Influential Woman · Cybersecurity

Brittany S.

Senior Cyber Security Analyst, Private

San Diego, CA

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering and Technology Degree Master's degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Member Women in Security and Privacy

Her Story

About Brittany

I've been in cybersecurity for about 10 years now. I first started working in general IT help desk, and I realized most of the tickets I got were related to cybersecurity. It was booming at that time, so it made me curious to see what cybersecurity was, and I've loved it since. My undergrad was in computer engineering and technology - I was interested in engineering and STEM in general, even from high school. After help desk, a lot of my junior-level roles were networking-based, because I did a lot of coding, circuits, and electrical work, so I was already leaning towards computer technology and hardware. Everything kind of just aligned for me to fall into the roles that I got post-undergrad. I just finished up my master's in cybersecurity and information assurance, so you can see the natural progression of my career. One of my most notable professional achievements has been volunteering with women in security and privacy. It's a professional organization that also has undergrad programs, and it really combined everything I strive for. It allowed me to see people younger than me, so I could see myself in them, and I was also able to connect with mentors who have 20-plus years experience. That has been my best professional accomplishment - being able to be a professional in a women's organization.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Brittany

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to my family - my loved ones. They've given me my why. I often see people, especially the younger generation, ask me what to do, but I think you have to have a why because it'll motivate you to complete the milestones you need to complete. My family is always giving me a why to continue to go to class, to study that extra hour. When I say family, I mean all of the above - my immediate family, my extended family, and even the family that you meet along the way. I even say family with people I went to college with. I remember the times we were in the college library studying all night, and now years down the line, they're no longer just my friends - they're my bro or my sister. So yes, family across the board, my loved ones, would be the best description. They motivate me to continue.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've ever received is to network more. It sounds so simple, but I realized that connecting with my peers, especially women in STEM, has been the most rewarding experience. Through networking and volunteering with organizations, I was able to meet people who had 20-plus years experience, and I could also connect with younger professionals and see myself in them. That advice was recent too, and I said thank you because it really resonated with me.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I would say the biggest challenge right now is actually core IT. With the rise of AI, we're skipping some of the steps in the middle. Customer service is now AI - it's rare you'll call any business and get a live person, or you go on a website and it's an AI-enabled chat. We're missing a lot of those entry-level roles, and people aren't going for them anymore. You don't even see many of those roles available, and that's the complaint I'm hearing - where are the roles? The reason for that is AI. I think if we go back to appreciating core IT, understanding how the products actually work, and then leveraging AI, that would solve most of the problems across the board. It would give entry-level people more jobs and make the AI run smoother because we'd have more human hands in the workforce than just using AI as a crutch.

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