LatinX Representation: Ana Diaz's “Traditional” Path to Success in Cybersecurity

In this episode, Ana Diaz takes us on her inspiring journey from physical security to becoming a cybersecurity leader. With refreshing honesty, she shares how mentorship and meaningful connections shaped her career, offering valuable insights on building organic relationships that empower growth.

Ana discusses the unique challenges faced by underrepresented communities in tech and highlights the importance of raising awareness and amplifying diverse voices in cybersecurity. She also dives into the evolving role of AI in the field, emphasizing how innovation must be balanced with empathy and critical thinking to address the human side of security.

Through personal stories and practical advice, Ana reminds us that there’s no single path to success in cybersecurity—what matters most is resilience, curiosity, and the courage to embrace new opportunities. This episode is a heartfelt conversation about breaking barriers, building bridges, and redefining what it means to thrive in the cybersecurity space.

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Show LInks
Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anakdiazl/
Queer in Cyber - Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/queer-in-cyber/id1747832133
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Books

I'm not your perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez   https://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Perfect-Mexican-Daughter/dp/1524700517/

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:28 How Ana got started in IT/Cyber
• 2:40 Identifying your first Mentor
• 6:20 How do you go about finding a Mentor?
• 8:47 Ana's first role in Physical Security
• 9:58 Moving from Physical to Cybersecurity
• 15:25 How Phycial help Ana transition into Cyber
• 17:06 How do we get more people to pay attention to what is happening in Cybersecurity?
• 20:53 Where should we focus our efforts to educate and raise awareness about cyber?
• 23:38 Helping education LatinX Community in IT/Cyber
• 25:21 Why did you start by saying you had a "Untraditional Background?"
• 27:53 Gatekeeping in Cybersecurity?
• 32:31 What are Leadership Qualitites you look for?
• 34:59 GenAI Perspectives
• 37:24 Will GenAI take Cybersecurity Jobs?
• 39:09 How can unrepresented groups take advantage of the GenAI world?
• 43:23 Books