From Cyber Ranges to the CEO: Turning Hacking Skills into Business Success

What happens when you combine raw talent, a competitive streak, and a community-driven hacking environment? In the case of Carson Owlett, you get the founder and CEO of a thriving offensive security company, where cyber ranges played a pivotal role.

We sat down with Carson, CEO of Black Mirage LLC, to learn how hands-on cybersecurity competitions helped him sharpen his skills, build credibility, and create opportunities not just for himself, but for others in the cybersecurity community.

From College Pivot to Pen Testing Pro

Carson's entry into cybersecurity wasn't a straight line.

"I originally studied computer science," Carson explains. "But the job market was oversaturated, and entry-level roles required senior-level experience. Like a lot of people trying to break into cyber, I hit a wall."

That's when he pivoted. After earning his OSCP certification, Carson landed a role at a DARPA research firm before ultimately founding his own offensive security company, Black Mirage.

Discovering Cyber Ranges

While living in Boston, Carson discovered CMD+CTRL Cyber Ranges through a local security meetup.

"It might've been OWASP or one of the Boston security events," he says. "I went to one of the range events and found out they ran every month or two. It was fun, and I kept coming back."

For Carson, cyber ranges weren't just a side hobby; they became a proving ground.

Gamified Learning, Real-World Credibility

"Cyber Ranges added a little bit of proof to the pudding," Carson shares. "I only had a year of experience when I launched Black Mirage, but being able to say, 'Hey, out of hundreds of participants, I won this,' really helped build credibility with early clients."

At one event, Carson and his teammates competed under the Black Mirage name and dominated the leaderboard. "That mattered to clients," he says. "They could see we knew what we were doing."

It wasn't just Carson who benefited. Others in his orbit used cyber range events as a springboard to break into cybersecurity and grow their careers.

"Pretty much everyone who put in effort got something back," Carson says.

Why Cyber Ranges Work

Carson attributes much of his success, and the success of others, to the format of the ranges themselves.

"Hands on keyboard is the best way to understand the attacks you're performing," he explains. "Gamification makes it semi-addictive. If you already enjoy hacking, you're not walking away mid-event."

For beginners, cyber ranges offer an accelerated learning experience. For more experienced hackers, it becomes a high-stakes competition.

"At the top level, several of us were squaring off every time. We were shaving off seconds on each exploit. It pushed us to optimize how we approached attacks."

Advice for New Participants

Carson's advice for first-time cyber range participants?

"Ask questions. Don't assume everyone knows everything—most people are still learning, too."

And for those hoping to break into penetration testing?

"Don't take advice from people who've never been penetration testers," he says with a grin. "And know this, it's not easy. You've got to work your rear end off."

Building Community, Building Talent

Cyber ranges helped Carson build a business, helped others build careers, and continue to foster a community where hackers, from beginners to experts, can learn, compete, and grow together.

Curious how cyber range experience translates to real-world impact? Check out what Carson's building at Black Mirage.

Looking To Level Up Your Own Skills?

Take Carson's advice: show up, stay curious, and get your hands on the keyboard.