Long before cybersecurity became a fixture in boardroom conversations, Brady Bloxham was learning how to navigate complexity—technical, organizational, and human.
What set him apart early was not just an interest in technology, but a clear understanding of where it belonged.
“I’ve always been extremely passionate about the technical side of technology,” Bloxham says. “But I didn’t want to be an IT guy. I wanted to be a businessman.”
“I didn’t want to be an IT guy. I wanted to be a businessman.”
That conviction led him to the BYU Information Systems program, where technology and business were not treated as competing disciplines, but as complementary ones. For Bloxham, the program provided language, structure, and context for instincts he already had: that systems only create value when they support decision-making.
When Bloxham was a student, cybersecurity was not yet a formal academic pathway. Rather than limiting his education to what existed, he extended it. He built home labs, installed operating systems, and taught himself tools that went beyond course requirements. The program’s emphasis on problem-solving and adaptability made that kind of self-directed learning not only possible, but encouraged.
After graduation, Bloxham entered the private sector before moving into government work with the National Security Agency. The work was highly technical and high stakes, reinforcing lessons he first encountered as a student: precision matters, risk has consequences, and systems are only as strong as the people who understand them.
“I got to do some really cool things,” he laughs. “Things that anywhere else you’d probably get put in jail for. But because it was for the Department of Defense, it was completely legal.”
Eventually, Bloxham felt drawn toward entrepreneurship. He went on to found multiple cybersecurity companies, translating deep technical expertise into scalable, resilient businesses.
“The things I’m most proud of in my career are the things that were the hardest,” he says. “Seeing those businesses not only succeed but thrive—and then handing them off so they can continue to grow—that’s incredibly satisfying.”
“The things I’m most proud of in my career are the things that were the hardest.”
As his responsibilities grew, so did the importance of one skill in particular: communication. Bloxham found himself frequently serving as the bridge between technical teams and executive leadership, a role that drew directly on his Information Systems training.
“What the Information Systems program really helped me with was the soft skills,” he explains. “It taught me how to explain highly technical cybersecurity issues to boards of directors, CEOs, and executives who don’t speak the technical language.”
“The Information Systems program taught me how to explain highly technical issues to CEOs and boards who don’t speak the technical language.”
That ability to translate between code and context, risk and strategy, has defined Bloxham’s leadership style.
“The world needs people who can translate technology into business,” he says. “Businesses need to understand risk and security, but if no one can translate that information, decision-making breaks down.”
“The world needs people who can translate technology into business.”
Today, Bloxham applies those skills in advisory roles, serving on boards and mentoring founders navigating the realities of entrepreneurship. His perspective is shaped by experience but grounded in empathy.
“Entrepreneurship is very lonely,” he says. “There’s nothing that fully prepares you for the challenges.”
Rather than offering prescriptions, Bloxham focuses on listening—an approach aligned with the leadership principles emphasized throughout the Marriott School.
“Most people don’t need someone to fix their problems,” he explains. “They need someone who understands them.”
Bloxham’s connection to BYU runs deeper than professional preparation. For him, choosing the university was also a values-based decision.
“Going to BYU meant something to me,” he says. “I wanted to put a stake in the ground and say, ‘This is what I believe. These are my values. This is how I’m going to live my life.’”
Those values continue to inform how he mentors students today. When asked what advice he gives current Information Systems majors, his response reflects both experience and perspective.
“Focus on curiosity,” he says. “Focus on finding what you’re passionate about.”
More than two decades into his career, Bloxham remains energized by the work.
“I’ve never been burnt out,” he says. “There’s never been a morning where I’ve woken up and dreaded learning more.”
“There’s never been a morning where I’ve woken up and dreaded learning more.”
Looking back, Bloxham views the Information Systems program not simply as technical preparation, but as training for a career defined by change.
“There’s the tuition you pay school,” he reflects, “and then there’s the tuition you pay life. That second one ends up mattering just as much.”
For Brady Bloxham, the BYU Information Systems program provided more than a degree. It offered a framework for thinking—one that continues to shape how he builds, leads, and gives back.
“I really enjoyed my time at BYU,” he says. “Some of my greatest memories came from there. I’m always happy to give back.”