As a VET, I got into cyber…I am an Army Veteran, but I was a Blackhawk Helicopter Crew Chief and Door Gunner, so definitely not a direct path to cyber. After I left the Army, I went to college and got a degree in secondary education. Teaching in Arizona isn’t exactly what you would call lucrative, so I worked odd jobs during the summer to supplement.

I was helping a man pick out a laptop and took the time to understand what he needed it for and shifted him to the appropriate machine. That’s when he recruited me to an IT Systems Engineering role at the Joint Interoperability Test Command. JITC was recruiting teachers because we inherently understand testing methodologies, scoring, and rubrics, whereas the systems engineers only tested for what they designed the systems for.

For me, a positive cyber mindset is…I speak often about the buzzwords that set false expectations in this field. A primary example is the term “cybersecurity”, which sets the expectation that our connected platforms can be secure. If you get away from the misnomer of cybersecurity, and realign your mindset to “cyber risk mitigation”, I believe you have a better ability to understand, mitigate, and plan which inherently increase effectiveness and mission strength.

What did you enjoy most about being a part of UWIC? What I value and enjoy about being a UWIC member is by far the caliber of professionals who are members and attend. UWIC gets away from the standard speakers and really focuses on expertise, innovation, and perspective. I’m always inspired and appreciative when you see so many professionals, the majority of whom are women, standing unapologetically as experts who are confident, capable, and accomplished.

The relevant work experience that set me up for success…I’ve always been in fields where I was either the only, or one of few women. From the combat side of the military all the way through to cyber, I have often been the anomaly in the room. While that can be daunting, it’s also provided me with countless opportunities I don’t believe I would have gotten if I looked or acted like everyone else.

Many people have commented over the years that they don’t know how I’ve flourished in some pretty tough environments, but it’s simple…I was there to do a job and deliver. I’ve never been afraid of the unknown or questioned what I’m capable of. While that sounds great, I assure you it provides its own challenges, and I’ve got the scars to prove it, but if you accept the the environment for what it is (not what you think it should be), then you can make it about the task, role, or job instead of it being about you.

The skills that helped me transition to a career in cyber are…tenacity, curiosity, and a drive to serve have helped me transition into cyber. It certainly was not where I thought I would end up, but these traits have helped differentiate me throughout my career. I truly love to solve problems, work well under pressure, and am passionate about building people up to reach their potential. These skills and passions are key in the cyber field which is always in motion and will always present new challenges.

My top tip to those interested in transitioning to a career in cybersecurity is…be deliberate in where you want to go, but always be open to other paths. The opportunities in this field are endless, but you have to work for them and can’t expect anyone to give it to you. You will certainly get more out of this than what you put in, but you will need flexibility and drive.

I would tell my younger self…to listen for understanding and take a breath before you respond. One of the things I’m currently working on is not to rush to the answer. If you take a moment to understand why someone is asking a question, it will likely shape and change the way to answer.

The quote I live by…”You can survive anything until the day you don’t…then it’s someone else’s paperwork.”

The biggest influencer in my career was…Rob Potter was a VP when I was at Symantec. Rob led with reason, consistency, and challenged people to live up to their potential in a way that was kind, professional, and he cared. He taught me that you don’t have to fight for a place at a table you’re already at. His leadership is something I do my best to emulate.

My recommended read is…Range by David Epstein. Range is about why generalists flourish in a specialized world, which resonates with me for obvious reasons…

My true calling is…I have always been driven by service, it is my foundation and drives me. My unorthodox background seems best suited to serve as an ambassador at some point. That will be the place I can utilize all of my experience and skills to serve best.

A favorite place of mine is…Anywhere with culture and good food! I am a student of the world and love to travel. I don’t really enjoy the typical touristy stuff. I want to know the people and the best way to learn about people and culture is through food.

My inspiration is…service. I have been blessed with many gifts and believe they are best utilized when working toward a better future.

Something few people know about me is…I’m actually an introvert. It seems contradictory because I love people, public speaking, and sharing, but I am also extremely comfortable and enjoy time alone, even while traveling.

What I most want to be remembered for is…I think I should leave that up to the world!