Becoming a Cyber Security Advocate: Importance of Role Models

I have been working in cybersecurity for almost two years now. I began my career as a software developer, but after a few years in that role, I had the opportunity to become an ethical hacker.

I was excited about the opportunity and decided to make the switch, even though I didn't know much about hacking. However, I had been enthusiastic about cybersecurity for years by that time, so I was sure I would learn the ropes, and the work would be something I enjoy.

When contemplating whether to make the switch, I tried looking for people who talk about their work as a hacker. And I couldn't find that many people! The field was so new for me that I didn't even really know what to search for. I started to hesitate, because I wasn't sure what I was getting into.

There are many Instagram accounts where people working in tech tell about their lives, and I was sure I would find someone from whom I could learn about what it's like to be a hacker. I realized I had been in the minority in software development, but I might be in an even smaller diversity group in cybersecurity. There are women and other minorities working in cyber, but not many are visible online. And that is understandable! Some jobs in cyber even become impossible if your face is too well-known to the public.

Luckily now, after two years of working in cyber, I have found others who share about their work too. I've even become familiar with the Women4Cyber foundation, and I ordered their book called "Hacking Gender Barriers: Europe’s Top Cyber Women", which gave me lots of knowledge about what different jobs women are working on in cyber.

But I was genuinely surprised at how difficult it was to find role models. So when I started my journey into cybersecurity and a career as a hacker, I decided to create an Instagram account (@whatminjahacks) where I talk about my job and where I can be visible as myself, a person who loves everything pink and cute. I felt that's important since the stereotype of a hacker is still someone who wears a black hoodie and works in a dimly lit room.

A hacker can also be wearing pink and having plushies and Pokemon figures on their workdesk.