Zach Tackett: How Hands-On Experience and Networking Open Doors in Cybersecurity

In this episode of The Phillip Wylie Show, Phillip sits down with Zach Tackett, a listener-turned-guest who carved his path into cybersecurity and pentesting through persistence, hands-on learning, and networking.
Zach shares his unconventional journey from a blue-collar upbringing and early struggles with asthma to discovering programming, cybersecurity, and ultimately landing roles supporting NASA and later becoming a security consultant at Secure Ideas. Along the way, he highlights the importance of real-world experience, building labs, and developing the hacker mindset.
This conversation is packed with practical advice for aspiring pentesters, including how to stand out in a competitive job market, the role of certifications vs. experience, and why networking can be more powerful than submitting resumes online.
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Connect with Zach Tackett:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-t-4862b487/
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Connect with your host, Phillip Wylie:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie
X: https://x.com/PhillipWylie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillipwylie