I grew up in Sydney with a single mother and spent most of my early years immersed in wrestling and boxing. School, on the other hand, was never my thing. I struggled with dyslexia, couldn’t focus in class, and changed high schools three times. I felt like I’d failed at academics altogether.

So, after my HSC, I jumped straight into the workforce. By the following Monday, I had started working at a startup, doing admin and consulting work. I was working 7 days a week, mornings at the office, nights at a restaurant, and weekends landscaping. It was intense, but it built my work ethic.

Later, I joined dell and then veeam_software , where I learned the foundations of infrastructure and cybersecurity. After gaining industry experience, I pursued further education and completed a Diploma of Leadership & Management at @tafensw , awarded in 2020. In 2019, I also enrolled at @latrobeuni to study Applied Cloud Technology, but I stepped away in 2020 to focus on self-driven learning and career growth.

Between 2018 and 2020, I spent time in Florida, USA, meeting tech leaders and learning about the evolving cybersecurity landscape. That’s when the idea for Blackhawk Alert started taking shape. After returning to Australia, a phone call with a close friend inspired me to take the leap. He said,If you build it, I’ll join you and he did.

We launched Blackhawk in late 2020, entirely bootstrapped. We focus on data compliance and cybersecurity for small businesses, built on an education-first model. In 2023, I completed a short online course in Entrepreneurship & Technology from @harvard , which sharpened my perspective even further.

Outside of Blackhawk, I mentor early-stage startup founders and explore my passion for painting. Living in Melbourne, I’m preparing to host art exhibitions and immersive experiences. It’s been fulfilling to see my creative side and professional journey come together in ways I never expected.

For me, it’s never been about money, it’s about freedom. The freedom to build, help others, and keep evolving. I’ve learned that the goal isn’t perfection, it’s resilience. Start where you are, stay curious, and grow.