Trustpilot’s Stu Hirst: Leading the charge from music to cybersecurity

TLDR:

• Stu Hirst transitioned from a DJ and sound engineer to become the Chief Information Security Officer at Trustpilot.
• His career journey highlights the intersection of creativity and cybersecurity, the evolution of the field, and the importance of adaptability.

Ahead of Cloud & Cyber Security Expo at ExCeL London on 6-7 March, Stu Hirst reflected on his unique trajectory from a DJ and sound engineer to a leading figure in cybersecurity. In 2010, a pivotal year for Hirst, he took a sabbatical from banking to pursue music full-time, only to transition to cybersecurity at Trainline due to financial impracticalities. Hirst sees parallels between the rapid pace of technological change in music and cybersecurity. His entry into cybersecurity coincided with the monumental shift towards cloud computing, revolutionizing application development and operational agility. Hirst values traits like integrity and adaptability when assembling a cybersecurity team. A challenging year in 2023 tested his resilience as he navigated a substantial loss of hearing, highlighting the importance of adaptability and community support in personal and professional growth. Looking ahead, Hirst remains focused on his work at Trustpilot and further engagement with the cybersecurity community, embodying the essence of continuous learning and adaptability.