Tamara Shoemaker: Security Matchmaker
Tamara Shoemaker brings both her passion for cyber security and for living her best life to this episode. In her role as the Director for the Center for Cyber Security & Intelligence Studies at the University of Detroit Mercy and President of the Michigan Midwest Regional Chapter of CISSE (MCISSE), she is committed to helping address the need for cyber security professionals. She is a connector of private, public, and educational institutions to help accomplish her mission. She met her own goals of getting into a security career from an untraditional background, and now she has learned many success tips throughout her leadership and influence in this space. Listen as we talk about mentoring, setting goals, and most of all why we must take the scary out of cyber.
One great resource we discuss is the Cyber Patriot program where Tamara is leading the way for Michigan! They are a great resource for K-12 kids, so their website is a great resource: www.micyberpatriot.com. More great security resources at the bottom of this article!
“Don't stop, you are going to come to some really strange twists and turns in your life and you really need to enjoy the journey and bring the people you are mentoring and those that have mentored you on this adventure we call life!.” -Tamara Shoemaker
After twelve years in the criminal justice world, Tamara brought those talents to the Center of Academic Excellence with the Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency at the University of Detroit Mercy. She is also the President of the Michigan Midwest Regional Chapter of CISSE (MCISSE). As a founding Board Member of the Midwest CISSE Chapter, she has helped form partnerships with schools and industry, across the region through interactive learning and programs.
Her primary mission has been to address the critical shortage of specifically educated and trained Cyber Security professionals which can be especially helpful for women shaping their career in tech and for those looking to join the field of technology looking for a specialty.
Tamara says it best that “nothing is traditional, there is no right or wrong way to live this journey of life.” However, after this episode you can pick up some success tips that can make your life, or career, more successful. She speaks to her own experience for mentoring, which can serve as a reminder to everyone to be a mentor and get a mentor. Her strong passion for goal setting is clear as she believes that if you hit a big obstacle, then you can set a goal and overcome it. In order to reach our goals and “be all you can be”, you need to open to constantly learning and growing.
It wouldn’t be a show with Tamara if we didn’t talk about Cybersecurity. In the ever increasing virtual world, security needs to be part of good hygiene. There are many things to learn to keep yourself and your organization safe online and there are always new tools you can add to your toolbelt. Listen and learn why Tamara is an expert “nerd herder” and why this episode might make cybersecurity learning and matchmaking cool.
In this episode, we cover:
Importance of cultivating mentorships
Value of setting big goals
Always learning
Taking the scary out of cyber
Resources related to this episode:
Check out this great list of hot resources to learn about security careers and educational options that Tamara has provided you and take action on one today.
NIST NICE lists 950 different job titles that are all Cybersecurity from seven different areas/disciplines. (Security Provision, Operate & Maintain, Oversee & Govern, Protect & Defend, Analize, Collect & Operate, Investigate) One of these jobs is right for you! https://www.nist.gov/itl/applied-cybersecurity/nice/nice-framework-resource-center
Get your hands-on experience from the international CyberPatriot Program. Whether you sponsor a team, a Center of Excellence, or volunteer as a coach or mentor-GET IN THE GAME! Michigan Center of Excellence for CyberPatriot (MCISSE) at https://micyberpatriot.com/ or search our International contacts: www.uscyberpatriot.org Only an email or phone call away!
We need a diverse population training and educating themselves to meet the need in industry, government and academia. Check out the pathways here: https://www.cyberseek.org/pathway.html
Cybersecurity isn't scary, check out our awareness modules at www.edupaths.org on Cybersecurity and how to start a Cyberpatriot team! Also check-out Detroit Mercy's 313CyberPodcast for discussions from experts around Michigan, sharing easy tips and tricks to secure yourself with little or no technical skills and learn a little about the university's Center for Cyber Security & Intelligence Studies. https://sites.udmercy.edu/cybersecurity313/
Join my LinkedIn Group: MCISSE and our Slack group: cyberpatriot-talk.com
Reach out to Tamara Shoemaker directly:
She is only a phone call or email away and ready to make some matches: tamarashoe@gmail.com or 734-325-6823
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