The Journey from Football To Software Engineer
In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, the UMGC Podcast, host Lauren Cardillo welcomes Brandon Blackwell, Director of Software Development at CyTech Services and ÐÒ¸£±¦µ¼º½ alumnus.
Moving from the football field to pursuing a career in the high-demand, cybersecurity industry, Brandon shares his personal journey, including how he balanced work while earning his degree from UMGC, to now working alongside his brother and to help lead their cybertechnology consulting firm. From family values to striving for excellence and giving back to the community, Brandon's story is one of resilience, impact, and the transformative power of education. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about overcoming obstacles, pursuing dreams, and transforming into the best version of yourself!Ìý
Episode Information
Brandon Blackwell:
Just do it. If you're at the point where you're considering getting a degree, you understand the values. You understand what it is that you want to achieve as a result of getting it. And don't be afraid to go beyond your obstacles because they're going to be there regardless. Life is always going to have someone that as a support system, have someone that you can talk to about school.
They may not have a degree. They may not be able to understand or relate to what it is that you are doing, but to have someone that can respond to you, when you have those moments, ramble and ramble on something.
Intro:
Welcome to the UMGC podcast. Unstoppable Stories with your host, Lauren Cardillo.
Lauren Cardillo:
Today, I'm joined by Brandon Blackwell, a UMGC grad.
Welcome, Brandon. Thanks for being here, giving us a little time. So currently, you're a Director of Software Development at Scitech Services, which sounds really cool. But why cyber? What drew you there?
Brandon Blackwell:
So what drew me to cyber? I don't know what that was. Um, in cyber and that particular field spoke to me because I don't know my personality.
So I like knowing how things work. Um, I like things that make a difference. And for me, cyber truly makes a difference in a different way than being connected tangible in the world. So you're behind the scenes, um, you're on the laptop, you're doing things that seem astronomical. And that's what spoke to me and led me to that field.
Lauren Cardillo:
When was it you realized that? What was that moment where you sort of opened your laptop and you went, Ooh, this is like, really cool. You know,
Brandon Blackwell:
So that goes back to when I'm very little. So my parents had a computer, um, and like a little studio. And so I would go in there to play computer games like, um, you know.
Things of that, you know, put put at the time or something like that. So I'm going in there. I'm having to open files. I'm clicking things. I'm seeing, you know, the little icons you have to do when you 1st start up and you have to configure it to execute. And I was like, okay, this is very interesting. So, uh, going from there.
So then, you know, riding bikes, playing toy cars and other things. I'm taking them apart to see how they work and see how they operate and then put them back together. But okay, so this, this is how this works. Um. Yeah. And that lead into cyber, you know, it's like, okay, so I'm working with the computer and now I'm doing small things like, um, open applications, or I want to install something to play a game.
And that requires me to modify, um, you know, certain files. So, it's like, okay, now I want to know what that really is doing on the back end. How can I recreate that at a larger on the large scale? A pivotal moment where I really dug into this, though, was after I end up suffering that ACL tear in college. I haven't played football from the age of 5 up until now, 18.
So this has been something that's consisting my life. And so I'm majoring in information. I'm majoring in computer science, switching to ISM at a later period. But for me, that was plan A was football. Now I'm like, okay, now I have to switch gears and change that to plan B, which is not going to be computer science and I.T. So I'm taking the same amount of effort and energy that I was putting to going to work out going to practices, film and study and putting that here. So switching gears to ISM is like, okay. Big brother, so what does this look like in terms of how can I make this my primary focus? And what are some of the things I need to be successful in? Okay, get certifications. You need to get some experience. You need to make sure your grades are where they need to be in order for opportunities and there'll be opportunities on the road if you do all things correctly. So, while I'm going through physical rehab, physical therapy. I am getting certification like security plus net plus Splunk and I'm taking on positions at the school like actually helped us.
I'm becoming a network administrator now. So I'm getting those. I'm getting those foundational pieces in order to take on. In order to be, you know, be selected for opportunity.
