Dante Jackson's career path has been anything but conventional. From the Executive MBA alum's early days as a pharmacy technician to his time as a special agent and now as the founder and CEO of Serket-Tech Security, Jackson's journey is a testament to the power of adaptability, continuous learning, and giving back. He aims to make cybersecurity services accessible to small, medium, and large businesses, all while empowering others to succeed in their own careers.
The Early Years
Thinking he'd become a pharmacist like his mom, Jackson started working as a pharmacy technician in high school. However, he was captivated when an FBI agent came to his school to talk about a career in law enforcement. It led Jackson to pursue a criminal justice degree at Sam Houston State University while interning with the FBI's Houston Field Office as a special agent. He later completed his master's in criminal justice management before heading to Quantico for agent training.
During his time with the Department of Justice, Jackson worked on high-profile cases ranging from drug trafficking to money laundering and public corruption in many parts of the world, including Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. As his career progressed, he noticed a shift in criminal activities towards cybercrime.
"I was seeing that a lot of bad guys were transitioning to cyber to commit crimes," Jackson recalls. "They were a lot less violent and were starting to use computers more to communicate and move money."
In 2018, Jackson decided to enter the corporate world, joining Truist Bank's cybersecurity department. His role included helping to build out the organization's first insider threat program and cybersecurity resiliency program. While there, he also experienced the largest bank merger in U.S. history between SunTrust and BB&T to become Truist Bank.
Mergers often come with the challenge of consolidating different data systems, and Jackson was instrumental in data discovery and classification. This process included cleaning up data, tagging it appropriately, and ensuring it was classified correctly, whether it was personally identifiable information (PII), public, or private data spread across the newly merged entities, including protecting sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and dates of birth.
While at Truist, Jackson sought to broaden his business acumen and maximize his career trajectory by enrolling in Scheller's Executive MBA program. During this time, the seed for his own company was planted.
"I had no intention of ever starting my own company," Jackson admits. "But after going through the program and learning so much, it gave me the confidence I needed to evolve into what we have now."
An Entrepreneur is Born
After participating in the Executive MBA international residency in South Africa, Jackson arranged a week-long side excursion to Egypt with a few friends. While there, he learned about Serket, the Egyptian goddess of healing venomous bites and stings.
"This concept resonated with me when I was developing my company. Serket heals venomous bites, so I envisioned our company healing the 'bites' of cyber-attacks. Serket-Tech Security was born from this inspiration, blending the ancient myth with modern technology.
"It was pretty cool to come up with the company's name based on our visit," he mused. Plus, he liked that the name sounded like a circuit board and contained the word" tech."
Jackson started Serket-Tech Security without seed funding or loans. He used his own funds and created a vision beyond profit margins. The company's approach to client services is unique. Recognizing that many small and medium-sized businesses are priced out of top-tier cybersecurity consulting services, Jackson's company offers protection at more affordable rates.
"We're trying to create a mindset where people are more proactive with their cybersecurity needs," he explained, likening cybersecurity to car insurance - something you hope you never need but are glad to have when you do.
The company's motto, "We're not just about securing networks; we're about securing futures," speaks to Jackson's dual mission of protecting businesses while nurturing talent. The company has grown to 12 employees in just a few months and is scaling faster than Jackson anticipated. Nevertheless, he says it's not just about expanding to a larger market.
"It's not so much about making money," he explained. "We want a successful business, but we have a greater goal in mind: to help people."
A Call to Service
As a minority-owned business, Serket-Tech Security is breaking barriers. Jackson has leveraged this status to form partnerships with major players like Microsoft, creating opportunities to educate minority-owned businesses about cybersecurity best practices while allowing others to learn and thrive in the cybersecurity industry.
He also wants to help Tech students interested in the industry. Jackson met with Scheller representatives to set up an internship program. He recognized that many graduates struggle to find their niche in cybersecurity. By providing hands-on experience with real-world projects, students can better understand the types of work available to them in the cybersecurity industry.
Jackson's commitment to giving back extends beyond Scheller and Georgia Tech. He's also working with the Women in Technology Single Mothers' Program, offering internships and job opportunities to its participants.
"I've seen the difference people can make in other people's lives, and when you see those things, it changes you," he said.
Jackson has also been a board member of the Partnership for Domestic Violence and is currently a board member with Inspiredu, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing technology-based learning tools and engagement activities to marginalized kids. Working with families, communities, and schools, the organization helps students develop crucial skills for educational and career success.
"I would get a lot more out of someone telling me I changed their lives than making a lot of money. When you make change, the money will come," Jackson said. "I'm going to get more out of the second part of my life than the first part."
Looking to the future, he aims to expand Serket-Tech Security's reach across the Southeast, always with an eye toward community impact. His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? "If you have a good idea, pursue it. Don't be afraid to fail. Every large company started with an idea and someone who took a chance."
As his company continues to grow, Jackson remains committed to his vision of not just offering a service but giving back to the community - a mindset he attributes partly to his Georgia Tech experience.
"That's the way I've chosen to move forward with the company, and I think that's the Georgia Tech mindset: to not only offer a service but also offer something back to the community," he said.
In an industry often focused on threats and vulnerabilities, Jackson and Serket-Tech Security stand out in their focus on hope and opportunity. By securing data, fostering talent, and empowering communities, they're not just protecting digital assets but helping build a more secure and inclusive future for all.