In this episode of Hacker Valley Studio, we dive into the inspiring journey of Zinet Kamal, an immigrant from Ethiopia who has carved a niche for herself in cybersecurity. Despite starting her journey with limited access to technology and not having mentors until 2020, Zinet's resilience and passion led her to become a cloud security engineer at a Fortune 500 company. Her story is a testament to the human spirit's capability to overcome barriers and make significant strides in the tech industry.

This episode is a story of personal growth, cultural transitions, and the drive to empower the next generation through education and cybersecurity awareness. As a mother of four, a multi-award-winning cybersecurity advocate, and a best-selling author, Zinet brings a unique perspective on the importance of diversity in tech and the role of mentorship in shaping future leaders.

00:00 - Welcome

01:32 - Introducing Guest, Zinet Kemal

03:09 - Growing up in Africa

07:12 - “I Never Had a Children’s Book”

12:52 - Culture Shock

16:02 - From Legal to Cybersecurity

18:50 - CCDC Competition

21:55 - Role of Community in Resetting

24:34 - “Oh No… Hacked Again!”

30:00 - Online Safety Empowerment

34:50 - Moving up in Cyber

Links:

Connect with Zinet Kemal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zinetkemal/

Zinet’s LinkedIn Course:

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/cybersecurity-careers-build-your-brand-in-cybersecurity/grow-your-cybersecurity-career-with-personal-branding?course

Check out Zinet's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Zinet-Kemal/author/B099P5B8FD

Watch Zinet's TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J61K1Gu97jM

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