Civil Engineer to Cybersecurity Manager: Meenu’s career transformation one year after Lighthouse Labs’ Cybersecurity Bootcamp

We first sat down with Meenu right after she graduated from Lighthouse Labs (you can read that interview here, and over a year into her new career, we caught up with her again to hear about all the amazing things she’s been up to. Meenu’s journey is a testament to grit, adaptability, an unyielding commitment to growth, and the transformative opportunities that come with taking a bold leap into a new career. Having spent seven years as a Civil Engineer in India, she transitioned to cybersecurity, a field that once seemed out of reach due to her lack of technical background. Today, Meenu works as a Cybersecurity Program Manager at Kobalt.io. Let’s take a closer look at her professional evolution so far.

Before Lighthouse Labs: A career in civil engineering

Before deciding to make a change, Meenu spent seven years as a Civil Engineer, managing high-stakes projects such as hydroelectric and rural road construction for the Government of India and the World Bank. However, after the birth of her son, she paused her career to pursue her passion for learning languages by studying French. This new interest led her to become a Foreign Language Instructor at a research institute, where she also worked with the administration, advising strategy development. When her family relocated to Canada in 2022 for her husband’s work, Meenu embraced a new role as a Banking Advisor at RBC, where she gained valuable insights into social engineering and fraud prevention.

The turning point: From banking to cybersecurity

It was at RBC that Meenu’s curiosity about the world of cybersecurity was first piqued. "During my training and experience at RBC, I was introduced to social engineering, privacy, and different kinds of scams/frauds that people face every day. It made me curious about the technical side of things," she shared. Surrounded by her husband and friends working in IT, she began to see the limitless growth potential in tech, especially compared to civil engineering, where each country has its own set of rules and procedures.

Despite not having a computer science background, Meenu’s dream of pivoting into IT felt more and more possible. "I had a dream to pivot to IT but was always scared that I [didn’t] have computer science or technology-related education," she reflected. One day, a friend mentioned cybersecurity courses, and after some research, Meenu landed on Lighthouse Labs. The fact that no previous technical experience was required was exactly what she needed. "I took a chance."

Financial concerns as a new immigrant almost delayed her enrollment, but working with our Learning Advisors, who shared our multiple financing options, Meenu learned that she was eligible for a government grant to fund her studies, which was a game changer and made the cybersecurity program accessible, allowing her to start immediately.

The bootcamp experience: challenges and wins

Meenu had a positive experience with Lighthouse Labs, fully leveraging the support of instructors and mentors, all experts in their fields. Reflecting on the immersive nature of the program, Meenu was candid about the commitment required, "The program demands full dedication; for me, it used to take almost 8 hours a day to finish up the labs and modules, sometimes even more." She leaned heavily on the mentorship provided to answer her many questions, stating, "I would always connect with mentors [for] additional resources and information."

However, she also recognized areas where the program could improve. "Some common lab doubts were not discussed in the instructor session, which we used to expect to be addressed. The lab challenges should be up for discussion in the sessions," she suggested.

In response to feedback like Meenu's, Lighthouse Labs introduced dockside sessions. These sessions foster group discussions among students, instructors, and mentors, ensuring common lab challenges are addressed collectively. While personalized, one-on-one mentorship remains a cornerstone of the program, dockside sessions now complement it with group mentorship. Facilitated by various instructors and mentors based on availability, this dual approach allows students to benefit from both individual guidance and the shared problem-solving that comes with collaborative learning.

The career shift: From Program Coordinator to Cybersecurity Program Manager

Despite the challenges and demands of the bootcamp, she came away with the tools and confidence to support her growth in the tech industry.

“The program opened a new career pathway for me, and I was also introduced to all the other options/certifications that I can upskill myself for, like cloud computing. My performance during the program and feedback from the mentors boosted my confidence in myself and I continued learning and developing my technical skills.”

After graduating, Meenu’s career took off. She started a part-time contract as a Project Evaluator for Lighthouse Labs, where she stayed connected to cybersecurity concepts while paying it forward by mentoring students herself. She also completed the AWS Re/Start program to strengthen her cloud computing skills. These experiences paved the way for her role as a Program Coordinator at Cocoon CS, and ultimately to Kobalt.io, where she now leads as a Cybersecurity Program Manager.

In her current role as Cybersecurity Program Manager, Meenu draws on her rich experience in project management and her newly acquired technical expertise to lead cybersecurity initiatives. She finds it exciting to work with experts, analysts, and diverse clients. "I’ve always wanted to work in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) within cybersecurity, and I'm growing in this area.”

Meenu’s current focus after recently stepping into her new role is on continuous development and excelling in her position.

Advice for aspiring tech professionals

For anyone considering a similar career pivot, Meenu shares some valuable advice rooted in her lived experience:

“Trust the process and try to follow it. It needs extra effort on your side; while growing your technical skills, it's important to work on community engagement as a volunteer or a participant. Connect with the right people, get mentorship, or attend panel discussions to keep yourself updated.”

She also recommends taking the time to really assess your strengths and career goals. "Take time to think and decide which roles suit you to save yourself from job search fatigue."

Conclusion

Meenu took a chance on herself, leveraging her own tenacity, hard work, and determination to transform her career. With a commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement, she honed her technical skills and embraced every opportunity for growth. Thanks to the mentorship, support, and hands-on experience she gained at Lighthouse Labs, Meenu has paved the way for a bright future in cybersecurity, and she’s just getting started!

Ready to take the first step toward a cybersecurity career like Meenu? Our Cybersecurity Bootcamp is your gateway to an exciting new career in tech. With hands-on training, expert mentorship, and a supportive community, we’re here to help you build the skills you need to make the transition.