The first time you do anything is usually the hardest, right? Then it's often smooth sailing once you get the hang of it, or at least a lot easier the next time you do it! It's common to hear of the struggles and challenges people face while they're looking for their first technology job. Often once job seekers have more experience, they can receive a greater number of interview requests than they know what to do with.
Recognizing your first job search will likely be more difficult than the rest, it's important to understand common barriers and challenges, as well as tips for overcoming those.
In this session, we're thrilled to welcome Tia Hopkins, a Global Award-Winning Cybersecurity Executive, Educator, Mentor, Speaker, and Author who is focused on creating opportunity and diversity in the Cybersecurity Industry. Tia will discuss:
- Her journey and path into technology and cybersecurity
- Key challenges she experienced during the process
- How she overcame those roadblocks
- Her top three to four pieces of advice in getting technical knowledge and landing that first tech job
Currently the Vice President of Cyber Risk Advisory and Solutions Architecture, Tia is a Cybersecurity Executive with 20+ years in various IT and IT Security roles. Her work focuses on helping organizations achieve cyber resilience through effective and efficient combinations of people, process, and technology.
She's also an adjunct professor of Cybersecurity at Yeshiva University and is pursuing a PhD in Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Management. Her mission is to help drive the growth and success of the cybersecurity industry by researching and addressing current industry challenges and trends, and taking an innovative approach to solving for both current and future concerns.
As the Founder of the Empow(H)er Cybersecurity nonprofit (https://www.empowhercybersecurity.org/), she's committed to creating future generations of cybersecurity professionals that are as diverse and inclusive as possible, and providing education to help people reach their potential!
Tia's received numerous awards and accolades, including: 2021 Top Influencer in Security & Fire in the Security Executives category from IFSEC Global, CRN's 100 People You Don't Know but Should in 2021, and was a nominee for the 2021 Cybersecurity Woman of the Year Award by CSYW!
She's also spoken at numerous conferences and association meetings, including Texas Cyber Summit and Women in Tech, and written various articles/books, including The Rise of Cyber Women: Volume 2.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, coaching women’s tackle football, watching Cartoon Network, and eating Apple Jacks.