The Lift, episode 2: from Cybersecurity consultant to Team Leader with Gauthier Segond

TLTR

• A new beginning: after 10 years in IT within the industrial sector, Gauthier Segond joined Orange Cyberdefense at the end of 2020 as a consultant following a decisive conversation with his manager, Simon Deterre ; 
• Skill development: surrounded by experts and continuously trained (Cloud, risks), Gauthier enhances his expertise working with SMEs and becomes the true "Swiss Army knife" of the team ; 
• Career progression: in 2024, thanks to his boldness and internal mobility, he realizes his career growth by becoming a team manager.
  Orange Cyberdefense’s "Hacking spirit": passionate about crisis management, Gauthier embodies a mindset based on reactivity, mutual support, and mutual trust.

"The Lift": from the industrial sector to Cyber Management, the inspiring Journey of Gauthier Simon at Orange Cyberdefense

How to succeed in career development in cybersecurity? Having joined Orange Cyberdefense in 2021 as a consultant after ten years in IT in the industrial sector, Gauthier Segond has strengthened both his technical skills and interpersonal skills. Thanks to managerial mobility and a stimulating environment based on trust, discover the journey of a bold expert at the heart of the "Hacking spirit."

The Lift: The floor is yours

They call me the "Swiss Army knife". Without being an expert in everything, I can intervene on many topics and simplify them for clients, especially SMEs and mid-sized companies, explains Gauthier Segond, Cybersecurity Consultant at Orange Cyberdefense.

When did your paths cross? In what context?

Gauthier Segond, Cybersecurity Consultant at Orange Cyberdefense: "It was late 2020, in the very particular context of Covid. I had been working directly for an industrial client for 10 years. Managing heavy IT aspects for 250 people alone, I was seen more as support service. I had largely done my job and lacked recognition. What held me back? The good relationships I had with colleagues. Then Covid arrived: lockdowns, remote work... The bonds weakened, and I felt it was time to leave. After a few video interviews with Simon, we met at a restaurant because the offices were closed due to Covid. It was quite unusual! I immediately knew it was the right position for me. In fact, that very evening, I abandoned my other job search options."

Simon Deterre, Consulting Director North at Orange Cyberdefense: "On my side, I was developing our footprint in the Hauts-de-France area, and I identified that we lacked a more specialized profile in governance. We were staffed to work with large accounts but not to support SMEs, which are less mature in these areas. Orange Cyberdefense pays great attention to small businesses, which are the backbone of the economy: protecting small ones means protecting the big ones! I needed a hybrid profile, capable of speaking both technical and governance language with SMEs, mid-sized companies, and public authorities.
In short, a pragmatic consultant able to give clear and frank advice to a regional CIO. If Covid taught us anything during this period, it’s that recruiting within a broader radius than 40 km around Lille was possible. Gauthier, who lives more than an hour away, might not have applied if telecommuting hadn’t been an option. I remember our first meeting at the restaurant: he was much taller than in the video!

I like talking with candidates outside a strictly professional framework. We can speak more openly, it’s easier to perceive each other's values, and to know if we’re making the right recruitment choice."

When you joined Orange Cyberdefense, what what your skillset, and what did you learn?

Gauthier Segond: "Of course, I had technical skills, but I mainly learned to change worlds. For my first governance mission with a client specializing in gaming accessories, I was uncomfortable because I had to adapt to new terms and a different way of working. During my ten years in the industrial sector, I worked alone and had never been challenged to push myself: I was the expert. And here, I was challenged, my work was evaluated. I learned to lead missions with others, surrounded by peers willing to help me. It was very stimulating! I also evolved in my interpersonal skills. In the industrial sector, my contacts could be machine operators or blacksmiths... We talked without really formalizing it. I learned to adopt the right tone with teams, with the appropriate level of support."

What has been your career evolution at Orange Cyberdefense?

