I got into cyber…not by choice! But, I’m blessed to be here now. I was assigned to work in cyber investigations eight (8) years ago and have not once considered changing my path. My role is to educate companies about cybersecurity, teach children and adults how to be safe online, and assist victims of cybercrime. Our daily lives are becoming more and more intertwined with and dependent upon the cyber world, so the cybersecurity awareness and education I provide is an important and integral part of empowering others to understand and operate safely in the cyber arena.

For me, a positive cyber mindset is…always keeping an open mind when problem-solving and understanding that I can never know everything, while always desiring to learn more. Technology is always changing so the threats to cybersecurity are always changing. Keeping an open mind to creative solutions and constantly educating oneself is important to be able to adapt and evolve.

What did you enjoy most about being a part of UWIC? I enjoyed getting to meet a wonderful and energetic group of cybersecurity professionals with the like-minded focus of improving our communities and workforce through information and idea sharing. The UWIC Conference in October 2024 was my introduction into the group, and I was amazed by the positive cyber mindset and endless potential of ideas and innovation within this group. You can’t help but believe that anything is possible with an organization such as UWIC.

The skill that set me up for success is…a continued desire to learn as much as I could about cybersecurity. When I began working in cyber investigations, I had no cyber training or cyber background at all. So, I dove in with both feet.

I bought books on cyber investigations and security; I did online training and attended in-person classes on network intrusions and incident response; I talked with cybersecurity professionals in the financial, healthcare, academia, and private sector industries; I attended cybersecurity seminars and conferences; and have now served many times as a guest speaker, panelist, and subject matter expert.

Understanding and accepting that there is no limit to what you can learn if you apply yourself is imperative to being successful in cybersecurity. From an investigative standpoint, the criminals are constantly changing and adapting their methods and techniques of attack, so we must constantly learn and do so as well.

A favorite place of mine is…a discount bookstore. I enjoy spending time perusing the shelves and delving into abbreviated worlds for moments of time. When I find a book I have on my reading list, it is like finding gold at the end of a rainbow. Every possible world you can imagine can be found in a bookstore. Reading stimulates my imaginative side, and I learn something new with every book.

My recommended read is…“Visual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life” by Amy E. Hermann. Hermann teaches professionals such as law enforcement officers, CEOs, medical professionals, and others how to see situations in more detail and communicate those perceptions more effectively, thus improving their abilities to do their jobs.

As a federal agent and a cybersecurity professional, I need to look for what is not present just as much as what is right in front of me. Being able to visualize a scene or a cyberattack from different perspectives without prejudices enables me to be more effective in my work. With the constantly changing cyber threat landscape, we cannot adhere to fixed notions but must be open to expanding our vision to not yet realized possibilities.

The quote I live by is…“If you haven’t fallen three times, you aren’t trying hard enough.” My dad said this to me and my siblings when we were kids learning to ice skate. But, these words of wisdom can apply to any venture you strive to undertake, even in your role as a cyber professional.

You are going to stumble, fall, and make mistakes in your journey, but what’s important is that you get back up and keep trying, keep moving forward, and make adjustments along the way. No one is infallible. By learning from our mistakes, we improve ourselves, our work, and our lives, which in turn helps make the lives of those around us better.