March 27, 2025

Education Empowers: Elle Autumn

Elle Autumn is a lifelong learner who discovered their passion for cybersecurity while working in the insurance industry. Intrigued initially by conversations around data quality, she eagerly embraced the opportunity for a career change. Despite lacking a technical background, Elle fearlessly took the leap and applied for Infosec's Accelerate Scholarship and was ultimately selected as the LGBTQI+ award winner.

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Through the Infosec certification courses and their on-the-job training, Elle combined their newly acquired skills with practical experience, gaining the confidence she needed to excel in their new cybersecurity role. Elle has diligently built a solid foundation and remains committed to investing in their personal and professional development.

Now that Elle is settled in their role, she recognizes the importance of sharing their knowledge with others. Elle feels a strong sense of responsibility to uplift and empower others, encouraging them to embrace the concept of "lifting while you climb."

 

Finding Your Passion

While working in the insurance industry, Elle discovered their passion for cybersecurity. She actively engaged in groups and conversations with like-minded individuals on LinkedIn, sharing their thoughts and insights about data quality. Elle’s posts caught the attention of someone in their network who recognized their potential and encouraged Elle to consider a career in cybersecurity, even encouraging them to apply for a position on his team.

As a lifelong learner, Elle knew that the field of cybersecurity would always present new opportunities to expand their knowledge. Now, in their current role as a Security Engineer, Elle expressed that this is the first time she has experienced a genuine passion for their work.

 

Showcasing Your Skills

After transitioning to a career in cybersecurity, Elle was determined to expand their knowledge and demonstrate their skillset in a tangible way. Recognized as the LGBTQI+ Award Winner of Infosec's Accelerate Scholarship, Elle enrolled in a dual certification program for the EC Council Certified Ethical Hacker and CompTIA PenTest+ certifications.

Reflecting on their experience, Elle emphasized that these courses provided themy with valuable technical expertise and taught them how to ask more effective questions. Armed with these new qualifications, Elle now stands out as the sole team member among seasoned veterans who possesses the ability to perform certain tasks and work with specialized applications and data. This unique skill set sets Elle apart and contributes to theiry team's overall capabilities.

 

Lifelong Learning

Education plays a vital role in Elle's life, as evidenced by her two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree. However, since entering the cybersecurity field, she recognizes that their learning journey is far from over. Elle aspires to drive meaningful change in their industry, community and the world at large, and she wholeheartedly encourages others to do the same. Elle hopes to inspire individuals to pursue their passions and bring their diverse perspectives to the table, fostering a more inclusive and innovative future.

 

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