Meet Maggie, KnowBe4's 2024 Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship Winner

Since 2019, KnowBe4 has awarded an annual Women in Cybersecurity scholarship, providing a $10,000 allocation for higher education expenses. This scholarship is designed to bolster and motivate women to venture into cybersecurity as a career. After a comprehensive review process, which involved evaluating educational success, leadership capabilities, and dedication to cybersecurity, Maggie emerged as the selected recipient for 2024. Maggie's application stood out through her extraordinary dedication, her vigorous effort toward creating an inclusive environment, and a well-defined plan for her contribution to the industry of cybersecurity. We were delighted to speak with Maggie to delve into her driving forces and future aspirations. We're thrilled to relay Maggie's thoughts and plans in our blog today!

How did you learn about this scholarship, and what made you apply?

I learned about this scholarship by searching for ones tailored to women in cybersecurity and subsequently applied for a few. I want to attend college on the mainland and aspire to graduate debt-free, so I took the initiative to apply for scholarships that could financially help me through school. 

How do you embrace ambition as a female in cybersecurity?

I believe the two main factors for my growth are immersing myself with ambitious individuals who are not necessarily involved in cybersecurity but still inspire me to stay motivated and maintain a positive attitude towards learning more about the field. If you cannot find a group that resonates with you, take the initiative to form one! That's exactly what I did with my Girls Who STEM club. We organized events focused on cybersecurity, robotics, and medicine because those are our shared interests!

What motivates you to spread awareness about more female representation in the cybersecurity space?

I firmly believe in the importance of closing the gender gap. After being involved in robotics for three years, I'm proud to say that this is the first year our club has achieved an equal balance of men and women. It's crucial to encourage women's participation in STEM and cybersecurity fields. In my high school, there was initially little interest in cybersecurity, but I was able to advocate for it and raise awareness. We then discovered a company called Battelle, which connected us with their Red Team, allowing us to deepen our understanding of cybersecurity and the AFA cyber competition we participate in. This year, I'm excited to share that we can send two all-girl teams to the competition!

What opportunities will this scholarship give you?

This scholarship will provide significant financial support for my first year of college and related expenses. After my computer broke at the start of my senior year, I relied on borrowing a friend's device. Now, thanks to this scholarship, I'll have the means to purchase my own computer. Additionally, I plan to use a portion of the funds to pay for cybersecurity certifications, further enhancing my qualifications in the field.

Who inspires you and why?

My parents are my inspiration! Though they only attended community college and didn't have the full college experience themselves, they are incredibly supportive of my pursuit of a true college experience. Even with my dad's Filipino background, which often places an expectation on children to become doctors or lawyers, he is extremely encouraging of my decision to pursue a degree and career in cybersecurity.

What advice would you give someone interested in applying for the scholarship?

For those interested in applying for this scholarship, my advice would be to emphasize the impact you're making in your community. Whether your contributions are large or small, they play a vital role in educating and garnering interest in cybersecurity. In my application, I not only highlighted my involvement in cybersecurity but also included aspects that showcase my personality, such as my community work in Maui.

Another piece of advice I'd offer is to embrace exploration. Throughout high school and the early part of college, I envisioned a future as an architect. However, once I became involved in robotics, my perspective shifted, and my interest in cybersecurity grew. Be open to new experiences; they can lead you down exciting and unexpected career paths.