Courtney Jackson got her start in information technology during her tenure in the U.S. Navy. After completing her military service, she took an entry-level position as an IT Help Desk Representative, impressively working her way up to a c-suite security executive in a span of a career before exiting the corporate space to pursue her entrepreneurial endeavors full-time.
While working for several years as a c-suite executive, she was executing many aspects of the business and essentially running the company in pursuit of someone elses dream. She took the leap of faith when she decided to pursue her own dream of running her own business.
Paragon Cyber Solutions LLC is comprised of a team of industry experts who specialize in IT and cybersecurity services with decades of hands-on certified experience. Specific to the government, the firm provides risk management framework (RMF) support to help systems, networks, and applications receive Approvals to Operate (ATOs) in support of the warfighter. Paragon Cyber Solutions also provides system / database administration, security engineering, and unit support to special operations forces and military personnel.
Jackson bootstrapped Paragon, without any mentors or guidance, from a startup company to an award-winning second-stage company. The firm has been recognized with the small business of the year award and honored as a business to watch. Jackson is an active mentor, presenting at roundtable discussions, speaking on the International Womens Day panel, and at the PACE Center for Girls career exploration day.
She initiated the cybersecurity apprenticeship program approved by the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Paragon is currently the only company that offers it.
As a Navy veteran, she makes it a priority to support our military veteran community with programs like Skill Bridge and Hiring Our Heroes that help them transition into the civilian world, said her staff. While she is very business-minded, she is also mindful of her team members and ensures they are taken care of.
Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is important to Jackson. Each team member knows that they have a voice and that they are so much more than a number, said her staff.
As a leader, Jackson said adaptability is crucial. As a leader, being adaptable is important to navigate change, drive innovation, boost employee engagement and morale, customer satisfaction, and strategic planning, she said. I attribute my adaptability to serving active duty. There were many military situations where things changed, and I had to immediately change course without question.
