Ep 57 - How to Become A Security Engineer with Devonie Nelson

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Devonie Nelson. Devonie began her cybersecurity journey in 2022 while pursuing a Master’s in Security Management at the University of Houston-Downtown. With no technical background, she overcame challenges and discovered her passion for the field. Through mentorship and involvement in organizations like Black Girls Hack and Women in Cybersecurity, Devonie is committed to helping minorities and first-generation students navigate their paths into STEM. Devonie will share her story of breaking into cybersecurity, insights from her journey, and advice for anyone starting their own tech career. 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH DEVONIE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devonie-nelson/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:10 - Breaking into Tech in 2025 4:00 - Using Resources and Self-learning 10:05 - Choosing the Path in Tech 12:10 - Seeing it’s Possible 15:55 - Getting the First Job 23:00 - LinkedIn 28:30 - Handling Stress 30:20 - Tips for Mastering Cybersecurity 32:45 - Finding a Mentor 35:20 - Questions to ask a Mentor 42:15 - Keeping up with the News 44:00 - The Different Roles in Cybersecurity 47:15 - Coding in Cybersecurity 48:08 - Certifications 54:15 - Network Engineering 55:11 - Department of Defense Certifications 57:10 - Earning Potential 1:03:00 - IT Support Roles as a Path 1:04:40 - Final Words 1:05:00 - Conclusion