Student of the Month- Carlos Gonzalez
Introduce yourself. Where were you born, where have you lived, what languages do you speak, what and where did you previously study? Hola! My name is Carlos González Gray. I am a Spanish/American born in Madrid. I have lived in Madrid for most of my life but I moved to The Hague in the Netherlands for my undergraduate degree and spent 6 months in Taipei, Taiwan for my exchange. I speak English and Spanish fluently and have been trying to learn Mandarin Chinese for over 4 years now. I studied World Politics at Leiden University College The Hague.
Have you worked previous to this Master program? Are you currently working, if so where?
I have interned at a hotel chain in Madrid for a couple of months, and still work as a DJ at private parties, weddings and clubs. In Holland I was also Chair of a student organization that hosted events throughout the city for students.
What drew you to Cyber Security?
Honestly, I believe it's the future. Today, there is potential for incredible technological innovation but we are not able to make them public because of the security risks. Therefore, I hope to be able to contribute to the safety and security of future technology so that we can enjoy the amazing benefits. Also, there is an incredible demand for cybersecurity professionals and the prospect of job security is quite appealing.
Are you pursuing any extra-curricular activity/activities? If yes, how do you think it could link with cybersecurity?
I love to play football with classmates and friends whenever possible. I also enjoy DJ-ing on the weekends. I don't see much of a link between cybersecurity and football but I guess if a hacker managed to get into the computer of a DJ during his performance he could ruin the performance and hurt a club or party quite badly.
What are your short and long-term professional goals after the Masters?
My short-term goals are to find a well-paid job that provides me with diverse professional experiences that allow me to be prepared for any job in the future. I am open to move anywhere in the world and in face would prefer to be out of Spain for a couple years while I am still young and have fewer responsibilities. My long-term goals however would be to become a CIO or CISO of a good company in Spain and be able to live the good life in the best country in the world.
What has been the most valuable aspect of your IE education so far?
So far, I believe that the fact we have a small yet diverse classroom has provided me with a unique insight into a variety of working environments and companies which I would not have obtained otherwise. I think that although IE is a wonderful place to network, it is also a wonderful place to learn about with who and where you want to work in the future, by learning through other experiences.
What would be your advice for future MCS students?
Try to obtain a basic technical background before coming to the program. The program creators made sure that the courses are understandable by non-technical people but the confidence that an IT background provides will be very useful. It is not necessary but it would be very helpful for you to have such a foundation for you to obtain more from each class.
What do you think of Madrid so far? Bonus: Best Bar in Madrid?
I’ve lived in Madrid most of my life and have travelled to many places throughout the world and I wholeheartedly believe that Madrid is one of the best cities to live in. The culture, history, gastronomy and entertainment is paralleled by a select few cities around the world. If you are looking for a small place that has cheap drinks and good music: Maloney’s. If you are looking for a place with cheap drinks and food, perfect place to before a night club: Mercado Provenzal.
If you won the lottery tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d buy?
The first thing that comes to mind is a car because my car broke down last week and I am in desperate need for a car that doesn't need to go to the repair shop every other week, a Tesla perhaps. I would probably invest some of it in Bitcoin, as current trends seem to indicate it is a good investment. If I were to have any of it left I would probably keep it in a savings account.
What is an interesting thing about you that not many people know about?
I was a child actor. I appeared once in Disney Channel (No, I will not say which show) and have dubbed several movies and advertisements.