Lauren Cardillo:
So go back for a sec. So plan a football. So tell me that day, like you were running back, correct? All right. So your first game?
Brandon Blackwell:
Very first game, first play. So I get a carry, you know, it's a routine tackle, go get an assessment. It is really that bad . And so, you know, before you go into surgery, 'cause the ACL tell you that's required, um, I am, I'm just blaming, I was like, maybe it really isn't gonna be that bad. But, you know, you experience the worst when you hit rock bottom after that surgery.
So I come outta surgery, um, I'm in strict pain. Um, it is, it is something different, something I never, you know, experienced, experienced before. And so I'm laying in the bed and I'm looking at my knee, vanished up, can't move it. Um. And it's like, okay, are we going to go back to this? What is plan B? Because up to this point, I hadn't put much stock in plan B.
It was okay. I'm here. I'm going to school. I'm getting a major. I know I'm supposed to do this, but I'm not truly invest in it the way I should be as if it were football. And so that was a pivotal moment where it's like, no, we need to put the same amount of time in plan B that we're going to put in the planning.
So that's when started going to rehab. That's when it's a big brother. What does this look like? What are some of the things I need to be doing? What should I be saying? How, you know, how do I navigate this environment? Because it's completely different to what I've been doing for the past, you know, 13 years of my life.
So that was that moment.
Lauren Cardillo:
And it's, it's hard to, to give it up because you said 13 years, right? And that's what you did every single day. And then all of a sudden you're lying on a football field, you know, on your back and you're like, crap.
Brandon Blackwell:
Yes, that is exactly what that was very difficult to decide. Um, You know, to get to where I'm at today, even, of course, football is no longer here, but to the side, so, you know, hang the cliques up because it was, hey, who is Brandon Blackwell outside of football because that was my entire life up to this point. And so it was a period of figuring out who I am as well as figuring out what I'm going to do. Because, you know, most, I would say most folks who go to college or on campus, they have an idea of what they want to do.
They have an idea of what that's going to be. So, like, I have interest. I have interest in I. T. I major in I. T. But is I. T. who I am? And it was, I. T. is who you're going to become.
Lauren Cardillo:
So you took that passion from one place and you moved it to another place.
Brandon Blackwell:
Precisely. Um, and that was a weird shift because the principles there, like, you have to work hard, you have to be a student, you have to study, you need to understand what it really is you're doing.
It's much more than just going to class and completing assignments as it was before. Now it's, okay, what are you really studying? How does it apply to where you want to be? Where do you want to be? Because I T with the computer science or system administrator is very broad. So, you got all these different areas.
Now, you need to frame that and what speaks to you, what are you going to start working towards? Because football, you know, as a running back, I know what my drills are going to be. I know what type of workouts I need to do. I know what my plan is because I know what I'm trying to get. Where are you trying to get back to?
And that was the question along with figuring out who I am as a person.
Lauren Cardillo:
But you also loved it. I mean, obviously you love what you do.
Brandon Blackwell:
Yeah, I mean, starting back from little, uh, on the computer games. Now it's kind of crazy seeing my little brother on a computer now. I'm like, that was me at one point in time.
So, uh. My passion for what I do now is, you know, for I see just drives me so much further. Um, I will say where some mistake is they're driven by the financial game. Because, you know, if you're passionate about it and you're a student of what it is that you're doing, the money is going to come with, you know, it's never a chore.
It's never just a job at that point in time. It is. You know, a foundational piece that you're continuously invested in.
Lauren Cardillo:
So you're, you're three years in, in college, and then sort of life, I don't want to say throws you another wrench, but sort of like made plan. B. A. You know, B2.
Brandon Blackwell:
Yeah. So it was. So player B to go, uh, get the degree.
Uh, it really took off and it definitely was monkey wrench, but a positive one. So sometimes like those curveballs, sometimes not. And this is 1 of those times. So there was a, uh, that's contractor who had a cost program. And fortunately, for me, my experiences on the help desk, I've been working with a network team, email certifications allow me to be selected for that.
