Sofia Rodriguez spent 8 years in help desk and technical roles, navigating visa sponsorship challenges while pursuing her cybersecurity dreams. Today, she's a Security Operations Manager and VP of Operations for Latinas in Cyber, proving that non-traditional paths can lead to leadership. In this raw conversation, Sofia dismantles common career myths, shares her journey from Costa Rica to leading security operations for fintech companies, and reveals why she believes GRC is the backbone of every cybersecurity program. We tackle the uncomfortable truths about "entry-level" job postings, the over-hyped promises of AI in security, and why basic security practices still aren't widely implemented across industries.

If you're trying to break into cybersecurity, transitioning careers, or questioning your own path, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you actionable perspective.

Key Themes Discussed:
The 8-Year Help Desk Journey: Why Sofia stayed in technical roles longer than expected, the immigration realities that shaped her path, and whether help desk is still the right entry point for aspiring cybersecurity professionals in today's market.
GRC is Not Boring, It's Foundational: How governance, risk, and compliance became Sofia's passion, why understanding frameworks like SOC 2, NIST, and CMMC is critical regardless of your role, and how GRC creates competitive advantage when tied to business goals.
The Entry-Level Paradox: Unpacking the absurd reality of job postings requiring CISSP certification and 3+ years experience for "entry-level" positions, potential reasons why these jobs exist, and alternative strategies for breaking into the field.
AI's Double-Edged Reality: Moving beyond the hype to examine AI's actual impact on cybersecurity careers, the lack of meaningful regulation, how adversaries are already weaponizing agentic AI, and why the human factor isn't disappearing as quickly as fear-mongers claim.
Networking is Your Greatest Asset: How Sofia landed her current role through connections, the power of organizations like Latinas in Cyber.

SHOW NOTES:
Books - Cyber Strategy: Risk-Driven Security and Resiliency by Carol A. Siegel and Mark Sweeney
Organizations - Latinas in Cyber, Amigas in Tech

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hink you need a computer science degree to break into cybersecurity? Think again. In this eye-opening conversation, Smriti shares her unconventional journey from biomedical engineering to medical device cybersecurity, revealing how patient safety and security are two sides of the same coin. This isn't your typical "hacker in a hoodie" story. Instead, discover how systems thinking, strategic mentorship, and leveraging transferable skills can open doors you never knew existed in cyber. Whether you're considering a career transition or questioning if cybersecurity is only for the technically elite, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about entering the field.
Key Themes:
1. Your "Non-Technical" Background Is Actually Your Superpower
Why cybersecurity desperately needs diverse perspectives from biomedical engineering, healthcare, and beyond. Smriti breaks down how her engineering mindset became her competitive advantage, not a liability.
2. Medical Devices Can Kill: Where Cybersecurity Meets Life and Death
The chilling reality of hackable insulin pumps and pacemakers. Learn how cybersecurity vulnerabilities in medical devices aren't just data breaches but direct threats to patient safety, and why this field needs more voices at the table.
3. The Mentorship Roadmap Nobody Talks About
Practical, actionable advice on finding mentors when you don't know where to start. From LinkedIn outreach to corporate programs, Smriti shares exactly how she built her support network during her career pivot.
4. Systems Thinking: The Secret Language of Effective Cybersecurity
How understanding interconnected systems, business value, and cross-functional collaboration separates reactive security from strategic protection. This isn't about tools - it's about seeing the entire ecosystem.
5. AI in Cybersecurity: Efficiency Engine or Threat Multiplier?
A balanced take on generative AI's role in both strengthening defenses and empowering attackers with lower skill levels. Plus, why regulatory frameworks need to catch up before Silicon Valley's "move fast and break things" mentality breaks patients.

SHOW NOTES
LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smriti-rajagopalan-pmp-79474240/

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From Capitol Hill to cybersecurity leadership, Stacy O'Mara's career journey proves you don't need a technical background to make a significant impact in cyber. In this episode of Inclusive Cyber, Stacy shares how she transitioned from political science and public policy into becoming a trusted advisor helping governments and Fortune 500 companies navigate the complex intersection of cybersecurity, business risk, and national security. Her candid insights on mentorship, education, and the evolving threat landscape offer a roadmap for anyone looking to break into or level up in this field.
Key Themes

1. You Don't Need a Technical Background to Succeed in Cyber. Stacy built her cybersecurity career from a foundation in political science and public policy, proving that diverse skill sets like communication, policy analysis, and strategic thinking are invaluable in this field.

2. Find Mentors Who Fill Your Gaps. Rather than seeking mentors who mirror your strengths, identify your weaknesses and build relationships with people who specialize in those areas to become a more holistic professional.

3. Education vs. Certifications Depends on the Role. Technical certifications matter for hands-on roles, but blended programs combining policy and operations can open doors for those pursuing strategic or advisory positions.

4. AI Will Amplify Defenders, Not Replace Them. Generative AI offers cybersecurity professionals the ability to 10x their output on tedious tasks, freeing them to focus on higher-level strategic work and reducing burnout.

5. Basic Cyber Hygiene Failures Still Dominate Breaches. Despite industry maturity, organizations continue to fall victim to preventable attacks because of gaps in fundamentals like multi-factor authentication, password management, and patch updates.

SHOW NOTES
------------------------
Books
Ghost in the Wires by Kevin Mitnick
The Awakening by Kate Chopin

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Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/594cca7a-726d-43fe-b94e-36291566e9d8/inclusive-cyber-unlocking-dei-in-cybersecurityMusic: Music by Cryptochronica and Worlds Apart featuring Vtizzel; Song: Gunz Blazin' Music: Used with permission: Artist: Thunderwolf X Words Apart, Song: Cybernetix...