Marissa Arbour grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia, in a household that valued curiosity and problem-solving. Her mother taught math. Her father worked in logistics. Both encouraged her to ask questions and think things through. At an early age, she became drawn to technology, joining robotics teams and leading her high school tech club.
She carried that curiosity to Georgia Tech, where she earned a degree in Computer Science with a minor in Information Security. While there, she competed in capture-the-flag events that introduced her to cybersecurity as both a technical and creative field.
Marissa began her career as a junior security analyst at an Atlanta consulting firm. She learned the basics by doing the work few people see—testing systems, scanning for weaknesses, and documenting risk. From there, she moved into fintech, helping a growing startup design secure systems and incident response plans.
Her next chapter took place at a regional bank, where she helped modernize security operations and introduce better monitoring tools. These experiences shaped her belief that strong security depends as much on people and communication as it does on technology.
Today, Marissa is a Principal Cybersecurity Analyst at Alphatech Solutions. She leads teams, advises clients, and mentors young professionals. Outside of work, she volunteers in schools, supports women in STEM, and makes time for hiking, yoga, puzzles, and her rescue dog, Pixel. Her path reflects steady growth, thoughtful leadership, and a belief that progress comes from small, consistent choices.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day starts early, before most emails arrive. I review overnight alerts and notes while things are quiet. Mornings are for focused work—analysis, writing reports, or planning projects. I save meetings for later in the day. I also set three priorities every morning. If I finish those, I know I used my time well.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I start small. When I have an idea, I test it in one place first. At a fintech company, I wanted to improve incident response. Instead of rewriting everything, I created one short playbook. It worked, so we expanded it. Small tests make ideas real.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m excited by how AI is helping detect threats earlier. Not to replace people, but to reduce noise. It gives analysts more time to think instead of react.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Writing things down. I keep simple notes about decisions and outcomes. It helps me learn from patterns instead of guessing.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Speak up sooner. I waited too long early in my career, thinking I needed more experience first. Questions matter.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Security training doesn’t have to be boring. People learn better when it feels human and practical.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Slow down before reacting. Most mistakes happen when people rush.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I step away. A short walk or yoga session helps reset my thinking.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Mentorship. Learning from others and helping younger analysts clarified my own thinking.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I once underestimated a security risk early on. It didn’t cause harm, but it taught me to double-check assumptions and ask for peer review.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A simple cybersecurity toolkit for small nonprofits that can’t afford full teams.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Notion. I use it to organize notes, checklists, and long-term ideas.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Atomic Habits. It reminds me that progress comes from small steps.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Mr. Robot. It shows the emotional side of security work.
Key learnings
- Small, consistent actions often create the most lasting progress.
- Clear communication is as important as technical skill.
- Mentorship strengthens both individual growth and team success.
- Stepping back can improve decision-making.
- Thoughtful habits reduce long-term risk.