Students chasing certifications. AI is advancing at a faster rate than the curriculum. Entry-level roles demanding 5 years of experience. Organizations are unsure how to onboard junior talent. And a cybersecurity landscape expanding into psychology, forensics, OT, IAM, and beyond.

This conversation with Tejas Shroff, Senior Director of Managed Security Services at NTT DATA and Adjunct Professor at UT Dallas, digs into what the next generation truly needs to thrive in cybersecurity—and what leaders must rethink to prepare them.

We talk about AI as a double-edged sword, the real meaning of “innovation” for early-career professionals, why mentorship still matters, why students shouldn’t chase a rainbow of certifications, and how companies can safely bring in junior talent without putting production at risk.

Key Discussion Points

00:00 – Setting the stage: who Tejas is and why the next-gen conversation matters

03:08 – How AI is reshaping cybersecurity careers

06:25 – Students relying too heavily on AI for learning

09:10 – Will AI replace Tier 1 SOC analysts?

12:45 – How early-career professionals can “innovate” themselves

15:28 – Cybersecurity as the broadest career spectrum in IT

17:45 – Where psychology, philosophy & forensics fit into cyber

20:40 – The fastest-growing areas in cybersecurity

23:20 – Why depth is greater than breadth early in your career

25:15 – Mentorship: the missing link for young professionals

28:05 – How early exposure (CyberPatriot, Scouts, etc.) shapes careers

32:20 – The certification overload problem

36:10 – AI + immigration limits: can AI fill the skills gap?

40:15 – Why junior talent struggles to get hired

44:00 – Using Zero Trust + automation to safely onboard beginners

46:10 – “AI bot mentors” for junior analysts

47:50 – What teaching real-world cyber consulting looks like

50:40 – Academia vs reality — are universities keeping up?

54:20 – Where IAM is heading next

58:00 – How fresh perspectives strengthen veteran teams

1:00:45 – Switching gears: Tejas’ childhood & moving from Mumbai to Dallas

1:05:10 – Life in Dallas then vs now

1:08:15 – Advice for anyone entering cybersecurity today

1:11:40 – Where to find Tejas

1:13:30 – Closing thoughts

If you care about workforce development, future-proofing careers, or creating more intentional pathways into cyber, this one will hit home.

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