Heather Reed Shares Storytelling Best Practices With Tech Training Graduates
The Global Career Center (GCC) hosted its inaugural “Enhanced Upskilling Workshop” on the afternoon of Thursday, February 19, 2026. This monthly series is held at the CIC @ CET, located at 20 S. Sarah Street in St. Louis’ West End.
GCC Executive Director Maurice Mahone opened the session by welcoming tech graduates and mentors, outlining a clear vision for the series. The workshops are designed with a threefold mission: to impart critical professional soft skills, provide a forum for real-world practice with actionable feedback, and cultivate lasting connections between emerging tech talent and regional mentors looking to hire.
Sam Fiorello, President and CEO of the Cortex Innovation Community, also welcomed the audience to the CIC. Having dedicated his leadership to building a cohesive community across the region’s innovation landscape, Fiorello commended the attendees for their commitment to continuous professional development.
The participating tech graduates represented a diverse range of premier St. Louis institutions and programs, including Per Scholas, NPower, CyberUp, St. Louis Community College, and Saint Louis University (SLU).
Mentors in attendance brought expertise from a broad spectrum of industries, including the automotive, food service, finance, consulting, and technology sectors.
The session included an introductory segment where each attendee presented their background, their specific training program, and their primary area of interest within the cybersecurity domain. While "ethical hacking" and "penetration testing" are often the most cited career paths, this cohort demonstrated a sophisticated interest in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC). This shift in focus is significant, as GRC serves as a vital entry point and a foundational pillar for successful careers in modern enterprise security.
The afternoon’s featured presenter, Heather Reed, Head of Cybersecurity for Nestlé Purina North America, shared her unique professional journey into the cybersecurity field via a non-traditional path. She highlighted storytelling as a vital leadership tool, demonstrating how it can be used to effectively translate complex, technical data for stakeholders at every level of a global enterprise.
To illustrate the power of narrative, Reed shared a compelling comparison: the difference between identifying as an "Uber driver" versus someone who "enables surgeons, CEOs, and investment bankers to navigate high-stakes environments seamlessly, ensuring they arrive focused and prepared to save lives or close deals." While the underlying role remains the same, the latter framing shifts the focus from the task to the value created. This distinction is vital, as these narratives shape not only how we are perceived by colleagues and leaders but also how we perceive our own professional impact.
Adding to the wealth of expertise, Josh Jaffe, Global CISO for Scout Motors and GCC Board President, joined the session to share industry best practices. Jaffe encouraged the graduates to remain steadfast in their self-investment, emphasizing that the "repetitions"—the consistent practice and refinement of their craft—are often the deciding factor between securing a role and being overlooked in a competitive market.
While many professional development events offer valuable insights, they often lack the structured environment necessary to truly internalize new concepts. The GCC sought to bridge this gap by prioritizing "repetitions," allocating significant time for graduates to refine and present their "Career Journeys" to one another and the mentors in attendance. This deliberate practice allowed attendees to immediately apply their new storytelling skills, receiving real-time feedback in a supportive setting.
The evening concluded with a selection of graduates sharing their stories with the full group, followed by a networking reception. Over refreshments, the dialogue continued, allowing participants to further cultivate the professional relationships that are so vital to the St. Louis tech ecosystem.
The effectiveness of the afternoon’s networking was perhaps best illustrated by a mentor and a tech graduate who committed to recording a podcast episode together at a later date. It is precisely these types of meaningful, high-level connections that bridge the gap between training and employment, opening doors to expanded career opportunities.
Tech Graduate
Cybersecurity Professional Mentor
The GCC extends its sincere gratitude to the Cortex Innovation Community, The Regional Business Council, BJC Health, RubinBrown, and Clayco for their generous support in making this workshop possible. Your commitment to these initiatives is an investment in the future of our region’s talent and the continued growth of the St. Louis tech community.