Megan Roddie-Fonseca
I got into cyber through…working as a security analyst intern position with the Texas Department of Public Safety during college. My degree was focused on digital forensics and I imagined myself focusing on criminal forensics, but after my internship working in a security operations center (SOC) turned into a full-time position, I took a different direction with my career and have been working in various areas of cybersecurity since.
For me, a positive cyber mindset is…focusing on the good that you can do through your position. Cybersecurity is a difficult field and a lot of times it can feel like “the other side” is always winning. Security professionals must be resilient and determined. Under the stress of the job, you must be able to find the joy in tackling the challenges in front of you rather than be defeated by obstacles you face.
My top tip to those interested in transitioning to a career in cybersecurity is…to start networking and attending conferences and events early on. This field is not the easiest to break into but having the right connections can help increase your chances of ending up in a position you want. Not only that, but conferences and cybersecurity events can impart a wealth of knowledge in a variety of areas of expertise through talks, workshops, and capture the flags.
I would tell my younger self…to focus on what I enjoy doing and the rest will fall into place. I didn’t know when I was entering college what I wanted to do with my life and sometimes that worried me. As I continued through college, I started finding areas of interest that I wanted to pursue further and in the end, I ended up somewhere I really enjoy, without the need to plan out the next 10 years of my life.
The biggest influencer in my life is…my mom, Geraldine. From early in my life, she always believed that I would accomplish great things and she did everything in her power to ensure that I was given the best opportunity to do that. To this day, whenever I need help with something, I know she won’t hesitate to help. Not only does she go above and beyond to help me, but she never turns down the opportunity to help anyone in need and that inspires me to do my best to help others in the same way.
My recommended read…Daemon by Daniel Suarez. It was recommended to me by a colleague early on in my career, and it’s a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a science fiction novel with a technological twist to it.
A favorite place of mine is…my martial arts gym, John’s Gym. I think it is important for anyone in cybersecurity to find something they are passionate about outside of the industry, and even better if you can find something that gets you up and moving. This is a stressful career and it’s critical to have an escape from work otherwise you’ll get burnt out very quickly.
My inspiration is…my husband, Kelvin. He has lived with a life-long disability causing joint contractures, meaning that he has limited mobility in his legs and arms. Everything he does day to day, from walking to getting dressed, is exponentially harder than it is for any other person. But, he never acts like that’s the case or asks for help unless he truly believes he can’t do something.
Whenever I feel like something is too hard and I just want to give up, I think about all the things that he could easily give up on, including all the things he does for me, but instead finds a way without complaining.
What I most want to be remembered for is…being a teacher to others in the industry. Whether it be through my working teaching for the SANS Institute, writing blog posts and books, or mentoring colleagues, I want to be known for my impact on others’ careers rather than just my own successes.