And I got a full time opportunity as a system initiative. So this is finishing my new year. It's like, okay, well, I can't go to work and. Okay. So what do I do? And for me, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. So I said, Hey, we're going to take the role and school is going to, at this point, be safe.
Lauren Cardillo:
But it didn't turn out being that way because you figured out a way to like do both.
And I think the idea of people having a full time job and taking a full load of classes Seems daunting. So how did you, how did you power through that and make it happen?
Brandon Blackwell:
So fortunately for me, uh, I didn't have to just pick the job. Unfortunately for me. I had to do school and a job, so UMGC was the perfect opportunity for me because I had older siblings.
You know, my sister in law got her master's degree. My brother got his bachelor's, you know, at this time got his bachelor's and then wanted to get his master's degree. So, it was okay, we already know where we're going, we're going to ÐÒ¸£±¦µ¼º½ to go ahead and finish the degree. So, for me, I got the transfer. I mean, I started back in the fall semester, I'm majoring in Which was a complete shock to me, because, you know, I'm going on campus where that is my full time job.
Everything else is secondary to now. Okay. I have a full time job. I now have to come home and still do and still be a student. And for me, that was an adjustment. It is extremely daunting, but something my mom told me a long time ago was not be afraid to go beyond your obstacle. So, yes. You got to work. Yes, you're tired. Yes, the commute is long. Yes, all these things are still here, but they're not going to change. But what you need and what really drove me to go ahead and finish my degree. It's multiple parts. So I felt personally that especially in it, there are qualifiers. Right? So your experience, your certification. A degree, these are all qualifiers to your potential technical capability.
So, for me, at this point, I had prior experience check. I had a certifications check. So, now I was get the degree. My mom is another driving factor by education because, you know, from when we were little, she. She believed that the future was going to be dictated by the level of education that you obtain. And so, from day 1, she's like, okay, you know, you need to go to school, you know, you need to break on good. You know, you're going to go to college. You're going to get a degree. These expectations were set from day 1 along with if you start something. You finish that and then my dad comes in that as well with you get out what you put in.
So I'm looking at, you know, as I'm transferring, I have these pieces of information. Okay. I know I need to qualify. I know I need to finish my qualifiers and check all the boxes. I know if I start something, I can't finish. So I've already started to do that. I have to finish and you get out what you put in.
So I know I have to work hard. You know, whatever I work hard and sacrifice to achieve this. I'm going to get back that intent and all those things happen.
Lauren Cardillo:
I'm sure at the time it seemed like, okay, I have one year of college left and I have this full time job, but it's just a year, right? In a certain, in a certain way, um, but you knew how to work, work hard from football. So clearly, I mean, people sort of forget that athletes do sort of transfer over to the business world pretty easily or to college because you've had that discipline. But reading through your, your interview, um, previous one, You were also doing some work, was it with your father or your grandfather, like at four o'clock in the morning, five o'clock in the morning?
Tell me about that.
Brandon Blackwell:
So my grandfather, um, was a commercial crab business. So we, I want to say it was kind of a family preparation, right? So every summer, instead of not having anything to do because it's the summertime, kids are out of school. You know, if you're not doing football workouts or even before that, hey, uh, you're going to get on the boat.
It wasn't a question. It was you're getting on the boat. You're going to learn what hard work looks like at a very early and during your development age. So many 12 to whenever because you need that foundation to know 1, you know, how to survive if all else fails, you have certain skills to do that now.
And 2, you understand hard work and dedication and responsibility. Because you're not going to leave your grandfather, you know, hanging on the boat lasso to do all that work when you know you're supposed to be there. Like, we just weren't raised that way. So that's the foundational piece that carries forward.
You know, what hard work is, you know, your starting point. You know where you will be if you, you know, don't do things necessary to be successful. And then on top of that, I'm watching my dad as well. Coming from that same stock, get up at 4 o'clock in the morning, go to work. Sacrifices being made, whether it's going to practice at the time or taking someone somewhere, you know, that in our family, we understood that in order to get something, something had to be sacrificed to get there.
