Meet Duncan: One of SBT’s Marketing Executives Bringing Stories to Life
At Security Blue Team (SBT), connecting people with high-quality cybersecurity training means communicating clearly and helpfully, without adding to the daily flood of noise. In this Faces of SBT feature, we’re shining a spotlight on Duncan Whitley, one of our Marketing Executives, whose work across blog posts, newsletters, emails, paid ads, and behind-the-scenes marketing helps ensure the information reaching learners and clients is actually worth their time.
For anyone who has read a team spotlight, subscribed to our LinkedIn newsletter, or clicked a recent ad, this is a chance to see a bit more of the person shaping that content. Whether you’re a learner who’s found something useful in our updates or you’re simply curious about life at SBT, here’s Duncan in his own words.
Duncan: Creating Content That Actually Helps
Duncan’s role spans a wide range of marketing responsibilities across SBT. As he explains, “I am the Marketing Executive at Security Blue Team, I write different blog posts (including the previous Faces of SBT), I also create the newsletters and emails (I hope they are informative), I am also involved in the paid ads, and many other behind the scenes marketing things.”
At the core of his approach is a focus on value over volume. He explains that he aims to make sure “the message you receive is actually valuable information and not just filler because that is what I want when I receive information.” In a world where inboxes and feeds are crowded, his goal is to reduce noise and deliver content that is genuinely useful.
He acknowledges that not everything can be perfect, adding, “I try to make sure you get as little filler as possible (if you do get a little bit I'm sorry), but I do my best to make sure nearly everything you get is informative because that is what I would want receiving information from companies.”
A Day in Marketing at SBT
Like many roles at SBT, no two days look the same.
Duncan describes the variety in his work, from reviewing email automations and analysing paid ads to writing blog posts and contributing to the LinkedIn newsletter. As he puts it, “Every day is different (I know everyone says this), but some days it is reviewing emails and their automations, some days it is looking through our paid ads making sure they are running correctly and showing up to the right people.”
On other days, the focus shifts more towards content creation, including Faces of SBT posts and the newsletter, which he notes offers “a more in-depth look into what happened in cybersecurity the past month.”
Why SBT?
For Duncan, joining Security Blue Team was about combining multiple long-standing interests.
“I have always been extremely interested in technology, I have always been a gamer and when I was looking at studying game design and cybersecurity were on my shortlist (but somehow I ended up in marketing).”
What stood out about SBT was the ability to connect that interest with meaningful work. He explains that it gave him the opportunity “to talk about an industry I am passionate about and where I can actually see I am part of a company that is helping people progress.”
Bringing together his background in marketing with his interest in cybersecurity, he describes it simply as “a great fit.”
What He Enjoys Most
The most rewarding part of the role comes down to impact.
Duncan highlights how much he values seeing the outcomes of SBT’s work, saying, “I enjoy seeing the results SBT has made in peoples lives, whether it is landing their first role or getting a promotion, seeing those testimonials is extremely satisfying.”
He also encourages the community to share their experiences, adding, “If you have any testimonials feel free to post it on social media and tag us, it is always great to see how we have made a positive impact!”
A Unique Journey into Marketing
Duncan’s background has taken a few interesting turns.
“I grew up in a small mining town in South Africa (which gave me asthma as a kid but went away soon as I moved away) then to a small local resort town.” He later completed two degrees in brand building and brand strategy, before gaining experience across both marketing and market research.
That experience exposed him to a wide range of projects, from “creating campaigns for Uber launching in new regions, to doing market research on nappies,” giving him a broad and practical perspective on how different industries operate.
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, Duncan is focused on continuous improvement across both content and performance.
He explains that he wants “to improve the content you see every day from blogs, to emails, to ads,” while also playing a bigger role in refining paid advertising to ensure it reaches the right people in a way that is informative rather than intrusive.
Alongside that, he’s aiming to grow his marketing skillset, expand into new channels, and continue developing his ability to analyse data and make informed decisions.
Outside of Work
Outside of work, Duncan keeps busy with a mix of gaming, travel, and personal projects.
He shares that he was once heavily involved in competitive gaming, saying, “I used to play Call of Duty professionally and be founder of one of the best teams in South Africa,” although these days it’s more casual, with a focus on indie games and building his own small form factor computer from scratch.
He also enjoys travelling for a unique reason, explaining that he visits tattoo artists in different countries to work directly with styles he likes, rather than asking others to replicate them.
And, as he puts it, “Because I am getting older I have been somewhat forced to exercise a bit more,” adding some balance to everything else.
Where It All Started
As a child, Duncan’s interests leaned heavily towards the military and technology.
“I was obsessed with the military, I had toy soldiers everywhere,” he explains, describing a childhood filled with paintball and military-themed interests. That gradually evolved into an interest in technology and cybersecurity, although early conversations about career paths led to some amusing misunderstandings around “ethical hacking” and “penetration testing.”
Ultimately, his path into marketing provided what he describes as a “happy middle ground,” allowing him to combine creativity with analytical thinking.
Duncan’s Role Within SBT
Duncan is part of SBT’s marketing and content team, working alongside colleagues across the business to ensure blogs, emails, ads, and communications remain informative, relevant, and low on unnecessary noise.
Whether highlighting team stories, sharing industry insights, or helping learners discover the right training path, the goal is always to deliver real value and support people in their cybersecurity journey.
His mix of technical interest, creative storytelling, and data-driven thinking reflects the supportive, impact-focused culture that continues to drive SBT forward.
Want to Learn More About the People Behind Security Blue Team?
Explore our other Faces of SBT posts to meet more of the team shaping our culture and supporting our learners worldwide.
If you’re interested in joining us in the future, keep an eye on our careers page and watch this space for more team spotlights soon.
