"Hack" your Present to Build the Future you Want
summary
Returns to university at 29 and teaches herself Linux and basic pen‑testing by setting up virtualized lab environments and using CTFs and bug bounty platforms; practices with Hack The Box and picoCTF, follows Cyber Mentor and FreeCodeCamp, and learns new languages at hackathons (Rust, Go). Applies for a students‑only internship with few applicants, gets it, and later joins Microsoft in security and compliance. Emphasizes networking, mentors and measurable steps—reverse‑engineering a five‑year plan—and reports concrete wins like a Black Hat scholarship and paid bug bounty reports.
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chapters (13)
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:38My background
- 2:52My unusual trajectory
- 6:28Facing imposter syndrome
- 9:00Poll
- 9:53Take a risk
- 11:18Alternative paths
- 16:44Security
- 18:08Networking
- 20:51Poll Question
- 21:40Growth Mindset
- 23:26Reverse Engineering
- 24:36Audience Questions
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