See It To Be It Spotlight

𝗜 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵…by accident. I started off my career at a Big 4 accounting firm, thinking I would be delivering business process consulting. However, I found myself on federal IT audits and advisory engagements. As someone with a degree in Finance and Operations Management, conducting audits of server rooms, systems, and access lists was a new area for me. Frankly, I didn’t quite enjoy the work at first, but I was determined to learn and do well on whatever engagement I was assigned. After a while, I got the opportunity to support a project for a global cloud computing company, and the rest is history!

I quickly found the technology exciting, the fast pace exhilarating, and the pace of change inspiring. My focus in cybersecurity began in compliance and expanded to include governance and risk management as I led Security Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) for a Fortune 500 company.

Along the way, I realized that many security leaders entered the security field by accident. What kept me in security for all of these years was the ability to make a positive impact and the pace of change. There is never a dull moment!

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲, 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘀…rooted in risk management. The focus of cybersecurity is to help the business achieve its objectives. When you take this mindset, it’s a “yes” mindset focused on how you can help the business succeed. Thinking about risk management decisions in the context of the business keeps you oriented on what’s important and the “why” behind it.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀…determination. As I mentioned earlier, I do not have formal education in IT systems or cybersecurity, but I was determined to succeed in whatever engagement I was assigned to. This meant on-the-job learning, soaking up as much information as I could, learning from peers, and supplementing this with formal certifications like CISA and CISSP to validate my understanding. Throughout my career, determination has kept me moving forward, learning new skills and technologies, building resilient leadership techniques, and adapting to challenges.

𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 motto…“You don’t know until you try.” If you try and succeed, it’s amazing! If you try and don’t succeed, that’s okay, and it’s a learning experience. If you never try or never ask, you’re always left wondering what could have happened or what could have changed. Not trying or not asking produces the same status quo outcome. But trying could produce an incredible outcome. So why not try!

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘀...“Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter” by Liz Wiseman. This book sheds light on behaviors that amplify your team’s impact and accidental diminishers that can reduce it. It’s so enlightening to frame behaviors this way, and it makes you realize the upside and consequences of certain leadership behaviors. I still refer to this when asked about my strengths and opportunities as a leader. It’s a must-read for leadership tips!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗪𝗜𝗖? The Cyber Guild creates a real sense of community, and UWIC is like the “homecoming” for that community. Even as a first-time attendee last year, I felt the warmth and sense of community. It was clear that everyone in attendance was passionate about cybersecurity and about helping others succeed. It was a great “feeling” and a differentiator from other events I’ve attended.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗨𝗪𝗜𝗖? The people. Expert speakers, industry SMEs, seasoned practitioners, people breaking into cybersecurity, and folks all along their career journey. Everyone is warm and welcoming and genuinely seems interested in getting to know you and providing value to the cybersecurity ecosystem. The people make the event great, and the overall experience is curated around building connections.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺? The RISE Mentorship program provides an opportunity to “Pay it Forward” by sharing experiences and learnings, and hopefully, helps break down some of the barriers to starting or growing a career in cybersecurity. The impact of which is net-positive for the cybersecurity industry as a whole.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿? My favorite part of being a Mentor is the bi-directional learning that occurs through mentorship. It’s a chance for both the mentee and the mentor to pause, reflect deeply, listen, and ask questions. A rare opportunity for introspection when the world is moving so fast around you. I often find that when you’re asked to share advice, it’s the best chance to gauge how deeply you’ve mastered something and creates the opportunity for continued learning.

Are you ready to take the next step in your cybersecurity journey?

The Cyber Guild connects leaders, practitioners, and emerging talent through events, mentorship, and community.

👉 Explore upcoming events
👉 Subscribe to our mailing list
👉 Learn more about RISE Mentorship