Tribe of Hackers Security Leaders

35Angela Marafino

“Learning from others' mistakes is useful, and I try to share my mistakes with others as well when I am the one giving advice.”

Website: linkedin.com/in/angela-marafino

Angela Marafino is an Evolve Security Academy alumna and is currently an associate consultant engineer on CDW's InfoSec team. With no background in IT or computer science, Angela did not take the traditional route to obtain a career in cybersecurity. However, the desire for a more challenging career led her to enroll in a cybersecurity bootcamp, which gave her the skills and mindset necessary to become a cybersecurity professional. She is CompTIA Security+ and Network+ certified and holds two bachelor's degrees, one in fine arts and another in pre-law. Angela is also the organizer of her local Women of Security (WoSec) chapter.

Do you believe there is a massive shortage of career cybersecurity professionals?

I absolutely believe there is a massive shortage of cybersecurity professionals. I base this response on the research others have done to determine the shortage percentages and, specifically, the number of women in the field compared to the number of men. I think companies should give junior employees a chance to train and learn on the job in order to fill more senior-level positions. Waiting to find candidates who meet the requirements for roles that need “years and years of experience” ...