Leading at Roblox is a collection that explores the profession journeys of Roblox’s leaders and discusses their roles, philosophies, and administration kinds. In this profile, we get to know Nicole Grinstead, Director of Product and Application Security inside our Infrastructure Team.
What do you do at Roblox?
I joined Roblox a few yr in the past to steer our Product and Application Security group inside Information Security (InfoSec). That means I assist something from our Infrastructure Layer to our Application and guarantee they’re sufficiently hardened. My group is accountable for proactive safety in addition to discovering and remediating vulnerabilities and dangers.
Describe your profession journey. How did you land the place you might be immediately?
Even as a small little one, I’d at all times beloved computer systems and know-how. I used to be drawn to laptop lessons and took my first programming course in highschool. As quickly as I began faculty, I set my main as Computer Science and finally graduated with that diploma. After commencement, I began my profession in full-stack software program engineering centered on constructing merchandise. I used to be working at a Silicon Valley tech firm after they had a serious information breach, and located myself fascinated by all of the work that went into the incident response. That’s how I fell into the safety house, and I’ve been right here ever since! Protecting customers and corporations from malicious unhealthy actors has turn out to be a real ardour of mine.
My path to Roblox started with an informational dialog with Roblox’s VP of Security Engineering. He was sharing a few of the challenges with scaling the group to fulfill Roblox’s quickly rising platform and enterprise, and a few of the forms of motivated menace actors and cyber assaults which are widespread within the business. As quickly as I bought residence, I began researching extra in regards to the firm. The extra I realized in regards to the platform, imaginative and prescient, and management, the extra I knew I needed to be a part of the group.
What motivates you?
I’m aggressive – largely with myself – and have at all times been very motivated to tackle large challenges and be taught new issues. Once I’ve solved an issue, I’m keen to maneuver onto the following one and problem myself in a brand new or totally different manner. I’m not overly fixated on climbing ladders, however it’s vital to me to not stagnate. This is among the issues I really like about safety. There are so many alternative subdomains, so I’ve been in a position to give attention to various kinds of safety issues and challenges via the years.
Nicole’s aggressive spirit and love of huge challenges involves life each inside and out of doors of labor
What are some management qualities which have labored for you?
I goal to cleared the path I wish to be led. I admire being empowered and given house to tackle troublesome challenges, and I’ve discovered that Roblox’s govt management group fosters this tradition and helps me in emulating it for my very own group. Trust is important to execution and fixing troublesome issues, so I lead with belief and transparency to drive our group ahead.
In my day-to-day work as a pacesetter, I convey this to life via each large and small actions that empower my group and foster autonomy. Instead of giving my opinion or recommendation instantly, I wish to ask questions that assist immediate people to succeed in an answer on their very own. I’m at all times attempting to create space for my group to really feel like they will completely personal their work.
How do you contribute to Roblox’s tradition?
As a lady chief in tech, I’m keen about exploring issues exterior of my safety purview. If I discover a system, cultural facet, or lodging that may enhance the office for girls and underrepresented teams inside our group or within the business at massive, I’m eager on championing it. Here at Roblox, we’ve an ideal group of girls engineering leaders that meets month-to-month. I’m additionally concerned with our Women@ Affinity Group. Over the final ten months since I began my position at Roblox, these communities have led me to construct sturdy bonds with colleagues throughout the group that I won’t in any other case work with.
Nicole on Roblox’s campus in San Mateo, CA
What is one thing your group has achieved that you just’re pleased with?
The InfoSec group is quickly rising, and far of the group is new to Roblox. I’m so pleased with the progress we’ve been in a position to make as a brand new group in a really quick time frame. We’ve additionally constructed out our Application Security (AppSec) group, and that group has already made a ton of affect. In true Roblox style, the group began by constructing a powerful system and course of for a way we have interaction cross-functionally to determine and resolve utility degree vulnerabilities and dangers. We’re certainly not completed with the journey, however the progress we’ve made to this point actually stands out to me.
As a pacesetter of a brand new group, it’s vital to me to not get in the best way of the vitality that new people convey to the group. Embracing new concepts and ideas has helped our group succeed and allowed new group members to ramp up and contribute rapidly.
If you had to decide on a worth that almost all resonates with you as a pacesetter, which one would it not be?
Roblox’s “Take the Long View” worth is important to us as a brand new group. Even although we’ve quick must deal with, and we’re supportive of recent people leaping proper in, we’re at all times extremely strategic about how we’re going to attain our targets. When formulating plans and paths ahead, we ask ourselves the place we need to be in ten years, and work our manner again from there as an alternative of specializing in tactical “what’s next” approaches.
What’s one thing you want in regards to the platform?
Roblox is particular as a result of it’s so open and diversified – the forms of experiences which you can have or construct on Roblox are infinite, and there’s something for everybody. Any creator can convey their creativeness and concepts to life on the platform, and customers of all walks of life can get pleasure from them. We are simply scratching the floor of what’s really attainable. It’s an incredible time to work at the corporate, and I’ve been so impressed by what I’ve seen to this point.
In closing, is there a chunk of management recommendation you may share?
Ask for suggestions, and be true to you! There’s nobody model of management that works for everybody, so do what feels genuine, emulate the belongings you admire most out of your leaders, and ask for suggestions alongside the journey. One of the best methods I’ve discovered to make sure I’m hitting the mark is to easily ask – then to hear, be taught, and evolve based mostly on what I hear. Just just like the Roblox platform, there’s something distinctive for everybody in management. Authenticity and adaptability have been key for me.
Inspired by Nicole’s story? She and her group are hiring. Visit our careers website to discover open roles.
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