Meet Julie Chatman, MBA, CISM - Your Career Guide
I bring a unique perspective to navigating cybersecurity career journeys. I've navigated my own successful career path and I have helped other professionals discover and achieve their career goals. I understand career transitions, and each move I've made was intentional - with three goals in mind: taking on new challenges, learning and growing as a cybersecurity professional, and building leadership skills in different environments.
At Deloitte, I consulted with federal clients on cybersecurity and operational risk operational resilience. When an opportunity came up to lead cybersecurity strategy for a global pharmaceutical company, it felt like the right time to stretch myself in a new direction. I joined GlaxoSmithKline, where I spent 11 months leading the cybersecurity strategy work for the 2022 de-merger. It was intense but rewarding - the project completed on time, within budget, and positioned the organization for success.
My time at McKinsey & Company was fascinating - I consulted with Fortune 100 companies, healthcare payors, a pharma company, and two major U.S. financial institutions on tech strategy and their toughest cybersecurity challenges. I enjoyed the fast pace, but found myself wanting to stick with projects longer and see them through from start to finish.
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) was different - they needed someone to lead during a critical period to handle incident response and compliance. While it was a shorter engagement, I made real improvements to their security and resilience that I'm proud of. (On my LinkedIn profile, you can see a thank you note from the UNOS CEO.)
I actually got my start in cybersecurity at the FBI, which was an incredible foundation. Leading cybersecurity and risk initiatives in national security and federal law enforcement ecosystems taught me so much about handling complex challenges and working across organizations - lessons I still use every day.
And it all began in the U.S. Navy, where I served as a Hospital Corpsman specializing in medical laboratory science and technology. I created study groups and mentoring sessions for fellow corpsmen in the medical laboratory program, discovering how rewarding it was to help others overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
When I volunteered with my local community's Fire & Rescue Department as a Firefighter and EMT, it occurred to me that transferable skills for cybersecurity can show up in unexpected places.
The core skills for emergency response and cybersecurity incident handling are remarkably similar. For example, the ability to stay calm, communicate, problem-solve, analyze, triage, and prioritize, and lead in high-stakes, high-pressure situations translates directly to cyber incident response. And these were skills that my Fire & Rescue teammates and I had to use in the regular course of our duties.
Whether it's a medical emergency or a security breach, the fundamentals remain the same: assess the situation, prioritize immediate threats, communicate effectively with all stakeholders, and execute a coordinated response.
My Approach to Supporting You
Today's cybersecurity landscape evolves rapidly. I stay at the forefront of industry developments through active participation in professional organizations, speaking engagements at major conferences, and ongoing collaboration with cybersecurity leaders across sectors. This allows me to provide guidance that combines deep experience with current industry insights and emerging opportunities.
Today's employers are seeking professionals with a blend of technical expertise and business acumen. Success in this field requires more than implementing solutions - it requires understanding how your work drives organizational outcomes and creates business value.
Throughout my career, I've helped professionals at all stages blend of technical excellence with business understanding. My approach focuses on building the technical capabilities and strategic mindset needed for long-term career success. My proven track record includes guiding newcomers to their first cybersecurity role and helping experienced professionals step into leadership positions or pivot to new cybersecurity domains.