As a female aspiring to break barriers and challenge stereotypes in this traditionally male-dominated field, cybersecurity offers me an opportunity to make an impact and help promote diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. By pursuing a career in cybersecurity, I hope to inspire other young girls to pursue their passions in careers in STEM-related fields.
Cybersecurity is still quite a male-dominated field at this point. Can you share more about your career journey?
I have several reasons to choose this field to be honest. Ever since I was in school, I have been drawn to natural subjects and harbored a strong passion for technology. This led me to pursue a degree in Information Security, then I joined the Cyber team at PwC to kickstart my career. When actually working in PwC, I even have more reasons to love this dynamic and rapidly evolving field. Firstly, PwC provides me with invaluable opportunities to engage with up-to-date technologies, which is aligned perfectly with the intersections of my interests in technology, problem-solving and critical thinking. The rapid evolution of this field motivates me to innovate myself as well as explore this field deeper and further.
Secondly, as a female aspiring to break barriers and challenge stereotypes in this traditionally male-dominated field, cybersecurity offers me an opportunity to make an impact and help promote diversity and inclusion within this tech industry. By pursuing a career in cybersecurity, I hope to inspire other young girls to pursue their passions in careers in STEM-related fields.
I’m sure you have had a lot of proud moments along the way. What is the one moment you are most proud of?
One of my most significant accomplishments in my career so far has been working at PwC. It has provided me with numerous opportunities and invaluable experiences that I never had before. At PwC, I've had the privilege of collaborating with colleagues who are not only well-rounded but also incredibly nice and supportive. I've had the chance to learn a lot from them. I feel more included than ever when working at PwC.
#Women@PwC
#InclusionMatters
3 emojis that best describe your job
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What is your current professional goal?
My professional objectives revolve around cultivating to be an "all-rounder" while maintaining a proactive and eager-to-learn attitude in the workplace. I aim to develop diverse skills that allow me to thrive in various aspects of my career.
Working in an environment with diverse ages and backgrounds must come with its pros and cons. How did you manage to integrate and learn from your colleagues?
When I first started working at PwC, I was quite surprised because there were many people from diverse ages and backgrounds. Initially, I felt a bit hesitant about how to integrate into such a dynamic environment. Yet, as I began interacting with my co-workers, I quickly realized that everyone was incredibly welcoming and supportive and surprisingly, I encountered very few challenges in getting to know people here. However, I reckon that to truly integrate and thrive at PwC, maintaining a constructive and eager-to-learn attitude is essential. By embracing this mindset, I believe that I will continue to grow and contribute effectively to the firm.
As a young fresher, do you feel empowered and receive support from other members of the team or learning opportunities?
As a young fresher and the only female member within the cybersecurity team, I received a lot of support and ample opportunities for skill enhancement from my team members. Despite feeling a bit overwhelmed at first because of the minority in terms of gender representation, my team members have been incredibly supportive and inclusive, fostering an environment where I feel valued and empowered to contribute. They have offered guidance, mentorship, and constructive feedback, which has greatly aided in my professional development. While the journey has its challenges, I am deeply grateful for the support and opportunities provided by my team, which continues to fuel my growth and passion for this field.
Were you able to find your ideal mentor during your journey at PwC?
Yes, I was fortunate enough to be assigned a really supportive mentor when I first joined the company. It's been such a great experience having someone along with my supportive team member to offer guidance and share their experiences, which has been incredibly valuable for me as I navigate my journey as a fresher.
When talking about your job, do people have any “stereotypes”? If yes, do you agree with them?
People working in the technology industry in general and cybersecurity in particular are often perceived as "nerdy", "socially awkward" and "introverted" individuals who lack social skills and prefer to work with machines over people. Additionally, there is also a stereotype that tech workers are mainly male. These perceptions, however, are not quite right and do not represent us. I believe that this industry encompasses people with diverse backgrounds, skills, genders and personalities. Especially, when working in PwC, I have met a lot of co-workers who are all rounders, they excel in a variety of skills other than the technical.
Thank you so much, Van, for sharing this with us!