So, the concept of all things are given, there's always a cost. Nothing is free. And so that's where it goes. You get out what you put in. So the combination of seeing both of those, you know, both of those men to be able to get up, go out here, work hard every day really sticks with you. And it just. Further goes into the discipline aspect, because, you know, you have to get to work hard.
If you see that, and you see sacrifices being made, you yourself are going to make those same sacrifices to, you know, achieve.
Lauren Cardillo:
Well, they were role models for you.
Brandon Blackwell:
Precisely.
Lauren Cardillo:
So, describe what that day was like for people who are not familiar with, like, crabbing. What would you go out and do? What would you do?
Brandon Blackwell:
So, wake up 1st thing you do may get a shower. Okay. So, then you're putting on crap and you're putting on a coveralls that coveralls there. I forgot what type of material are, but they're a slick material. It's heavy. It's cumbersome. You had these big boots on the cumbersome as well. So you're already uncomfortable starting out at 4 a.m. So, you go out, you may have to put gas and both picking up, uh, you're grabbing, uh. You know, gallons of gas, you're taking it to the boat, you know, crab pots may have to be put on the boat. If you're dropping off, they may have taken off early. They've been left on overnight. You know, you got to prepare the boat to in order to go. So by 5 o'clock, you have done a number of things on the checklist to even get out there. And now at 5, you're getting to drive out there. It is just a stick and you're seeing corpse out in an ocean that you have to Reach out, grab, pick them up, pull up. And then you're picking up this crab pot that has been sitting underwater for two, three days.
It's got all types of, uh, sea life and barnacles and ashiness on it. You open up the heavy crab pot and you're shaking it. It's your arms are getting tired. And now. It may be one or two crabs in this pot, or it may be 12. And depending upon what's in that pot, depends on how your day is going to be. And it doesn't just stop there.
That's essentially what it is. That's 4:00 something.
Lauren Cardillo:
That is crazy. But, you know, I can imagine for them, they, you know, both you and your brother, college, first generation, right? So that meant, how much did that mean to them?
Brandon Blackwell:
So to them, it was, well, my mom was sick, so again, going back to her education, extremely important to her.
So, she's like, you're not going to fail me. So she's amply excited. She's like, I know, you know, you did what you needed to do. You completed the test that was given. I know your future, you know, may not necessarily be written yet, but it's so much, there's so much more potential in your future now, now that you've completed this.
Because of the belief that, hey, the future is led by your education. And so it set a precedent in the family at this point that this is what you need to do. And because my mom didn't have, she went to college very briefly. My dad didn't have a college degree. Um, and my older brother didn't, um, you know, go to a traditional foreign university.
Uh, we got, they combined those things into my journey and allow me for that. So it's now, okay, you go to school, you go to college, you get grades. And then you go off and be successful in your career, and you have now you have opportunities to go out and achieve the things you want to achieve because you have that foundational piece.
And so that is another driving factors like now, because I was successful on this. The, you know, my younger siblings have seen the plan be successful. They can believe in that, too. It's not, oh, Brandon didn't get a degree, or Robert didn't get a degree, so I don't have to. No, there's a precedent, there's an expectation, um, that this is what you're going to do.
This is how you do it, and, you know, you can't fail, essentially.
Lauren Cardillo:
But you could have done it over that last year, over a couple of years. But you were intent upon, I want to do it in one year. Why was that?
Brandon Blackwell:
It's, it was part of the plan. So, it wasn't, no, there's nothing wrong with it if you take extra time. But, the expectation was you go finish in four years.
You do whatever it is you need to do to finish in four years. And that's why it was so important to me. I was not going to be the one to disappoint and drag it out. When I didn't have to. So it was, yes, you know, there's sacrifices we made here on maybe course overload, we're going to take extra time.
There's going to be plenty of late nights. What you know what you need to do to set the exam.
Lauren Cardillo:
Did you feel like there was a lot of support from UMGC understanding that people work and do school at the same time?
Brandon Blackwell:
Absolutely. So that I had a conversation with my brother. Hey, I want to finish in 4 years.
