Be the Energy: Women, Cyber Warfare, and the Power of Community
When you sit with a woman who has quietly shaped the way nations think about cyber warfare, you don’t just hear about systems and exploits, you hear about grit, purpose, and community. In a recent conversation with a former NSA senior executive, Commandant of the National Cryptologic University, ISSA Hall of Fame inductee, and Cybersecurity […]
Cybersecurity Resilience: Lessons from a Snowy Day
If resilience needed a case study, the sidewalks along the streets of Washington, DC post-snowstorm certainly provided one. Just days after the biggest snowstorm of the new year, something quietly powerful happened inside the walls of George Washington University. Despite icy sidewalks and every excuse to stay home, the Jack Morton Auditorium filled up anyway. […]
MISSING: The Future of Safeguarding Children Online
There is no fictional monster in this story that an unlikely hero can easily be expelled, nor is it as simple as a well-produced documentary with gripping scenes and insufferable characters. The reality is tragic, and harm of any kind targeted towards a child is an irreversible product of predatory behavior. Children are amongst the […]
The Cyber Guild’s UWIC 2025
Minds that influence valuable change do not cling to stale assumptions, nor do they allow their insightful questions to get benched by overplayed dialogue. There is an undercurrent of talent eager to break into the field of cybersecurity, and The Cyber Guild’s UWIC 2025 is opening doors to a future well worth investing in. On October 9th, The […]
Your Next Chapter: Transitioning from the Intelligence Community to Private Sector as a Senior Leader
For senior leaders in national security, intelligence, cyber, and digital transformation, transitioning from GS-15 and Senior Executive Service (SES) roles to the private sector presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges. You have led large-scale programs, advised top decision-makers, and shaped national security policy, but how do you translate that high-level leadership experience into […]
Your Next Move: Career Strategies for Early-Career Intelligence Professionals Leaving Government
For those who recently joined the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) and now find themselves leaving government service—perhaps even during their probationary period—this can be a major life disruption. Many of you may have spent years preparing for this role, invested time and energy in obtaining security clearances, relocated across the country, and made personal and […]
Your Next Career: Turning Public Service into Private-Sector Success
For those leaving the national security community, transitioning to the private sector can be both an exciting and daunting process. At this time of dynamic change, I’ll provide a few thoughts for my former colleagues in the CIA and other government officials contemplating the next phase of their professional lives. The skills and experiences you’ve […]
Your Next Advantage: Networking, Resumes, and Personal Branding for Government Professionals Entering the Private Sector
For government professionals transitioning to the private sector, landing the right job is about more than just having an impressive background. Success in the private sector depends in part on how you present yourself, how you connect with the right people, and how you market your expertise. Many government professionals underestimate the role of networking, […]
Your Next Mission: Career Strategies for GS-13/14 Professionals Leaving Government
During my time at the CIA, the GS-13 and GS-14 cadre formed the backbone of the service. They were often our most productive and impactful officers, having the experience and perspective to execute complex operations, while supervising, mentoring, and leading more junior personnel. The answer to so many challenges for our executive leadership team was […]
Dys-tinguished: When neurodivergent minds strengthen the cybersecurity workforce
The rate at which threats are evolving with unimaginable complexity is remarkable. Trusting a method or mindset that was effective once before could now pose as a risk in combatting a rise of asymmetrical threats. This is one of those conversations that we don’t mind having one more time again. Simply because, harnessing the value […]