I have been in infosec for more than a decade and a half, and at this point it feels irresponsible to only keep absorbing what is around me.
I have been in the sharing business since 2008 or earlier, mostly because I am what I am today due to people who shared instead of hoarding. That instinct has shaped how I work. If I write something, my first reaction is to open source it. If I am involved with conferences, my first reaction is to help others grow too.
I have been part of the Black Hat Speaker Coaching program for a while (thanks to Lidia Giuliano for spearheading that). This year, found BSides London’s Rookie Track mentor form, so I signed up and supported there as well (Thanks to Paul Roach for organizing rookie track).
It is genuinely satisfying to watch people step on stage and do a phenomenal job. I also avoid naming the folks I have helped, and I usually ask them not to mention me. The spotlight should stay with the speaker.
If you have the bandwidth, mentor someone, review a draft, do a dry run, share a playbook, or just help them ship. Knowledge compounds best when it moves.