As thousands of girls across Africa who applied for our 2024 cohort expect to get feedback today on their acceptance into the CyberGirls Fellowship, I deemed it appropriate to discuss how our alumna, Motunrayo Sanusi went from being a Philosophy graduate to becoming a cybersecurity engineer. She wrote her story below…
“At the beginning of my cybersecurity journey, I was confused and overwhelmed. I found navigating the different security tools, concepts and solutions quite challenging. I jumped from one study session and bootcamp to another to get more understanding and define my path in cybersecurity. All these did not work until I found the CyberGirls Fellowship.
This fellowship ensured the curriculum was easy to understand, and even though I had no technical background, I could comprehend the different cybersecurity solutions and principles taught during the training. I not only understood the technical concepts, but I also learned how to apply them in real-world scenarios.
The trainers and coaches were patient and always available to help. They ensured that they reviewed complex concepts with us. I remember one of my coaches telling us that there were no stupid questions. When necessary, he would voluntarily set up supplementary sessions with us.
Another fantastic part of the program was the mentorship session, where we were all assigned to mentors. My mentor was excellent and took her time to provide guidance, materials and tools to help us grow.
CyberGirls fellowship instilled in me the confidence and resilience to overcome challenges.
During the training, one of my biggest challenges was juggling being in my final year, coupled with projects, tests, and more. Still, the CyberGirls mantra and #GingeNoteWithCS gave me the motivation I needed. The fellowship pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me aware of my capabilities. I realised that nothing was too complicated to learn as long as I put my mind to it.
And the best part? The hiring summit organized by CyberSafe Foundation at the end of my cohort! At the hiring summit, we were connected to different organisations and prepped at the various stages of the interviews we had with the organisations. It was at this summit that I landed my first #cybersecurity role.
Joining the CyberGirls fellowship was the best decision I made for my cybersecurity career.”
CyberGirls is Africa’s biggest cybersecurity training and mentorship program for women.
