TO ACHIEVE GENDER DIVERSITY IN CYBERSECURITY, A LONG-TERM APPROACH IS NECESSARY

Could tell us about your role and your career history? My primary role as a security research evangelist at Nozomi Networks is to talk about all of the great research that our Labs team is doing to safeguard critical infrastructure. My technical career began unintentionally when I joined the US Navy as an intelligence specialist. Despite not having any technical background whatsoever, I had to present on many technical aspects of military weapons and capabilities (missiles, mines, aircraft ranges, communications, etc.) at just 19 years old. I think that is where it all began for me.

What do you love about your job?

I'm a naturally talkative person, so if I weren't doing this, I would probably be a lawyer. But most importantly, I love sharing the incredible research our security research team is doing. Our researchers are creating threat detection for customers' environments, discovering zero-day vulnerabilities in OT/IoT systems, as well as building highly sophisticated demos to demonstrate how we can protect these environments from cyber-attacks. It's an incredibly exciting job and I get to discuss all of that!

How can organizations pave the way for a future of female cybersecurity leaders?

To achieve gender diversity in cybersecurity, a longterm approach is necessary, starting with changing people's perceptions of what a technical person looks like. Engaging with young girls at schools can generate interest early on and create a pipeline of talented young women passionate about cybersecurity, ready to take on leadership roles when they enter the workforce.

Please share something unforgettable from your career?

One of the most memorable moments in my career was when my Jamaican mother flew to Idaho Falls when I was a recipient of a Laboratory Director Award at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Although I received numerous awards when in the military, the Laboratory Director Award marked the first time in my civilian career that I was recognized for my accomplishments. The fact that I could share that experience with my mom really meant a lot to me.

What unique challenges and opportunities do you face in today's world?

Being a young Black woman in an industry dominated by old White men, I have faced the challenge of not being taken seriously. Proving myself in every meeting was an absolute necessity, and at times, my ideas were overlooked until someone else regurgitated them. And I must say, constantly seeking validation from others is exhausting! But I didn’t make a fuss about it, I just focused on doing my job to the best of my ability and allowed my work to speak for itself. Eventually, everyone caught on.