Building a Career by Building Relationships: Cameron’s Tech Journey
When you ask Cameron Williams how he got into tech, his answer isn’t a list of certifications or programming languages. It’s a story about people and connections. For Cameron, every step forward—from figuring out what he wanted to do to landing a role at a growing tech company—came down to building real, human relationships, saying, “your network is your net worth. And I think that’s just so unbelievably true.”
From “Undecided” to “Going All In”
Cameron Williams focused on the toughest problems at Threat Captain—read on for more.
Right after high school, Cameron wasn’t sure what was next. He considered becoming a personal trainer, but something didn’t feel quite right. He enrolled at a local community college, still undecided, until a conversation with a career advisor planted the seed: “What about tech?”
That one question set him on a different path. He started exploring options and discovered Build Carolina’s full-time web development course. Three weeks before the college semester was set to begin, with his class schedule already finalized, he made the leap.
“I had my schedule and everything… and I was like, ‘All right, we're going all in on [tech],” Cameron said.
Cameron didn’t have much coding experience, just one high school class that was cut short by COVID, but he jumped in anyway. And it wasn’t just a class. It was a community that gave him the momentum and support he needed to begin his tech career.
Relationships That Opened Doors
Cameron quickly realized that learning to code was just one part of the equation. To build a career, he had to connect with people.
When he applied for an internship at a company in downtown Greenville, he didn’t just submit a résumé. He reached out to Scotty, a Build Carolina alum already working there. That conversation made a difference.
Cameron’s initiative and willingness to follow up landed him the internship, which became a full-time role. While there, he leveled up quickly with hands-on experience in languages he learned in our web development course, React, and some he didn’t learn, C#, and TypeScript.
More importantly, he kept building relationships by staying connected and staying curious.
Adam Anderson and Cameron Williams at lunch where it all began.
From Conference Volunteer to Serendipitous Connection
When it came time for a new chapter, Cameron turned to his network again. That’s how he heard about Grok Conference, a local tech event in Greenville. Money was tight with his next role up in the air, so he reached out to the organizers to find ways to volunteer.
That choice—to just show up and help out—changed everything.
At a social event during the conference, Cameron struck up a conversation with Adam Anderson from Threat Captain. He connected with Adam, not to pitch himself, but because he was genuinely interested in Adam and the work and play he was into.
“[I went into the conference thinking] I just want to talk to as many people as I can. If any opportunities come of it, then great… but I definitely didn’t go in with the idea of, ‘I’m going to walk out of here with a job.’”
“He came in, and he was delightful—his attitude, more than his technical skills, is probably what sold us. He immediately fit in with the team.”
Cameron and Adam met up to continue the conversation over lunch, and before long, Cameron had a new opportunity on the table. Not because he had the perfect résumé, but because he led with curiosity for others.
Adam Anderson from Threat Captain recounts, “As I remember it, the next day at Grok, I found Cameron and said, ‘Hey, let’s grab lunch. I want to talk and see if this might be a fit.’ I told him what we were doing, what I was trying to build. And right there, I said, ‘You should probably work for us. I want to give this a shot.’
So I offered him a one-week contract, just to see what he could do. He came in, and he was delightful—his attitude, more than his technical skills, is probably what sold us. He immediately fit in with the team.
The way I build my dev teams is that our designer is also the product manager, and all the developers report to the designer. After working with Cameron, our designer, Kathy said, ‘I love working with him. He’s fantastic. You should hire him.’ So I did.”
“Cameron’s main role now is tackling the toughest problems we’re working on. I hand him the things that aren’t working or don’t feel right, and he digs in and figures them out. That’s his superpower—he takes on the hard stuff and runs with it.”
Cameron fits right in with the Threat Captain team!
Building His Future, One Line of Code (& Connection) at a Time
Cameron is crushing it in his new role at Threat Captain, a fast-moving cybersecurity company where adaptability and curiosity are key. Every day brings a new challenge, and Cameron shows up ready to grow, contribute, and prove himself.
“It’s my responsibility to kind of earn that respect.”
In an environment where titles matter less than effort, Cameron is making an impact by staying hungry, asking questions, and staying grounded in the mindset that got him here: be resourceful, keep learning, and don’t wait for permission to show what you can do.
“It’s kind of been a bit of a crazy journey in the last couple weeks, but yeah. It’s been a fun one so far, for sure.”
He’s still early in his tech career, but if his story proves anything, it’s that when you combine grit with a genuine investment in people, doors don’t just open. They stay open.
What we hope you’ll take from Cameron’s story
People open doors. Every opportunity in Cameron’s career came from a connection he built.
Don’t just apply. Connect. A résumé gets you in the pile. A relationship gets you in the room.
Be brave enough to show up. Whether it’s a class, a conference, or a Slack thread, you never know who you’ll meet.
Lead with curiosity. Cameron didn’t network to get something. He connected because he was genuinely interested in others.
Cameron reminds us that the tech world isn’t just made of technical skills. It’s made of people. And when you build relationships with intention and curiosity, that’s where the magic happens.
How Build Carolina Academy Helped Shape Cameron’s Journey
Cameron’s inspiring story is a testament to the power of both relationships and lifelong learning. His journey into tech began with curiosity and a willingness to connect with others—but it was through Build Carolina Academy’s certificate program that he gained the technical skills and confidence to launch his career.
At Build Carolina Academy, we believe that anyone with drive, curiosity, and a collaborative spirit can thrive in tech. Our hands-on certificate programs are designed for people just like Cameron: motivated, community-minded learners who are ready to invest in themselves and support others along the way.
If you’re looking to break into tech and want to be part of a supportive, relationship-driven community, Build Carolina Academy could be your next step. We’re proud to help students like Cameron turn their passion and potential into real-world opportunities.
Ready to start your own journey? Learn more about our course here!