Gauthier Segond: "Joining in 2021 as a consultant, I learned a lot from my peers. Without being an expert in everything, I can intervene on many topics and explain them to clients, especially SMEs and mid-sized companies: I’m called the Swiss Army knife! In 2024, I seized an opportunity to become a manager, as there was movement in the management line at that time. I discussed it with Simon at a restaurant - again! -and followed up several times over a few weeks to demonstrate my interest. This managerial mobility required me to be bold, to seize the opportunity at the right moment."

What skill upgrades have you benefited from to hone your senior expertise at Orange Cyberdefense?

Gauthier Segond: "Every year, in agreement with Simon, I choose a training related to my profession from the quite extensive catalog of Orange Cyberdefense. I trained on Cloud, but also on risk analysis, for example. When I became a manager in 2024, I received training on team management."

What role did Simon play in your professional development?

Gauthier Segond: "From our very first exchanges, I quickly understood I could have growth prospects. I felt that in this professional environment, it would be possible to learn, share, and be more useful. Later, when I wanted to move into management, Simon was there for me."

How do you breathe Orange Cyberdefense's Hacking spirit?

In our team, the mindset can be summarized as "uncomplicated expertise": there’s a very good atmosphere, and we speak frankly, says Simon.

What hard skills and soft skills immediately standed out with Gauthier?

Simon Deterre: "Technically, I quickly saw that Gauthier never repeats the same mistakes, with a great ability to improve and progress. That’s an essential quality. Cyber consultants appreciate their work environment because Orange Cyberdefense offers innovative topics and quality relationships. Our challenge is both human and technical, with a lot of cohesion."

What is your shared vision regarding career development opportunities at Orange Cyberdefense?

Simon Deterre: "Motivated consultants can go far. As a manager, I open doors, connect people, but it’s also up to employees to take initiatives, reach out to others. I don’t make career plans for others, but there are many supports and opportunities."

Gauthier Segond: "We feel capable of evolving when trust is there. It allows us to work autonomously and act in the client’s best interest, even if it means deviating from the initial plan. For example, I was supposed to do an audit for a client on Monday morning, but lightning struck their data center. The client wanted me to come back later, but I stayed to turn the audit into an assistance mission. I solved the problem, and the client was delighted. At Orange Cyberdefense, initiatives are encouraged, just like career development."

And what is your view of our company culture, the famous "Hacking spirit"?

Gauthier Segond: "I believe trust is key."

Simon Deterre: "Our company culture is based on transparency. It creates the conditions for healthy, solid collaboration. In fact, I recall an intern who summarized our mindset as 'uncomplicated expertise.' That’s very accurate. Our Group culture is based on versatility, cohesion, and good relations. The 'Hacking spirit' requires reflexes, understanding threats, knowing the limits of tools, and the risks of compromise. But also cultivating boldness, thinking against oneself to see problems from another angle."

An anecdote to share? A piece of advice that left an impression? Something you’ve never dared to say before?

Simon Deterre: "I remember a client, a major community in Hauts-de-France area, calling me at 11 a.m. to resolve a major crisis—a ransomware attack with data leakage. I immediately thought of Gauthier. He dropped everything to fix the problem, worked very well with the CIO. The activity was able to restart smoothly, strengthening the client relationship."

Gauthier Segond: "Yes, I remember! I was about to start an important mission a few days later, and we reorganized internally. I discovered I liked working in crisis and tension situations. It’s a memorable experience."

Artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing in cybersecurity: is it already impacting your work?

Gauthier Segond: "AI cannot replace client relationships, handshakes. It’s an interesting tool to help produce deliverables and extract KPIs faster. But the more autonomy we give it, the more we need to control it. It’s an additional tool that should not be decision-making."

Simon Deterre: "I doubt AI will replace the expert. Junior roles, maybe partially. AI is an opportunity to secure services against threats. We need to find a way to work with this new tool."

Explore the other episodes of our series "The Lift: the floor is yours" at Orange Cyberdefense, by clicking below.