Jennifer Funk, GCIH, GMON

I attribute my success largely to the community I’ve built and the people I’ve chosen to surround myself with, both professionally and personally. The relationships, conversations, and support systems along the way have been a huge part of how I’ve been able to grow and even transition between career fields. One thing that’s made a real difference is being willing to be vulnerable. There’s a lot of polished, scripted content out there, resumes, highlight reels, best qualities, but not enough honest conversation about the challenges. When you’re open about where you’re struggling, you create space for real connection. That’s where people step in, share experiences, offer guidance, and actually help you move forward.

That kind of authenticity builds stronger, more meaningful relationships, and those relationships are what have opened doors, created opportunities, and kept me moving forward. Success, for me, hasn’t been about doing it alone, it’s been about building a network that’s real, supportive, and willing to grow together.

One of the best pieces of career advice I’ve ever received didn’t come from a boardroom or a mentor in my field, it came from one of my drill sergeants back in 2011. He said, “everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time.” It stuck with me because it strips away the intimidation factor that so often holds people back. It’s easy to look at leaders, experts, or people in roles you aspire to and assume they have something you don’t, some inherent edge or talent that makes them different. In reality, they’re just people. They’ve made mistakes, figured things out as they went, and kept moving forward. That perspective has shaped how I approach my career. It’s a reminder that there’s nothing fundamentally out of reach. With focus, consistency, and a willingness to learn, the gap between where you are and where you want to be is far more bridgeable than it seems. At the end of the day, we are all just people, putting our pants on one leg at a time.

Just do it. There’s a lot of imposter syndrome in this field, and a lot of noise that makes you question whether you belong, especially as a woman in a male-dominated space. Early on, I convinced myself I wasn’t “built for it,” but the truth is, no one is. There’s no special wiring that makes someone capable of succeeding here. It comes down to choosing to show up, put in the work, and keep moving forward even when it’s uncomfortable or when others doubt you. And there will be negativity, people, content, or environments that make you feel like you can’t do it. You have to learn to filter that out. If it doesn’t serve where you’re trying to go, it doesn’t deserve your energy. Instead, focus on building a community that supports you, challenges you in the right ways, and reminds you why you started. This path isn’t always easy, but it is absolutely achievable, and the difference between staying where you are and getting where you want to be is simply deciding to keep going.

One of the biggest challenges in this field is the pace. Technology is always evolving, and in cybersecurity it can feel like it’s changing by the minute. While there’s a lot of focus right now on things like artificial intelligence, many of the core challenges haven’t actually changed. We’ve always had to navigate massive volumes of information, determine what’s credible, and make sound assessments without letting bias creep in. The tools may evolve, but the responsibility to think critically and stay grounded in good analysis remains constant.

On the opportunity side, there’s a lot of room to rethink what talent in this field looks like. Cybersecurity, and especially cyber threat intelligence, benefits from diverse perspectives, yet there’s still a tendency to hire from a narrow mold. Expanding access to more women and creating space for neurodivergent individuals, in particular, is a huge opportunity. Many bring strong pattern recognition, creativity, and problem-solving skills that are incredibly valuable in this work. It also means being more flexible in how we define productivity and work environments. The industry needs self-driven, curious people, and there’s a lot of untapped talent out there that doesn’t always fit traditional structures but could make a meaningful impact if given the chance.

The values that guide me, both professionally and personally, are humor, honesty, consistency, and communication. Humor plays a bigger role than people might expect, it’s what keeps things grounded. Whether it’s a great day or a tough one, being able to step back and find some level of lightness makes challenges more manageable and keeps them from turning into something heavier than they need to be.

Honesty and consistency are just as important, even when they’re uncomfortable. Owning mistakes, having difficult conversations, or delivering hard feedback isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary. When honesty is paired with clear communication, it builds trust and moves things forward. People can’t act on what they don’t understand, and they can’t read your mind. These values aren’t just situational they’re foundational. They shape how relationships are built, how teams operate, and ultimately how effectively anything gets done.