By Krysten Brenlla
Cristina Genao always thought she’d build a career in law enforcement – from completing an associate’s degree at Miami Dade College in criminal justice, to serving in the military, law enforcement was always her plan.
However, when the COVID pandemic hit, and everyone went remote, her mother asked a question that would change her trajectory – what about computers?
“I was always intimidated by technology, I’m not the type of person that grew up building computers,” Genao said. “But in 2021, I signed up for classes in every niche of technology – from programming, networking, and security. Out of all three, security was my favorite, and it was a sign to go that route. I love to learn, and I accepted the challenge – as time passed, I felt myself enjoying the assignments.”
Genao went from studying criminal justice to earning an associate’s degree from Miami Dade College in cybersecurity.
However, her goal was always to earn a bachelor’s degree, so she took it a step further and began her journey toward earning a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems Technology with a concentration in Networking at MDC.
Students enrolled in this program at MDC learn how to develop tech solutions that help businesses achieve their goals, which includes identifying and applying information technology to protect and keep data safe. With the help of MDC and the Miami Tech Works‘ Miami Tech Talent Coalition – a collaboration of employers, academia and community organizations creating new tech pathways for residents – Genao landed an internship at KC7 – a nonprofit organization focused on equipping participants with cybersecurity skills.
With the skills she learned at KC7 and MDC, Genao secured her first job at Kaseya as a Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst.
“As a SOC Analyst at Kaseya, we monitor the systems of RocketCyber’s 400,000 clients,” she said. “My day-to-day consists of monitoring any suspicious activity, watching alerts come in, and acting rapidly with any malicious activities. At Kaseya, I’m surrounded by passionate and open-minded people, and I’m so thankful that this is my first experience in a corporate setting.”
Genao says that her experience at MDC, along with the resources and skills she gained during her internship, has prepared her for her new job by deepening her understanding of the role and teaching her how to apply what she’s learned in real-life scenarios.
With one final capstone project to complete before her graduation this December, Genao says she’s excited for all she’s learning at Kaseya every day.
“MDC was a beautiful experience, and I’m so grateful that they have this program,” she said. “I’ve always been led by my advisors correctly — my professors are passionate, and they provided every resource they could to help us grow. The Miami Tech Talent Coalition also helped because they made me realize that there is so much here, in Miami, and it opened my eyes to the opportunities and growth available here for locals like me.”
For the future, Genao is looking forward to continuing to learn and grow her skills in information security by climbing the ladder at Kaseya and pursuing a master’s degree.
When asked to share her advice for other students looking to break into the field, she says that students should be open to exploring opportunities outside of just the classroom.
“You have to take initiative and be proactive in your success – that’s something that MDC helped me with, because they just made it so easy to get involved,” Genao said.
“Take advantage of opportunities, be adaptable, talk to your peers, and have a good attitude. Keep trying and learning, and it will work out.”
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For employers: How to get involved in the Miami Tech Talent Coalition
Your involvement can make a significant difference in shaping the future of Miami’s tech industry, creating a vibrant and sustainable tech talent ecosystem. Together, participants can continue to build Miami as an innovative hub and a desirable destination for businesses and tech talent.
- Join the Coalition here. Employers can also specify a work group they are interested in.
- Attend a meeting: The next meeting is Oct. 10, 2024 at The Hub at Office Logic. Find out more here.
- Stay connected with the coalition’s progress and updates by signing up for their newsletter here, reviewing the website here, and following Miami Tech Works on LinkedIn and Instagram.
READ MORE IN REFRESH MIAMI:
- MDC and Apple create a Swift pathway to work experience in tech
- Students to tech employers: Take a chance on us and watch us grow
- To fuel talent pipeline, Miami Tech Works launches pilot programs, releases talent gap report & more
- She used to design your favorite t-shirts and home goods. Now, she’s working with AI
- Local teacher excels in 4Geeks bootcamp and lands new opportunity in data science and machine learning
- One year later, INIT soars through Miami with new chapters, and opportunities in tech for community
- And much more here.
Refresh Miami is a proud partner of Miami Tech Works
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