Tinkering to Become a Tech Leader
For Brent Wilkinson (MSIT ‘16), cybersecurity went from avoiding sibling scorn to protecting a major insurance company’s sensitive data.
Cybersecurity for Brent Wilkinson (MSIT ‘16) used to be less about keeping bad actors outside important business systems and more about keeping himself out of trouble with his big sisters.
As a young boy, Wilkinson couldn't resist tinkering with his family’s old AST computer. His curiosity often led to breakdowns, forcing him to quickly develop tech repair skills to keep himself free from his family’s ire.

That realization steered Wilkinson toward a career in information technology (IT). Today, Wilkinson is a senior manager for engineering and security at insurance brokerage HUB International, where he oversees end-user computing solutions and cybersecurity practices. His journey from child computer enthusiast to IT professional was enhanced by his experiences in Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program.
Those MSIT lessons weren't the first influential case study in his cybersecurity development. That came during the Windows 95 era when Wilkinson, then a chatroom aficionado, unwittingly welcomed a Trojan virus to his home computer.
“Young me was pretty frightened by the experience,” he said. “But my technical interest and curiosity was piqued from that day on.”
That curiosity ultimately led Wilkinson to the MSIT program. He was drawn to the program's comprehensive scope, which he found more appealing than a traditional MBA.
The MSIT program provided Wilkinson with a diverse skill set that he applies daily in his current role. The combination of technical and business classes gave him a more well-rounded toolbox to tackle cybersecurity and corporate challenges.
“The variety of courses gave me the leverage needed to help shape conversations with business leaders and aid in decision making,” he said. “For example, having a background that was fully encompassed in IT, the financial management course was valuable to provide perspective on the accounting aspects of the business.”
Despite the technical duties listed in his job description at HUB International, Wilkinson boils down his daily responsibilities much more conversationally.
“I lead a team of smart people who try to make our existence at HUB practically invisible so others can stay focused on what they need to, all while HUB remains secure,” he said.
His role combines technical expertise with strategic planning, a balance Wilkinson said he finds exciting. The ability to make a difference at a sizable and on-the-grow company inside a maturing industry provides challenges that keep him motivated.
His MSIT lessons remain close at hand as he goes about meeting those challenges. The most valuable of those lessons was the importance of seeking and incorporating feedback from different perspectives when attacking a technology problem.
“Solving real-world problems rarely comes from one perspective,” he said. “It is often a culmination of combined perspectives and ideas that really create a truly successful outcome.”
Looking ahead, Wilkinson said he believes adaptability will be crucial for success in the rapidly evolving IT landscape. He emphasizes the need to embrace emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence while leveraging complementary human skills.
“Adaptability might be cliché in a world where fast-paced is the norm,” he said, “But succeeding in IT in 2025 will be no different, especially as it relates to AI and adapting our uniquely human characteristic of creativity to what that future may hold.”