Her Story
About Swati
Dr. Swati Sharma is a Senior Professor at American National University, where she has served as a full-time faculty member since 2019. With nearly seven years of teaching experience, her diverse professional background includes teaching literature in India and working in the hospitality industry.
After earning her MBA, Dr. Sharma transitioned into the field of cybersecurity and began her doctoral studies at the University of Fairfax in 2020, earning a Doctorate in Information Assurance with a focus on cybersecurity. Her research centers on improving cybersecurity practices for small businesses, particularly organizations that face financial, technical, and operational barriers to adopting advanced security solutions.
In addition to her role at American National University, Dr. Sharma is affiliated with the University of Fairfax. She also contributes to the academic community as a volunteer editor and peer reviewer of scholarly journal articles for a nonprofit organization.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Swati
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents, whose guidance, sacrifices, encouragement, and strong values laid the foundation for everything I have achieved. They taught me the importance of hard work, education, perseverance, and integrity. I am also grateful for the support of my family, mentors, colleagues, and students throughout my journey.
Transitioning from literature and hospitality into cybersecurity required courage, discipline, and a willingness to embrace new challenges. Most importantly, I have remained committed to continuous learning, helping my students succeed, and developing practical cybersecurity solutions for small businesses that often lack access to advanced resources.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received came from my parents: never stop learning, remain honest in your work, and do not allow challenges to define your limitations. Their guidance taught me that success is not determined by where you begin, but by your willingness to work hard, adapt, and continue moving forward. This advice gave me the confidence to transition from literature and hospitality into cybersecurity and build a career devoted to teaching, research, and service.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Have confidence in yourself. When women believe in their abilities, set clear goals, and remain determined, there is no limit to what they can achieve. With confidence, resilience, and purpose, women have the power to overcome challenges and accomplish extraordinary things.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
As a woman, balancing family responsibilities with a demanding academic career has been one of my greatest challenges. Entering the fields of cybersecurity, information assurance, teaching, and research later in life presented additional obstacles, particularly because opportunities are not always readily available to women beginning a new career at a mature age. Nevertheless, through determination, continuous learning, and confidence in my abilities, I created my own opportunities and established myself as an educator and cybersecurity researcher.
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