Currently the Chief Information Security Officer at Unity Bank in Nigeria, Zechariah Oluleke Akinpelu strategically shaped his career with a focus on cybersecurity in the financial sector. He went from being a talented full-stack developer that built websites to a specialist that ensures websites and other applications are properly secured. In today's digital landscape, all organizations, but especially financial institutions, must invest in proper cybersecurity measures, and it's thought leaders like Zechariah who propel cybersecurity into the future with new tools and technologies.
At Unity Bank, Zechariah was brought into the organization to structure the bank's strategic plan for the years to come. He's diligently working to set up an Information Security Group within the organization, ensuring that cybersecurity is properly staffed and supported for even the most far-fetched scenarios. Zechariah spends his days strategizing with his team, running penetration tests, simulating security breaches, and implementing new security measures within the organization. He brings a sharp approach to every project and keeps the following quote in mind no matter what he's doing: "Security isn't something you buy, it's something you do, and it takes talented people to do it right."
As a leader, finding talented individuals to join his teams and strive toward a collective vision can be a challenge, but time and time again, Zechariah is impressed by the rising stars within his field. He remembers being a young software engineer, looking for a chance to prove himself, and now, from the other side, he tries to give as many new industry professionals the chance to prove themselves and build their dream careers.
Competing in hackathons and programming competitions helped Zechariah keep his skills sharp and continue to challenge himself. In fact, he was named the Ethical Hacker of the Year in 2016. Now, competing in these competitions doesn't happen as often for Zechariah, but he's incredibly committed to staying involved. Whether it's judging a hackathon or writing an exam for the EC Council Certified Ethical Hacker examination, Zechariah gives back to the cybersecurity community in immeasurable ways.
For over 8 years, Zechariah has been an examiner for Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification, he is also a member of the Certified Data Privacy Solution Engineer (CDPSE) Certification Working Group since 2021. He helps ensure the integrity and quality of the certification program and writes exam content as well as other training materials. He enjoys incorporating new data problems into the course; with an ever-changing global data landscape, cybersecurity professionals have to stay on their toes and prepared for anything, including Zechariah.
More recently, he was asked to be a member of the Forbes Technology Council, an organization that brings together senior-level technology executives and offers a platform for idea sharing, industry discussions, and more. As cybersecurity becomes a focal point in the world of technology, minds like Zechariah's are imperative to the success of any new technology. Giving speeches, writing papers, and continuously learning are imperative for any leader, but for Zechariah, these are his favorite career aspects. Moving from being a talented software engineer to a leader in the cybersecurity space brings a massive amount of added pressure, but for Zechariah that added pressure serves as an exciting motivator.
Busy leading the security arm of a major financial institution in Nigeria, Zechariah still has time to take his expertise out of the office, bring it to new environments, and add value in a range of audiences. Working with young software engineers, long-time industry executives, and everyone in between is the most sustainable path to progress. Zechariah's impact spans much further than any office or boardroom; with his unending commitment to his craft, he's changing the world.
