In Season 3, Episode 4 of From Failure to Launch, host Keira Johnson sits down with Code2College intern Jawaad Merali and his summer manager, Mark Berry, Director of Cybersecurity at Crosslake Technologies. Together, they share how a summer of rapid learning, hands-on projects, and strong mentorship helped Jawaad, now a college freshman, grow confidently into the world of cybersecurity. Jawaad describes arriving eager but unsure, quickly diving into intensive security training and AI development. Mark highlights how Jawaad and fellow intern Krish exceeded expectations from day one by bringing curiosity, strong technical foundations, and fresh ideas to a complex challenge: automating parts of Crosslake’s cybersecurity maturity assessment process. Their work streamlined evidence validation for portfolio companies and showed how early-career interns, when supported and encouraged, can make a meaningful impact on real-world cybersecurity and AI initiatives.