I got into cyber by…constantly raising my hand. Early in my career, I worked in project management for an aerospace/defense manufacturing company. While I was there, we started getting more defined customer requirements around business continuity, supply chain risk management, and internal governance procedures. I raised my hand to figure out what was being asked of us and how to operationalize it, and this led me down the path of standing up the company’s first GRC and TPRM programs.

For me, a positive cyber mindset is…all about community and collaboration. Cybersecurity is a team sport, and when we are all working in our own little bubbles, it can sometimes be easy to forget that we are all playing for the same team at the end of the day. The best way to see this in action is to connect with others in the cybersecurity community by attending events, contributing to industry groups, and sharing knowledge with others.

My favorite part of UWIC is…the community. Whereas many other conferences end once the event is over, The Cyber Guild has done an incredible job of being very intentional about bringing the community together on an ongoing basis to allow for deeper connection and more meaningful collaboration.

The skill that helped me transition to a career in cyber was…cultivating a learning mindset. At various points throughout my cybersecurity journey, I reached out to people across my network to ask them what they thought I would need to know and to get their perspective on what resources they would recommend to further educate myself. Even once you are in cyber, the learning can’t stop – the threats change and the technology evolves, and you need a learning orientation throughout your career in order to keep up with it.

My top tip to those interested in transitioning to a career in cybersecurity is…don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Show up, surround yourself with people who have different knowledge than you, and ask questions. It is not all about who you know but give yourself the chance to be known by being in the room, expanding your understanding, and speaking up.

My biggest influencers in my life are…my parents and my husband, Gert. My dad taught me to always look out for the underdog and demonstrates daily what it means to have a generosity of spirit. My mom set a strong example as a working mom while also making time for causes that are near to your heart. And Gert has the strongest moral compass of anyone I know while also always telling it like it is, so I can always trust him to be a great sounding board and to help me translate my goals into actions.

When I was younger, I thought I wanted to be…a doctor when I grew up. A career in cybersecurity has offered all of the best aspects of a job in medicine that initially attracted me to that line of work (back before I know that cybersecurity was even a thing) – I get to solve problems, flex my skills of being able to translate technical challenges and solutions for non-technical audiences, and help people along the way.

Something few people know about me is…that I was a dancer for a professional sports team!

What I most wanted to be remembered for is…first and foremost being a good mom, and for being a person who you would call on your worst day and on your best day.