This is my last 2 semesters, you know, is there anything I can do to make that happen? Because when I initially got to you, you see, you know, it was going to take me an extra semester, extra 2 semesters, given the amount of courses I had to take, because I switched my main networks and they say, well, you have a certain page.
And I said, yes, I have the security plus network plus business. They said, okay, so. Do you have any additional work experience? Yes, I actually helped us. So they say, well, we can give you credits towards your courses to help you get to that for your goal. I said, okay, so once the advisor went back, they worked that out.
I had enough credits to where they have to take a course overload, but I didn't have to go to school for an extra 2 semesters or extra semester I was going to finish on time. It just required a little bit more of me that last semester to get that done. I said, well, everything. It's give and take, right?
So they're giving you some. They're gonna take some of your time, some of your stuff, but you know what you need to do. You have the opportunity.
Lauren Cardillo:
How did that make you feel when you actually achieved that?
Brandon Blackwell:
So when they said that, I was like, okay, I know you really confirmed like this is the school for me.
They understand my situation. You know, they want me to graduate. They, they, in a way, I felt they were invested in my, in my success. So, it was never a question of, oh, does the school support me? I know that some people feel like that, or are the resources available? It's like, they're all there, if you ask.
They're all there, and I feel like the school, from that point forward, had their, you know, arms and hands open, like, hey, whatever you need.
Lauren Cardillo:
Well, because you could achieve your goal, you know. How did, how did your mom react to all of that, you know? Because, obviously, she was invested in you all your life, and it's changed, and then it's changed again.
How'd she feel?
Brandon Blackwell:
Yes. So, she was like, Yes, I'm going to get what I want. I want my son to graduate in four years. I'm going to get my degree, uh, because our degrees, she says, are her degrees. So she's like, I'm getting my degree. I am, you know, all world happy, happy as can be.
Lauren Cardillo:
But also the whole first generation thing.
I mean, you and your brother haven't just gotten degrees. You've gone further. I mean, how does that make you feel that you're the first guys?
Brandon Blackwell:
It's interesting when you look back and see that as the first to do something right. So for me, I was like, I'm older brother's a guy because 10 year difference. So I don't really look back and be like, well, I'll first do it because he was there and already had the prior experience.
But, I mean, looking back and it's like, oh, it's our first, you know, it's the first one this. First, when I go into a computer science software development, so it feels like more needs to be done or more than you know, more should be sure, like, we should continue to strive for more like we get content here.
Then, you know, that tells the others, younger brother, younger sister, you can, you can stop here. It's like, well, no, you can't stop here. Given everything we've been through, given our experiences, give our teachings. It's like, okay. So, yeah, this continue on what's next. Let's go figure that out and then go achieve next
Lauren Cardillo:
Because you know, they're watching you
Brandon Blackwell:
Always always. So you have to keep that in mind in anything inside today Keep that in mind anything you do that whatever they see they're probably gonna emulate And so if they see you being content that they see you no longer once you know seeking to achieve They themselves are going to reach a point where they're not either.
Um, and that's not something I want for them. That's not something our family wants. So, you know, you have to keep going after it.
Lauren Cardillo:
How did, how did you feel when you saw your younger brother, like, got his first certificate?
Brandon Blackwell:
So that, that was, True to my like, I was, you know, going crazy because I watched him put in the same time and effort that I myself put in.
So there was this particular project and, uh, during Kobe, that's when I finished in 2020 and it was my risk assessment. So. I'm staying with parents at this time, and I moved my desk to the kitchen because I needed to, you know, I needed extra time. It took about 3 days to go and knock this assignment out, but 3 days nonetheless to knock this assignment out.
So, I had 2 monitors up, 2 laptops, notebooks out. I am researching, studying, going, you know, taking up everybody else's space. My dad's like, man, I can't even eat in the kitchen because you had the whole kitchen table taken up. My mom's like, oh, my God, when are you going to be done? Please hurry up and finish so I can get my life back.
