“How the CyberGirls Fellowship Empowered Me to Thrive in Cybersecurity”
Sherifa Atangiba
Only those who choose to continue to learn and grow will find opportunities that change their lives. CyberGirls fellow Sherifa Atangiba shares her life-changing encounter with the CyberGirls Fellowship.
As a Cybersecurity Standards Officer with a government agency in Ghana, my journey in the cybersecurity field began after my national service with a telecoms company and doing a few projects with two NGOs. I was recommended for a cybersecurity role and I accepted it. Although I was already working in cyberspace as a standards officer, I needed to update my skills and learn something new. I saw an ad on Facebook about the CyberGirls Fellowship, and I got interested, so I applied.
During the CyberGirls Fellowship, I took the GRC path, and the most valuable skill I learned was how to perform IT risk assessments. I also enjoyed the soft skills classes, where I learned from Jenifer Afolabi how to manage time, present well, and identify strengths and weaknesses. Combining work and studies was a big challenge, but I overcame it by communicating with my line manager and using part of my weekends to finish assignments. I also had a learning accountability partner who helped me a lot.
Life after CyberGirls has been good, and I am most grateful for the community of cyber sisters that I have. It is exciting to see most of us progress in our careers. Currently, as a Cybersecurity Standards Officer, my work involves conducting research, drafting advisories and policies, and recommending standards to businesses and the public. I am glad I chose the GRC pathway because it has enhanced my understanding of industry standards for cybersecurity.
