College Experiences That Helped a Head of Cybersecurity and Engineering at Commercial Insurance Company Succeed

I'll be honest. As a first-generation college student from a lower-class background, I had no idea what I was doing in undergrad. It took me a while to figure out how to drop classes; I didn't even know that was an option.

I didn't know a lot of things in undergrad, so getting mentors was really helpful, as was getting a good advisor. I didn't have an advisor until my second year; I didn't realize that was a thing. Getting people I could talk to in the industry was invaluable.

I'm so glad I talked with lawyers when I was an undergrad. It confirmed that it wasn't just my gut telling me I didn't necessarily want to pursue that path. I was pushed toward it, but I didn't necessarily want it. I took a Constitutional Law class and hated it. I wondered if I should just grind through it and continue, but it was important for me to talk to actual lawyers in the field I was considering.

I asked them about their day-to-day lives, what they liked about their jobs, and what they wished they had done differently. That conversation was crucial. By the end of my second year of school, I realized I didn't want to go to law school, take on more debt, or do that kind of work. I had to reassess my entire career path.

So, I strongly advise that during your freshman and sophomore years, you talk to industry professionals. Speak with a variety of people, especially if you're undecided about your path. Reach out to alumni from your school or connect with people on LinkedIn. Simply search by company and ask them about what they do.

This outreach is something I'm incredibly grateful I did, as it saved me a lot of heartache later. It gave me a taste of what I might be pursuing with a degree.

Now, you might be thinking, "Wait, you have an international relations degree and you're in cybersecurity? You didn't get a computer science degree." That doesn't matter. That's the great thing about the cybersecurity industry; we welcome people from all backgrounds. You don't necessarily need a computer science or technical degree, nor do you have to come from a technical background. Anyone can learn this on the job.

The industry is very certificate-based and focused on on-the-job learning. So, don't be afraid if you don't have a technical degree. Explore it anyway and don't let anyone intimidate you out of pursuing it.

It's also important to find people who look like you and might offer a different perspective. As a disabled veteran woman in this industry, finding other women veterans is challenging because we are a very small percentage. However, it's helpful because we share similar backgrounds.

If you are a woman of color, part of the LGBTQ+ community, or a first-generation college student like I was, find others in the industry you're interested in. Talk to them about their experiences, the challenges they faced, and try to learn from them. This is how I've molded my career.

My goal is to be the Chief Information Security Officer for a major organization, like JP Morgan. I research what that role entails, who has held it before, and what their career path was. Then, I talk to those people to understand what they did to reach that position.

So, alongside networking, find mentors and talk to people. Step outside your comfort zone and don't be afraid to explore areas unrelated to your degree, as your degree isn't always the final word.

I ended up having the last laugh because people thought I was crazy for studying Chinese and Russian politics from 2006 to 2011, during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Now, I'm suddenly an expert in the field and knowledgeable about major threat actors, particularly Russian and Chinese nation-state actors who continually attack our infrastructure. Suddenly, I'm relevant.

You never know what you're studying today might be relevant tomorrow. Just give it time.