Zinet Kemal's Journey From Ethiopian Immigrant to TEDx Speaker & Cloud Security Engineer at Fortune

Hacker Valley Studio

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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