Lindsey Mitros

I attribute my success to resilience, continuous learning, and a willingness to pursue long-term goals despite challenges. Being born deaf and later receiving a cochlear implant, while working my way through advanced education and early lower-paying roles, taught me perseverance and determination. I’ve also been fortunate to have strong mentors and supportive family, and I’ve leveraged technology strategically to thrive and advance in a highly technical field.

Strategic risk-taking—such as accepting roles that offered growth over immediate compensation—combined with ongoing learning and the guidance of mentors, has been central to my journey. Overcoming a hearing disability has strengthened my resilience and reinforced the importance of embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to take opportunities that may not offer immediate financial rewards but provide long-term growth and learning. For example, I accepted a lower-paying role that allowed me to earn my master’s degree, which ultimately advanced my career. Throughout my journey, I’ve been fortunate to learn from mentors, including my current manager and company founder, as well as colleagues in financial services and cybersecurity, who modeled technical excellence and professional development.

My advice to young women entering cybersecurity and technology is simple: go for it—you have nothing to lose. Put your foot in the door, network extensively, and build relationships with inspiring mentors and other women in the field. Be persistent, continue learning, and don’t let perceived limitations—whether personal or systemic—define your potential. For women with disabilities, I would also emphasize leveraging technology as a powerful tool to create access and open new opportunities.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is keeping pace with the rapidly evolving threat landscape and the growing complexity of cybersecurity environments. Staying current with emerging technologies, particularly AI and new security tools, is critical—those who don’t risk falling behind. At the same time, these challenges create significant opportunities: there is increasing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals, innovative technologies can enhance security and accessibility, and diverse perspectives are increasingly recognized as essential in security leadership.

The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are resilience, integrity, and continuous growth. I believe in leveraging technology as a tool for access and inclusion, informed by my own experience with hearing loss and assistive technologies. Mentorship, clear communication, and fostering respectful, collaborative environments are also central to how I approach both professional and personal relationships. I strive to maintain balance by staying organized and intentionally managing my responsibilities alongside my family commitments.

Outside of work, I enjoy staying active through hiking and other physical activities, traveling, and spending quality time with my family. I’m particularly passionate about mentoring and supporting individuals with disabilities who are pursuing careers in technology and cybersecurity, using my experience to help create opportunities and pathways for others.