Today we’d like to introduce you to Destini Simmons.
Hi Destini, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey into the tech industry was every bit of untraditional. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2016 and initially thought my career would follow a completely different path. Like many people, I didn’t grow up knowing what cybersecurity was nor did I know many people who looked like me in the industry. After undergrad, I found myself searching for a career that paid well, one that challenged me, created opportunities, while allowing me to make a meaningful impact. That search eventually led me to tech and cybersecurity.
What started as a tuition reimbursement option quickly turned into a passion. I immersed myself in learning, pursued a master’s degree in cybersecurity, obtained a few certifications, and worked my way through various roles across operations, product management, change management, cloud security, and now data security.
Today, I work as a Senior Data Security Solution Engineer at Microsoft, helping organizations protect and govern their most valuable asset: their data. As rewarding as my corporate career has been, some of my most meaningful work happens outside of my day job.
Through my platform, Cybershortieee, I create content, teach cybersecurity, mentor aspiring professionals, and work to make technology more accessible for people who often feel excluded from these conversations. My mission has always been simple: make cybersecurity make sense. I believe representation matters. Throughout my career, I’ve often been one of the few women or one of the few Black professionals in the room. Instead of allowing that to discourage me, it became motivation. I wanted to show others that there is space for them here too.
Today, I’m fortunate to wear many hats: engineer, educator, author, speaker, mentor, podcast co host, and entrepreneur. At the center of everything I do is a desire to help people learn, grow, and see new possibilities for themselves.
The journey is still unfolding, but every step has reinforced the same lesson: you don’t have to start with all the answers. Sometimes all it takes is curiosity, consistency, and the courage to bet on yourself
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s what has made the journey so meaningful for me. One of my biggest challenges was simply finding my way into an industry I knew very little about. I didn’t grow up dreaming about cybersecurity or surrounded by people working in tech. My background was in Criminal Justice, so making the transition into technology required a tremendous amount of learning, self-belief, and persistence. There were moments when I questioned whether I belonged, especially when I was often one of the few women or one of the few Black professionals in the room.
Another challenge has been overcoming the constant pressure to prove myself. Technology changes quickly, and cybersecurity changes even faster. There is always something new to learn, which can feel overwhelming at times. I’ve had to learn that growth isn’t about knowing everything, it’s about being willing to stay curious and continue learning.
Building my personal brand, Cybershortieee, has brought its own challenges as well. Creating content, teaching, mentoring, speaking, writing, and maintaining a demanding corporate career requires a lot of discipline and balance. There were times when I struggled with imposter syndrome and wondered whether people would find value in what I had to say.
What helped me push through those obstacles was realizing that the things I once viewed as disadvantages were actually strengths. My nontraditional background allows me to explain cybersecurity in a way that feels approachable and relatable. The challenges I experienced entering the field help me connect with people who are trying to do the same thing today. So, looking back, every obstacle taught me something. They helped me build resilience, confidence, and a deeper commitment to creating opportunities and the visibility that I wished I had when I was entering the field.
As you know, we’re big fans of Cybershortieee Media Group . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Cybershortieee Media Group was created to make technology, cybersecurity, and digital safety more accessible to everyday people.
For years, I noticed that many conversations in tech felt overly technical, intimidating, or exclusive. People were often told they needed a certain background, degree, or experience level to participate. Through my work as a cybersecurity professional, educator, speaker, and content creator, I saw an opportunity to change that.
My mission is simple: make cybersecurity make sense.
Through educational content, speaking engagements, training, digital products, books, podcasts, and community initiatives, I help people better understand technology, protect themselves online, and confidently navigate our increasingly digital world.
What sets me apart is my approach. I don’t teach cybersecurity through fear, jargon, or gatekeeping. I teach it through storytelling, relatable examples, culture, and real-life situations that you can actually connect with. Whether I’m explaining artificial intelligence, online scams, data privacy, or cybersecurity careers, my goal is to make complex topics understandable and actionable.
While cybersecurity remains a core focus, Cybershortieee Media Group is ultimately about empowerment. I want people to feel informed, included, and confident enough to participate in conversations that are shaping the future.
What I’m most proud of is building a brand that allows me to educate, inspire, and create in multiple ways.
In addition to my work in cybersecurity education, I recently published my first urban fiction tech thriller, Hostile Takeover. The book blends technology, cybersecurity, and storytelling to introduce readers to concepts they may not otherwise encounter. It represents everything Cybershortieee stands for: making technology accessible, engaging, and relevant to people who might not see themselves reflected in traditional tech spaces.
At its core, Cybershortieee Media Group exists to bridge gaps. Whether someone is learning how to protect themselves online, considering a career in cybersecurity, or simply trying to understand how technology impacts their daily life, I want them to know they have a place in the conversation.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve never considered myself a reckless risk-taker, but I do believe that growth usually requires a willingness to be uncomfortable.
One of the biggest risks I took was transitioning into cybersecurity from a Criminal Justice background. At the time, I didn’t have a traditional technology background, and there were no guarantees that the investment of time, money, and effort would pay off. I had to trust that the skills I was building would create opportunities in the future.
More recently, publishing my first urban fiction tech thriller felt like a risk as well. It was different from what people expected from a cybersecurity professional, but I wanted to challenge the idea that technical professionals have to fit into a single box. The response reinforced something I’ve learned throughout my career: people connect with authenticity.
My approach to risk is similar to how I approach cybersecurity. I assess the potential downside, prepare as much as I can, and then move forward if the opportunity aligns with my goals and values. I don’t believe in waiting until everything feels certain because certainty rarely comes. Most of the opportunities that have shaped my career existed on the other side of uncertainty.
Looking back, the biggest risk would have been staying where I was because it felt comfortable. Every major opportunity in my life has started with a decision to take a chance on myself.
Pricing:
- Hostile Takeover book $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.cybershortieee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cybershortieee?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.tiktok.com/@cybershortieee?_r=1&_t=ZT-973b0QItlyY
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destinisimmons
- Twitter: https://x.com/cybershortieee?s=11
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cybershortieee?si=0pOZv5b-6dlpjosJ
- Other: https://a.co/d/09YzbrJY