So. I have disturbed the entire house and I got this project, but in the end, you know, I think 30, 40 pages was successful. I ended up getting, um, I think a 99 on it and it was like, okay, this was proof that, you know, you truly do what you put into it. You get out what you put in. And so my younger brother got to watch that and see, too, and there was 1 night I remember him sitting with me and doing his own homework.
And so to come back and see that years later, while he's studying for security plus, I walk in the room, I see him. Notebook everywhere, you know, monster up looking at different things researching. I see him putting the work in and at 16, you know, you're just getting exposed to this. It's not an easy certification.
It's not a task at hand. So, to see you at 16, take what you had seen before the amount of work, and then you'll put that in yourself and to then be able to understand those concepts as such a young age being just exposed to it to go past. Oh my God, you know, the sky is the limit for you because of the ground I was laying before him.
So it was just confirmation that he has that drive, that capability to go out here the same way that his older brothers had. His older, you know, his older sister has, and he's going to be Scott's limit.
Lauren Cardillo:
And part of you sitting there going like,
Brandon Blackwell:
Oh, absolutely. I absolutely went on the whole campaign, make sure I floored him.
Lauren Cardillo:
I love it. How was the university with, um, knowing you had the full time job and knowing you wanted to get out in a year, you know, how are they? In accommodating those goals of yours?
Brandon Blackwell:
Going back to those credits and going back to the explainance, those two things were the initial steps. Secondly, time, right?
These courses, for the most part, they're eight weeks. And yes, it's ample ramp up time, but because it's online, it's self paced to a degree, though. You have to make those time adjustments in that commitment because you're committed to yourself. It's different than being on a university or a traditional campus where you're seeing people every day going through the same thing as you are.
Like, no one sees your journey. Everybody's home life is different. So you're figuring that out for yourself, but the university accommodated that for me and being able to do it sent me sort of self paced. So, um, I was in that expedite time, but that comes with the caveat, having to do extra study.
Lauren Cardillo:
And it worked.
Yeah. Um, was the thing you were talking to me about the 3 days where you're in your kitchen taking up your mother's space, was that your risk assessment?
Brandon Blackwell:
Yes, yeah.
Lauren Cardillo:
So where was that in your journey? Was it at the end and it was like, I need to finish this and it was overwhelming or like,
Brandon Blackwell:
yes, that was that was 1 of the last assignments.
I mean, that was 1 of my last class. Um, and it was like, make or break. So if you don't pass the class, you don't graduate type of situation. So needless to say, there was a lot riding on this risk assessment being completed. It hits the, it hits all the time and effort that was put into making sure it was the best it could be.
Lauren Cardillo:
And the certificates you then got at the, a little earlier, how have those been useful to you in your current job?
Brandon Blackwell:
Going back to the foundational piece, um, because I went on to get many more than just those couple, but they were the foundation piece. So, like, security plus was really the focal one that started the rest of the certificate journey.
And it was the base for everything I learned after that. So my focus in cybersecurity, um, even now developing the, uh, the secure capabilities for customers, um, that led into, You never forget anything. So everything that was taught there, the foundational piece, you don't understand it's going to come up again, but it makes it easier to understand as you see things.
So, you know, your 1st time seeing I want a MAC address is like, what is this? What am I going to do with this? Or the 1st time you've seen the OSI model? It's like, okay, how do these align with what I'm doing? And as you see that more often, it's like, okay, I can go back to this because I know. You know, I had that framework.
Okay. I know what this is doing. I know where to send in the, I know what I know what IP addresses. I understand how network works. So, now it helps me crash solutions a little, a little bit better, right? Sometimes, you know, we run into other developers that don't necessarily have that background come from administration or having those foundational certifications.
That help them see how the end user or the customer. Is looking at a problem and needs to design a problem. And so that has given me that other perspective of okay. No, we need to design solutions. With security in mind first, we need to design solutions like this or this system isn't the best because of these concerns or possible issues because of those foundational pieces that have led, uh, you know, that part of the journey and led me to where I'm at today.
Lauren Cardillo:
So they're like building blocks that help you get there.
Brandon Blackwell:
Precisely.
