In a world where diversity is increasingly valued, the narrative of the Asian American woman in leadership is one that carries both triumphs and challenges. As I reflect on my journey of more than 15 years in an industry dominated by Caucasian males, I realize that the key to success lies in embracing authenticity, exuberant confidence, leading by example, continuous pursuit of knowledge, and unyielding passion…

National Women’s History Month is celebrated in March in the United States to recognize the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made, to honor the courage and determination of the women who have played a role in shaping our country, and to continue to fight for gender equality. Throughout this month, we have been spotlighting numerous women in the technology sector, with the aim of offering guidance to women entering this traditionally male-dominated field. As this month of recognition draws to a close, some of the Vertosoft women share their reasons for choosing to work in the technology industry…

US industries based in STEM seem to have boundless growth.  With emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and IoT devices, there will be a need to hire STEM professionals for decades to come.  With all these opportunities, women in technology, engineering, and math are still underrepresented.  We know this from all the articles that have been written in the past years and will still be written in years to come if we don’t get elementary school girls interested in STEM today…

To be honest, when asked to write about being a female in the cybersecurity sales industry, I really struggled with what to write. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to be surrounded by intelligent and highly competent women in our industry and have worked for leadership that championed women in their workforce.From those strong leaders, I’ve learned that while they may have been the one of the few females in the room, their gender isn’t what made them “different”…

When I was asked to create a new team to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Data, Engineering & Software (DASA(DES)) in mid-2022, I was honored and excited. I was able to continue my passion for both working with technology and helping elevate Army capabilities for our Soldiers, who deserve the best as they fight to keep our Nation safe…

For two decades, I’ve navigated the ever-evolving cyber security industry as a woman. Along the way, I’ve encountered challenges, including stereotypes and unsolicited advice. One such piece of advice was to start playing golf to excel as a sales executive. However, I chose to defy such expectations and carve my own path to success.  Through my personal journey, I’ve learned the importance of authenticity and building resilience by breaking barriers…

In today’s work environment, most will not just change jobs, but change industries on average 5-7 times in their career. This means it is becoming increasingly common for individuals to shift back and forth between government and private sector roles. After a 15-year career in the federal government, I too made a transition to the private sector…

I’ve spent over 20 years working in govtech, in roles where I’ve interacted with public servants spanning every agency, municipality, and role. Why govtech? I love that my work is meaningful, and I’m inspired by every customer I interact with. They are the heroes making our communities function from processing wedding licenses and building permits, to creating and maintaining budget books, to ensure all our water and sewer lines are well-maintained, and more. The fact that this isn’t something we hear a lot about in the news is a sign that these public servants are succeeding…

In sitting down to write this post, I thought a lot about the advice I may give to other women who are running businesses or departments in the Information Technology space.  In this reflection, I asked myself what two things I might tell a female colleague to help her be successful whether she is just starting out or is leading an organization…

In recent years, the field of operational technology (OT) cybersecurity has emerged as a critical domain, safeguarding the backbone of sectors such as manufacturing, energy, transportation, utilities, government and defense. Operational Technology (OT) refers to the hardware and software systems used to monitor and control physical processes as well as devices used in critical infrastructure. With the accelerating digitalization of industrial processes, the demand for various professional roles in this sector has skyrocketed. However, like many STEM fields, OT cybersecurity remains predominantly male-dominated. Despite this, women like me are making significant strides and contributions to this vital industry…