Deniqua Collins
Deniqua Collins is a Cybersecurity graduate and Network Analyst who has spent the last year working in networking and learning what it really means to keep systems running. She works across enterprise environments responding to outages, authentication failures, and network incidents daily, the kind of hands on experience that textbooks can’t teach.
Her deeper passion lives in identity and access management. She has built real skills with Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, SAML, and Zero Trust through self built labs and continuous learning because she believes the best way to grow is to build things yourself.
Her love for tech started long before any certification. It started on MySpace, tinkering and figuring things out, not knowing that curiosity would one day become a career.
Today she uses every platform she has to share free resources, labs, and opportunities with people trying to break into the field because she remembers what it felt like not knowing where to start.
At home she is mom to nine year old twins, a boy and a girl, who are already learning coding and robotics alongside her. For Deniqua the mission has always been bigger than a job title. It is about showing the next generation especially kids and women who look like her that this world was built for them too. 🤍
• Over 13 certifications in cybersecurity
• It Support Specialist Training
• CompTIA PenTest+
• CompTIA CySA+
• CompTIA Security Analytics Professional – CSAP Stackable Certification
• CompTIA Project+ Certification
• CompTIA IT Operations Specialist – CIOS Stackable Certification
• CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist – CSIS Stackable Certification
• ITIL 4 foundation
• CompTIA Security+
• CompTIA Network+
• Microsoft Azure Certifications
• University of Phoenix - AAS, Accounting
• South Louisiana Community College - AGS
• Western governors university- bachelors in cybersecurity & information assurance
• Unitech training academy- Computer information system
• Order of the Sword & Shield National Honor Society
• Womens in leadership award-WGU
• WGU cybersecurity club
• Women in technology club
• WiCyS
• Teaching robotics to young children
• Sharing cybersecurity and tech information online for people breaking into the field
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say first and foremost, God. The reason I say that is because when I feel like there are so many uncertain situations, sometimes the best thing I can do is definitely lean on Him. And also, my kids. I am a mother of twins, a boy and a girl, and they keep me going. They really keep me going, and I love that I'm able to share this journey with them, teaching them coding, and they're just nine. That's why it's so fun. Teaching them coding, teaching them robotics, and I love seeing that they find enjoyment in some of the things that I am currently doing.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To not compare my journey to another person's. That is something that I have learned throughout, especially within school. Do not compare yourself to anyone else's journey. Everyone's journey is unique.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The advice that I would give to them is stand firm in their beliefs and trust that they belong in the rooms that they are in. Do not shrink yourself in these rooms, because you deserve to be in those rooms. And that's what I would give to myself if I just started off. I would also tell them to continue chasing your dreams. Just because one interview goes bad does not mean that that job isn't for you. Continue upskilling and working on you so that you're able to showcase your value.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say one of the biggest challenges for me was that tech is known as a male-dominated field. What I have learned is to speak up for myself more, be more assertive, compared to in the past. I remember trying to break into tech, and I felt like I was not taken serious. And one thing that I have learned is that if you cannot break a door down in one area, then create another door at another company, because someone is going to most definitely see your value. And once you have done so, and also find your voice in tech, then I feel like the opportunities are endless.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say the values I put out there are faith, you definitely have to have faith when working in tech, especially with things that are going on nowadays. Family is also incredibly important to me. And community, because one thing that I have learned throughout my time and journey within this field is that you cannot do this on your own. You have to have a community, whether it's joining groups, mentors, or even pairing up with somebody who is going to the same school as you. I remember trying to do things on my own, but being in tech has definitely given me a different outlook on life.
Locations
Broussard, LA 70518