2024: A Year of Growth and Transformation
As the year draws to a close, I’m taking a moment to reflect on 2024, a year that’s been nothing short of transformative. From diving deeper into the world of cybersecurity to embracing my passions for creativity and communication, it’s been a whirlwind of challenges, growth, and exciting milestones.
Pivoting into Cybersecurity
2024 was the year I fully embraced my pivot into cybersecurity. From landing my very first cybersecurity interview, acing it and getting to the final stage to tackling several more interviews for roles in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) in different industries. To taking on several job simulations including one with Cisco that honed my skills in client engagement, objection handling, and presentation,
I’ve completely immersed myself in this dynamic field. Self-learning has been my superpower and has been the key to excelling in every role I’ve taken on, and this year was no different. I took multiple courses, attended several webinars, a lot on self improvement, I even read some “boring” documents to broaden my knowledge and improve my skills in GRC. I really leaned into my curiosity and determination this year.
A Year of Impactful Writing
Writing has been another creative outlet this year. From my most read article with over 1.2k reads and over 2k views where I wrote about challenges I experienced in cybersecurity here, to one about the risks of posting minors online here, to sharing my career journey in general and events, I’ve found joy in using words to inform and connect with others. It feels like such a blessing to be able to do this.
This journey also inspired me to start a YouTube channel, where I share my pivot into tech and cybersecurity. My goal? To make short, educative videos that inspire others to take bold steps in their careers but most importantly I educate the public on staying safe online. I plan to do more with the channel in 2025. The plan is to showcase everything I do and love on the channel so it won’t be just cybersecurity on there, get ready!
A huge thank you to my medium and YouTube audience all over the world! Sharing knowledge with my community has been a highlight, as I’ve worked on creating content that’s relatable, educational, and impactful. Thank you!
Looking Ahead
In my professional journey, a few key projects stood out. First, presenting Cisco Umbrella to Oceanside Hospital to modernize their outdated security systems. This was a big leap into understanding the real-world applications of cybersecurity solutions. Then carrying out risk assessments and writng policies using Vendor management lifecycle.
Then came preparing for several Compliance and Risk management roles. Which I did by doing some projects(I’ll share these soon), this is a testament to my adaptability and drive to grow in this field. Each step has been a reminder that the best opportunities come when preparation meets passion.
In August I had the good fortune of pairing myself to a mentor thanks to the ISACA mentorship program. My mentor is one of the best things that happened to me this year and I’m super grateful for her effort and support the last few months.
My confidence took a hard blow due to several rejections I got this year especially at the beginning of the year and that’s one of the things I’ve been working on alongside public speaking. Confidence and public speaking were recurring themes for me in 2024. I’ve worked hard to refine my communication skills and only plan to get better at it.
Balancing Beauty and Tech
While tech has been a big part of my year, I haven’t forgotten my entrepreneurial side. Specializing in beauty(makeup and hair) sales remains a passion of mine. It’s the perfect counterbalance to my tech-focused days, reminding me that beauty and brains can go hand in hand.
As I close the chapter on 2024, I’m grateful for the growth, lessons, and opportunities that came my way, especially the ones that I lost; they were my reminder that good things can happen for me too but the best things are yet to come. This year has been about stepping out of my comfort zone, learning new skills, and embracing every challenge with open arms.
Here’s to 2025 a year where I continue to learn, inspire, and make a difference in both tech and beyond. Cheers!
Until next time, find me where the good guys are!