If you leave university two years into your degree, does it mean it's all been a waste? Not for Sam Darling!

After a frank conversation with his tutor revealed he had earned enough credits to secure a HND, Sam left university and continued a career story that had started at the age of 16.

Having already gained vast amounts of work experience (and co-authored a popular book), Sam knew that industry was moving faster than the speed of his degree course - and that opportunities to grow were there for the taking.

In our wide-ranging conversation we discuss:

• Growing up in an RAF family and feeling out of place at boarding school

• The value of an early dyslexia diagnosis and support

• Why professional qualifications should be a priority

• Switching seamlessly between the worlds of cycling and cyber security

• Why top Government and security organisations are actively seeking neuro-diverse people (and how to spot their ads)

This episode is a fantastic example of how leaving a degree course needn't mean time wasted, and the vast opportunity that exists in a rapidly growing sector.