Lauren Cardillo:
Were there also things that, um, you learned in class that, like, the next week would be applicable to your job?
Brandon Blackwell:
Especially as a system admin at the time, um, we would have labs. On a weekly basis, and you have to do lab reports. I will have a problem at work and be like, okay, how do I solve this?
How do I fix it? Go do homework and like, okay, so now I can go back to work tomorrow and go fix this problem or issue. So, and that was my entire experience. Why did you see? So it was 1 of the future. I think a lot of students, they wonder what am I learning or what am I doing? How does this actually translate to my job?
So I got the opportunity to see it. Translate in real time within 24 hours. So that was just it. A different experience for me, but you know, also reassuring that I made the right decision.
Lauren Cardillo:
And you're wondering if they're like listening to you, right? Like a weird coincidence that that should have happened, right?
That's funny. How do you like working with your brother?
Brandon Blackwell:
It's interesting. Um, most siblings, uh, you know, I find that that makes a complete difference. Most siblings aren't that close, but uh, me and my older brother have been close with our entire lives. So. I've always wanted to work with my brother from the time that we were both in I.
T. So now it was a unique opportunity. I remember one time, um, you know, there was a particular role I didn't get because my brother was on that team. It was like, wow, you know, I felt a little discouraged that it would happen as someone's like, wow, I'm not gonna be able to work with my brother. Um, but now that the opportunity is presenting itself, I'm loving it.
You know, I think we had a unique opportunity with side tech to, um, to take that element. I think that's what we do very different. You're bridging family and business together. But with the Bonner technology, that's something that's very rare and I attributed to our upbringing of why we've been successful so far.
And then to look at our capabilities on more compliance and management side, I'm in software development. You know, then we have a younger sister that's in data analysis and she financial background and a little brother. I just got security plus that 16 in the sky is the limit for him. You know, when you look at these capabilities, just in house, it's like, you know, how can we not.
Try to build something that can go above and beyond. How can we not try to build something where, you know, each of us get an opportunity to showcase ourselves and then provide opportunities for others on top of it?
Lauren Cardillo:
I mean, you guys are now entrepreneurs far away from your football career,
Brandon Blackwell:
Very far away from the football career. Definitely wasn't in the plans at that point in time. So, I think that just speaks to continuous development. You know, our continuous want to. Do different and be better. Our parents always want us to, you know, go out and achieve more than them in the best way possible. Right? So those experiences, those teachings and just that framework, um, that they provided for us have allowed us to be successful in ways that, you know, a few years ago, we may not have thought possible.
Lauren Cardillo:
How do they feel when they get you all together? And, you know, they see your success. How does, you know, have they said to you? We're really proud of you, or how does it make them feel?
Brandon Blackwell:
So I imagine it makes them feel all the world, uh, it was confirmation for them that, hey, you know, I raised my kids right, you know, we gave them the building blocks, you know, our teachings, we did the right thing, right?
And we're getting to reap the benefits now, we're getting to see the results of that and the sacrifices they made. It's like, okay. It was worth it. Uh, Dad pranks on us all the time.
Lauren Cardillo:
Well, that's his right. So was there anything you ever took apart when you were a little kid that you couldn't put back together again or your parents were like, what did he do?
Brandon Blackwell:
I think there was a point in time where they just became accustomed to seeing things apart. Um, my brother has a, I want to say a little talk of truck that I took apart at a very early age. He was like, you know, I don't break my things. I come into my room, he's on the floor, my truck's in pieces. Why is it not back in pieces?
He still brings his truck up to this day, like, you broke my truck. You never put it back together. It's like, no, I was supposed to. I wanted to see how it worked. So, they never put it back together.
Lauren Cardillo:
And he's going to hold it against you forever, right? Forever.
Brandon Blackwell:
Forever.
Lauren Cardillo:
How was your success? And you sort of alluded to this.
How has your success motivated you to give back, you know, to help other people and sort of, you know. All boats rise, you know, in the water. How does it motivate you?
