Unstoppable Stories S. 2 Ep. 8: Ask, Listen, Adapt: Pathways to Cyber Confidence w/ Tamila Urumbaeva

Host Nathan James sits down with UMGC cybersecurity graduate, Tamila Urumbaeva, to trace a move from Uzbekistan to the United States, a seven year stretch apart from her father, and the decision to rebuild in a new language and culture. She explains the hardest early hurdle, communicating with care across cultures, and how asking good questions, listening closely, and adjusting tone in real time became a daily practice. Tamila shares how she chose cybersecurity, earned an Excellence in Cybersecurity award at community college, transferred to UMGC for the online fit, stacked credentials like CompTIA Security Plus, and balanced four jobs with school through disciplined routines and honest burnout recovery. She also reflects on launching leadership with Women in Cybersecurity, the confidence of conference community, and a vision to secure systems and inspire more women to enter the field. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!To learn more about UMGC, visit: UMGC.edu/Unstoppable.Host: Nathan JamesGuest: Tamila Urumbaeva, Cybersecurity Specialist, UMGC alumnusTime Stamps & Show Notes: (00:00 - 00:50) Cybersecurity Impact(00:50 - 02:59) Delay and move(03:00 - 05:12) Culture shock(05:13 - 08:10) Choosing cyber(08:11 - 10:34) Early wins(10:35 - 13:10) UMGC fit(13:11 - 16:35) Four jobs(16:36 - 19:49) Burnout reset(19:50 - 24:15) WiCyS leadership(24:16 - 27:08) Never give up(27:09 - 30:59) Community and close