Special Episode: Women In Security - EPISODE 5

I'm excited to bring you this special 'bonus' episode of my series Career 180: Women in Security. The reason it's special ...there is no 180! This month I talk to Threat Monitoring Escalation Engineer, Zhanna Hula, whose first choice was a career in Security!  Please watch or read below to find inspiration in how Zhanna followed her arrow to Security.

Was Security your first career choice? If not, what did you pursue first, second, third?

Basically, yes, my first bachelor’s degree was Technical Information Protection, that is security, but more about electronic engineering and circuit designing field. Nonetheless, from early childhood, I enjoyed films about spies and their different technical stuff as recording devices, those super small cameras in pens, and everything related, so this was the primary choice. At school, I was really fond of mathematics and physics.

However, after studying for 2 years at university, I had started feeling not really confident about the possibility of finding a job in the Security field in Ukraine, especially as a woman. I began studying for my second bachelor's in Economics, just to be safe and not to stay without the work at the end. My passion for Security was with me all the time, so my next step there was to obtain a master's in Cyber Security. I was never sure about whom I would be, but always was trying to listen to my heart and find a more interesting route to take. 

What education path was most effective for you?

My initial path was Security from the early beginning. I started to learn more about networking and OSs. We had some basics at university, but it was not enough. If you would like to become better in a field, as per my experience, self-education is the best choice. 

I was surfing on the Internet pages, checking current security trends and features, different regulations and standards, but, knowing basic concepts of what is CIA, policies and procedures, understanding basics in different security subfields –physical and technical, administrative - helped me a lot. 

When I started to work, I had no experience, but I had a dream, passion, and willingness to become better and grow with IBM. I was working and studying for my 2nd bachelor’s in Economics, and Cybersecurity master at the same time, so it was a pretty hard time. 

"When I started to work, I had no experience, but I had a dream, passion, and willingness to become better."

Then I decided to try myself and earn some certificates. One of the best to start with is CompTIA Security +. It gives you a look at the basics, and after that just understand what suits you best. After passing some related exams, I looked for new opportunities. I mostly enjoy the technical part, but also wanted to have the possibility to improve my soft skills. 

Did you feel there were barriers to a career in security for you/women? 

My favorite question! 

Yes, I felt it! And this only made me stronger. From the beginning, I was trying to apply for a job, starting from Ukraine, while obtaining my bachelor in Information Protection, and, I always heard “No, you are a woman, so [don't even] interview”or “No, you are good specialist, but you are a woman, so we cannot be confident in you”. 

There were several kinds of justifications: “you can soon get married and have a child, so you are not a reliable asset”, or “you are a woman, so you’re not that smart for this role”, or even “you’re good, but won’t fit in to our men team”. [Since these were Security opportunities], I was thinking "good that I will have plan B with Economics, just in case". 

Therefore, I was really surprised by how different the world is outside: women can be encouraged and free in the decision of which route to take. On my 1st visit to IBM, I saw the equality, that showed me what I'm worth, to study and work on myself to get [the job]. 

From my first day working there I have felt equal and supported. I have the freedom to improve as Cybersecurity specialist - no matter what sex I am...and this is an amazing feeling.

Who has been most influential in your security career?

When I was studying in the last year of my bachelor's, I had a great possibility to visit IBM Security in IBM GTDS in Wroclaw, in the middle of January of 2019. My university teammates and I had a small excursion and I was just amazed –all was great –people, environment, atmosphere…While listening to people and asking questions, communicating, I’ve realized that there is a totally different side of the Security field –you can make improvements, if you have a willing and passion, and there are so many opportunities that I had never even imagined in my own country. 

We had the possibility to visit IBM due to the cooperation between the company and our university, as one of our graduated students was working in IBM, and he invited us. After seeing how he works, I recognized - if he could, I also can! I understood for myself - I need to work on self-development and study and someday I will be able to join this amazing team.

"...I recognized, if he could, I also can!"

After 6-7 months had passed, when I was studying for my master's, I saw the offer on LinkedIn about an internship in IBM Security Poland. I applied for it with a small hope that I will be happy to have the interview just to try myself, however, I was rejected without any explanation. For sure, it was sad. I left for 2 weeks for “life power recovery” to Paris.

In October of that year, I decided to contact that guy from my university to ask what I am doing wrong. When you don’t have any experience you are not sure what is needed and what is relevant. He spoke with me, checked my “CV”(it was so childish, I remember), asked some questions in the Security field, and said, “Why an internship? You don’t need it, try to apply for a job and turn the language you’re thinking into English”.

I was surprised and, for sure, had many questions: “What if no? How many times can I apply? After which period I can try once more?... And the most important one –am I really ready?”

From that day my life had changed entirely, as I was on my way to join IBM.

Do you feel supported in your career, both inside and outside of work? If not, what do you feel could help? 

I can say that I am feeling comfortable at the place I am now. I have a good team with experienced people. I always can ask for advice. I have several mentors there, who are showing me life in IBM in a more wide scope. I have the possibility to meet new people and work on various projects despite covid times. 

I can’t say that I have an example of a woman in Security I would like to follow, but there are so many different success stories in general, so I also have just a huge amount of stories that really inspire. Sure, covid times are not the best, as I had only 2 weeks at the office and we were locked, but, nonetheless, health is the most important. 

Outside of work life is staying a little bit harder. I moved alone and have no possibility to see my family as I'm still waiting for the residence permit, which I had applied for last April and it is still only in registration state. It is hard, but I also have some friends there, therefore, it is a little bit better. I know my family is proud of me and I am happy to have this opportunity.

Obviously, you felt IBM was a good fit, are there other companies you considered and that you currently admire as a place for a security career? 

I was dreaming to work in a place where I will find myself comfortable being who I am. I don’t like to stay in the same state for too long, as it’s not about challenges and, as result, no big improvement. IBM is such a very big place, where there are hundreds and thousands of different possibilities, so for now I am not looking somewhere “abroad”. I'm really fond of traveling, so maybe one day I will be happy to change the location, and, hopefully, not the company, as International Business Machines is the history and I have this pleasure - my name is the part of this history. I would like to grow together with IBM.

"...my name is the part of this history."

In encouraging more women to pursue a career in Security, what do you feel would be most helpful? Your suggestions. 

I think that the most important is the environment, where you will be given a chance to try yourself, no matter who you are. Definitely, there are millions of women around the world and we all are different, so my advice is “Don’t be afraid of changes and challenges, try to follow your heart, you always will find the proper time and people. You will find your place, but don’t forget to be yourself, as life without any pretending, this is the only right solution.” From my own point of view, I really encourage the WISE project inside of IBM, also different groups and women’s coaching programs are the great way to start with.

Nonetheless, sharing the success stories there with you will inspire many women –starting from young unexperienced girl to some mature woman, who is looking forward to the security field, but is afraid of changes. The best solution is to be yourself, be a self-motivated person, and don’t be afraid as what you live is your destiny and your dreams. 

Anything else I missed?

I only would like to say how much I appreciate this possibility to have a small talk with you today. What you are doing is a very great idea that, hopefully, will encourage many women to change their lives and try something new. Thank you for your efforts!