Brandon Blackwell:
Um, going back to starting with the certifications to come up to help this, um, you know, older brother being in the same career feel a little more experienced and giving me guidance on where some of the things I need to do in order to be successful.
I'm going to help this with friends. I'm still with now and hey, I'm hearing this for someone who has already been successful in the field. This is what we need to do. The, you know, go get certifications, go to study. These are some of the things when you're doing these experiences that we need to be trying to figure out how to gather and not just keep it in circle, but point out to others that so seeing changes in the field.
Okay. You know, learn a coding language. If you want to, you want a technical side of it. Um, join Alpha Phi Alpha becoming the advisor for our undergraduate chapter. And wanting to provide those guys the same steps ahead, the same information early, because the earlier you get the information, you know, the more you can make up your trajectory on the height, the earlier that you can start taking advantage of, um, you know, in order to take advantage of some of those opportunities.
So, like, those certifications, like, studying, like, the, those paths all the way down to my younger siblings. Going back to my little brother, Devin, for him to achieve that really speaks to how we as a family operate and myself as well, just wanting the younger generation to have all the opportunities and capabilities and abilities to be successful.
There's no reason to get keep. So, why not provide the information? To whoever may need it.
Lauren Cardillo:
When you see those, um, kids I know get scholarships or you mentor them or you just help them out, when you see their faces, how does that make you feel?
Brandon Blackwell:
For me it's like, it makes me feel like I did my part in that, right? Like not taking credit for success or anything, but doing my part and giving someone, um, a leg up. Doing my part and giving them the information or helping them get an opportunity for them to then take that as a springboard. And go off and do wonderful and great things.
Lauren Cardillo:
So, where do, you know, in a perfect world, where are you in 5-10 years?
Brandon Blackwell:
Where am I in 5-10 years?
I'm going to say at home. But in a capacity where I'm able to be home because The business has grown to a point to where my talents capabilities and I'm required to be there to ensure the business team. Um, right now, I'm still working with customers, but at that point, I would have say I have. Been able to bring enough people, be able to afford to be self sustained so where I can shift focus and it is more business focused, less customer based, that's where I'll be in five to 10 years.
Um, some of the other technical things I would like to do on the technical side, what I want to achieve, definitely, um, developing offensive tools.
Lauren Cardillo:
What advice would you give to, um, someone. Who's starting their own educational journey and I'm going to say probably a non traditional educational journey But what advice would you give to those people?
Brandon Blackwell:
Just do it you you have if you're at the point So you're considering a degree you understand the values of it You understand what it is that you want to achieve as a result of getting it and don't be afraid to go beyond your obstacles Um, because they're going to be there regardless. Life is always going to be there, you know, the head is my advice as well as have someone as a support system, have someone that you can talk to about school.
Um, they may not have a degree, they may not be able to understand or relate to what it is that you are doing, but to have someone that can respond to you when you have those moments, you just need to ramble around about something. I can't count how many times I've been talking to. Uh, 1 of my siblings, my mom, my dad, or a friend, even.
About a technical issue or problem or homework or something, I just want to complain about that point in time and got that light bulb off. Oh, okay. This is what I need to do in order to complete this assignment. This is what I need to do in order to go write that code for now, or they keep you grounded.
Okay. I know why I need to go ahead and put in the hours there's going to be moments where you. Don't want to do homework. You don't want to do discussion questions. You don't even look at your laptop. You don't want to go in your office. There's gonna be times where everything else in life may feel like it's more important and in school, um, is a necessity, but it's in those moments where you have to dig deep, buckle down and tap into what it is that you're doing this for because you started it.
You, you, there's something that you want, there's, there's something that you want to achieve and there's something that you believe this degree is going to get you tapped into that and make sure in those moments that you don't want to be there. That you do everything you need to do to turn those assignments on time.
Lauren Cardillo:
Brenda, thanks so much for sharing your story. I really appreciate it. I love hearing about the trucks and all that stuff when you were little. Um, so we loved sharing your story with our listeners and viewers and for everyone listening and watching, please remember to like and subscribe if you want to see more unstoppable stories just like this.
See you next time.
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