people management side, and at Rapid7, I’ve been lucky enough to work for some amazing leaders. I’ve really learned a lot, and Rapid7 as an organization has also been incredibly proactive for my career progression and continued learning.
What 3 words would you use to describe the culture at Rapid7?
Inclusive, supportive, and surprising. Every organization should strive to be inclusive and supportive, but Rapid7 nails it. Whatever is happening in your day to day, whatever inevitable misunderstandings occur when communication might not be optimal, Rapid7 and the herd have your back, always and without question. I’ve been around long enough to know this is the exception, not the rule. My expectations are constantly exceeded when Rapid7 puts the herd first.
What advice would you give a candidate to stand out in the interview process?
Know your audience. Research on the company executives, products, and locations is a start but not what makes Rapid7 an amazing place to work. Look at the Rapid7 core values and ask how your own values align, because that is where the win-win will come from.
When (or where) are you most productive?
In the office, without a doubt. One chat is worth a thousand Slack conversations.
Which of our core values do you embody the most?
Challenge Convention is the most obvious one. I am constantly asking, “Why is it like this, and how could it be better?” The key is to take a breath and listen to the answers.
What is it that makes cybersecurity such an exciting field?
There are a couple of things to call out, the first being the steep learning curve. It’s impossible to stagnate or become bored as the world realizes why cybersecurity is actually important. The second is, we actually help people. I don’t do this job purely for altruism – I do get paid as well – but knowing that helping our customers protect themselves and their customers is incredibly important for me as a person.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A pilot, but my colorblindness put paid to that. Weirdly, believe it or not, my second choice was programmer, which was almost as unlikely as pilot because this was in the pre-internet days.
Want to join Adrian and his team? We're hiring! Browse our open roles at Rapid7 here.
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