Building safer software: Greg L.’s application security journey

Greg L. has served as the manager of Application Security at Vanguard for two and a half years. With a mission focused on technology and putting investors first, he plays a key role in strengthening Vanguard’s application security. Greg shares his nearly two-decade journey in the field, what inspires him in his work, and why Vanguard is a great place to grow a career.

Growing the skills that strengthen security

The Application Security team is responsible for protecting Vanguard applications and reducing overall security risk. I’ve been in security for 15 years, starting in compliance, moving to security operations and engineering, and then eventually into application security (also known as DevSecOps).

My favorite part of this role is the team I get to work with every day. The Application Security organization is composed of exceptional leaders, security specialists, and engineers who bring deep expertise and unwavering commitment to our mission.

Based on my experience, the crew members who do especially well on our Application Security team are those who are:

• Highly collaborative.
• Proactive problem-solvers.
• Adaptable and resilient to change.
• Technically curious and committed to continuous learning.
• Security-by-design thinkers.
• Risk-aware.
• Threat-oriented.
• Developer-centric.
• Clear communicators.

Combined, these qualities will help build a well-rounded crew member who can thrive in an application security role, and across Vanguard’s broader technology landscape.

Leaving a lasting impact  

One of the most meaningful aspects of this role has been the opportunity to hire the next generation of Vanguard’s security talent, shaping the future of our cybersecurity organization. I also had the privilege of contributing to the Application Security Modernization program which begins in 2026 and will implement Vanguard’s long-term application security strategy.

Although I haven’t had a formal mentor, I benefited immensely from observing and learning from the leadership within the Attack Surface Reduction organization. Their daily guidance, decision‑making, and professionalism served as an ongoing source of practical mentorship that has shaped my growth and development at Vanguard.

Building a worthwhile career

Vanguard places a strong emphasis on leadership development, offering a breadth of resources from curated books to enterprise‑wide learning events that meaningfully invest in the growth of its leaders. The commitment to continuous development is unlike anything I’ve experienced at previous organizations.

One of the most memorable experiences was participating in the Enterprise Security & Fraud A+ Leadership Summit in Pennsylvania in 2024. This in‑person training blended interactive leadership development with an invaluable opportunity to connect with security leaders throughout the organization.

My time at Vanguard on the Application Security team has challenged and developed me as both a leader and a security professional. I’d strongly encourage anyone who is looking to level up their security career to join Vanguard—even better, join the Application Security Team!

—Greg L.

Explore application security opportunities at Vanguard.