When Tyler Benson blocks off time on his calendar for professional development, it could mean a myriad of things: Reading a chapter in a book that his manager recommended. Listening to a lecture in his Harvard Business School class, or chatting with his coach from BetterUp, a virtual coaching platform.
But one thing he doesn’t have to worry about is paying for any of it. His employer Huntress, an enterprise-grade, people-powered cybersecurity company, is happy to pick up the tab.
“Since joining Huntress, I’ve had countless opportunities to grow both personally and professionally,” Benson, a SOC support manager at Huntress, said.
When Benson first joined, he was hired as a product support specialist. Since then, Benson has moved into team lead roles and management positions at the growing company, thanks to a combination of his own hard work and talent, as well as the support of his manager and employer.
“From one-on-one conversations with leaders across the company to leveraging resources like our professional development fund — I've invested in books, online courses, and even completed a Harvard Business School program,” Benson said. “But some of my most impactful growth has come through BetterUp.
Over Benson’s time using BetterUp, he said he’s worked with several incredible coaches, including specialists in areas like crucial conversations and presentation skills.
“For the past two years, I’ve met with my primary coach almost every week, and that ongoing partnership has been a game-changer for my development,” he said.
Another game-changer? His direct manager, whose trust and support Benson describes as “invaluable.”
“He’s consistently given me the space to grow, take on new challenges, and learn through experience — including learning from my own mistakes,” Benson said.
“He’s consistently given me the space to grow, take on new challenges and learn through experience — including learning from my own mistakes.”
In addition to his manager, other leaders at Huntress have been more than happy to support Benson in his career growth journey, too.
Huntress’ Professional Development Perks
- Continuing education stipend
- Job training and conferences
- Online course subscriptions available
- Paid industry certifications
- Promote-from-within
- Lunch-and-learns
- Continuing education available during work hours
“I took the initiative to reach out to leaders across Huntress to learn from their experiences — asking what they wished they knew in their early days of leadership, gathering tips and soaking up any wisdom they were willing to share,” Benson said. “Those conversations led to meaningful connections, and I still maintain regular touch points with a few of them to exchange ideas and seek advice.”
Benson is hardly alone in his experience working at Huntress — and the supportive culture goes beyond the company’s professional development opportunities. Benson said the employee empowerment starts with a robust, product-driven onboarding program led by a dedicated trainer to ensure new team members are thoroughly prepared.
“The company-wide onboarding is not only informative but also deeply mission-driven — and I’ve seen it steadily improve over my nearly four years here,” Benson said.
Huntress’ unique combination of support and resources has created a strong foundation that Benson says have set him up for long-term success.
