The Catalyst Fellowship

The Catalyst Fellowship is a new collaboration between #ShareTheMicInCyber (STMIC) and the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA). The fellowship is designed to cultivate diverse mid-career talent, deepen expertise in threat intelligence, and strengthen global cyber defenses at a time of tectonic shifts driven by AI and emerging threats.

Fellows will collaborate with CTA member companies, working directly with leading intelligence teams to co-author CTA’s flagship Joint Analytic Reports (JARs), contribute to technical research, and help connect analysis to both operations and policy.

The Catalyst Fellowship is more than an opportunity—it’s a platform to develop, lead, and amplify the voices of mid-career practitioners shaping the future of cyber intelligence.

About the Fellowship

The Catalyst Fellowship is a collaboration between #ShareTheMicInCyber (STMIC) and the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA) designed to cultivate diverse talent, deepen expertise, and strengthen global cyber defenses at a time of tectonic shifts in the digital landscape.

Fellows will collaborate with CTA and its member companies, working directly with leading threat intelligence teams to lead the authoring of CTA’s Joint Analytic Reports (JARs), contribute to technical research, and bring new perspectives to some of the most pressing cyber challenges.

This program is more than an opportunity; it’s a bridge between mid-career practitioners and a hub of global threat intelligence sharing. The Catalyst Fellowship will:

  • Help future leaders better understand how to use intelligence to inform decision-making.

  • Support practitioners transitioning into threat intel, building confidence and skills for long-term success.

  • Strengthen communication skills, enabling fellows to explain cybersecurity clearly to diverse audiences from the boardroom to the public.

  • Reinforce the vital connection between intelligence and operations, ensuring insights don’t sit on the shelf but drive action across the cyber ecosystem.

By blending technical tradecraft with mentorship, visibility, and professional development, the fellowship equips mid-career professionals to not only grow as analysts but also emerge as leaders capable of shaping the next chapter of cybersecurity.

Why The Catalyst Fellowship Matters

AI is reshaping cybersecurity, creating opportunities for innovation while also accelerating and scaling threats. Actionable threat intelligence has never been more critical, and the field needs new voices, fresh perspectives, and diverse expertise to keep pace.

The Catalyst Fellowship:

  • Strengthens the threat intelligence ecosystem by infusing unconventional expertise and lived experience.

  • Builds a pipeline of talent prepared to connect analytic work to operations and policy.

  • Expands visibility and opportunity for underrepresented practitioners ready to lead at the next level.

Impact

The Catalyst Fellowship builds on the success of the #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellowship at New America (2022–2025), where fellows published groundbreaking work on topics ranging from AI bills of materials to civilian cyber corps legislation. Alumni have gone on to shape national strategies, join leading security firms, and expand the conversation around cyber resilience.

With CTA, this new chapter takes the work further—embedding fellows inside the global threat intelligence ecosystem, where their analysis can directly shape how the industry anticipates, responds to, and mitigates cyber threats.

 FAQs

  • The #ShareTheMicInCyber Catalyst Fellowship for Cyber Intelligence—short name, the Catalyst Fellowship—is a collaboration between #ShareTheMicInCyber (STMIC) and the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA).

    The fellowship gives mid-career cybersecurity professionals the opportunity to collaborate with CTA’s member companies, co-author strategic, high-impact intelligence reporting, and contribute to shaping how the industry anticipates and responds to cyber threats.

    This fellowship builds on the success of STMIC’s first three-year fellowship at New America and represents the next evolution: moving from awareness and research into hands-on, operational threat intelligence.aunch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

  • We’re seeking mid-career professionals (5–10 years of experience) who:

    • Have demonstrated experience in cybersecurity across industry, government, or academia.

    • Bring diverse or nontraditional perspectives to threat analysis.

    • Are eager to deepen their skills in threat intelligence—no prior intel experience is required.

    • Want to sharpen their communication skills and expand their professional visibility.

    • Are committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in cybersecurity.

    Professionals navigating career transitions are especially encouraged to apply.

  • Fellows will:

    • Lead the development of a Joint Analytic Report (JAR)—a flagship CTA product that goes beyond documenting known threat actors and tactics to scan the horizon of the threat landscape, identify emerging risks, and connect intelligence to both operations and policy.

    • Publish at least three tangible outputs (e.g., JAR, blog, webinar) during the fellowship year.

    • Work alongside CTA intelligence teams and industry experts to shape real-world analytic products.

    • Contribute to technical research, public thought leadership, and CTA’s global threat intel mission.

  • No. Fellows are not employees of CTA or CAS Strategies. Instead, they are independent fellows who receive compensation for their participation. While fellows are not staff, they do receive structured access to data, insights, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities within CTA’s member community to support their analytic projects and professional development.

  • The Catalyst Fellowship includes a robust professional development track, featuring:

    • Intel tradecraft workshops on analysis methods, structured reporting, and horizon scanning.

    • Storytelling and communication sessions to help fellows explain cybersecurity clearly to boards, policymakers, and the public.

    • Career coaching including resume and interview support, mentoring circles, and one-on-one guidance.

    • Policy and operations insights, reinforcing the connection between threat intel, decision-making, and operational defense.

    Access to CTA’s network of member companies and #ShareTheMicInCyber’s global community.

  • The Catalyst Fellowship runs for one year, with four fellows selected annually. Each fellow will lead or contribute to a major Joint Analytic Report and other deliverables during their cycle.

  • Applications will open in late 2025, with the first Catalyst Fellowship cohort beginning in early 2026.

  • There are several ways to contribute:

    • Financial support through donations or sponsorships.

    • In-kind contributions such as providing conference passes, access to training, or other professional development opportunities.

    • Community engagement by leading a training session, hosting a workshop, or offering a career-focused fireside chat.

    • Connections to networks, organizations, or partners who can amplify the fellowship’s impact.

    Support helps ensure fellows have the resources, visibility, and opportunities to thrive—and strengthens the entire cybersecurity ecosystem.


  • The Catalyst Fellowship is led by #ShareTheMicInCyber and the Cyber Threat Alliance, with support from CAS Strategies and other sponsors and partners.

    This collaboration is championed by Lauren Zabierek, Camille Stewart Gloster, Michael Daniel, Katelyn Ringrose and Bridget Chan, who bring deep expertise across intelligence, policy, operations, and industry. Together, they are driving this effort to expand opportunity and strengthen the cybersecurity workforce.