From Overcoming Adversity to Cybersecurity Mastery: The Inspiring Journey of Rose Babbette
Rose Babbette's journey in the field of cybersecurity is nothing short of inspiring. From being the only African American female in her STEM major to becoming a Senior Insider Threat Analyst at Edward Jones, her story is a testament to resilience and determination.
About Rose Babbette
Rose Babbette graduated in May 2019 as the only African American female in the Computer Information Systems major at Cal Poly Pomona. Her focus on Information Security and Forensics laid the groundwork for her role as a Senior Insider Threat Analyst at Edward Jones. Rose is passionate about public speaking, advocacy, and inspiring minorities to explore cybersecurity as well as raising awareness about neurodiversity since being diagnosed with autism in 2021.
Q: What has been the most difficult career or life challenge you’ve encountered so far? How did you overcome it? If you are dealing with a present-day challenge, how are you managing it?
The most difficult part of my career has been overcoming imposter syndrome. Throughout my education, I was often the only African American and female student in my classes. No one looked like me, and few shared my background and upbringing. Many of my peers in college, especially in my core classes, had privileges that I didn’t. I frequently struggled with coursework, feeling behind as my classmates grasped concepts more quickly and easily. When I sought help, I often ended up more confused or received no assistance at all. This forced me to teach myself and develop my own strategies to understand the material I needed to graduate. After graduating, the imposter syndrome carried over into my career. I was the youngest and only African American female on my team, fresh out of college, surrounded by highly specialized and skilled colleagues. Initially, this intimidated me and made me feel incompetent. However, as time passed, I found mentors, allies, sponsors, and friends within the tech and cybersecurity fields who looked like me. Their support made me feel less alone and gave me multiple outlets to share and explore different experiences in my career. Regarding my different learning style, I’ve learned to embrace it, give myself grace, ask for help, and provide myself with the necessary tools. You never fully overcome imposter syndrome; instead, you continue to build confidence over time, which helps you navigate your journey.
Q: What is something that you have encountered in your life thus far that was completely unexpected? How did you deal with it? How did it turn out?
In the last couple of months before graduating college, I began job hunting, aiming to become a Digital Forensics Analyst. I loved the challenge of playing "Find the needle in the haystack" within computers to uncover evidence. Confident in my skills after excelling in my core class, I applied to my old company. During midterms, I traveled from Los Angeles to Silicon Valley for an interview, braving an 8-hour Megabus ride and a drive in my mom's beat-up 2000 Toyota Camry. I felt prepared and thought I nailed the interview.
A few days later, I received a rejection email, saying I wasn’t the right fit and would do better in a faster-paced job. Heartbroken, I cried for hours but then wrote a rebuttal letter to my old manager, arguing that I was perfect for the role and deserved a chance to prove myself. Surprisingly, they offered me another interview, this time with the Chief Information Security Officer, right in the middle of finals week. With the help of family and friends, I flew back for the interview, then took a grueling 10-hour Megabus ride back to school for my final exams.
Twenty minutes before my graduation ceremony, I received a text from my old manager: "We would like to extend our offer to you for the position of Data Loss Prevention Analyst." The journey was filled with challenges and emotions, but my persistence paid off, and I secured my first job in Silicon Valley straight out of college, kick-starting my career.
Q: What do you tell yourself when you receive criticism that is not constructive?
When I receive criticism that is not constructive, I try to weigh it carefully. I remind myself that everyone has their reasons for saying what they do, and often, those reasons have more to do with them than with me. Sometimes, non-constructive criticism can be valid, but the delivery may be poor, so I keep that in mind. Other times, the criticism may simply be a projection of the other person's insecurities. In such cases, there's nothing I can do but let it go in one ear and out the other.
Q: What do you do when doubting yourself?
As a very logical person, when I start doubting myself, I recognize that there might be valid reasons behind it. However, I often need to rationalize where those feelings are coming from and who placed those beliefs in my head. I always remember what my dad used to tell me when I didn’t achieve the results I wanted: he’d ask if I tried my best, and when I said yes, he’d simply say, "Then there's nothing else you could have done." This mantra plays in the back of my mind, reminding me that self-doubt often stems from comparing myself to others.
I understand that the only person I can fairly compare myself to is myself. I’m only human—some days I’ll excel and achieve everything I set out to do, while other days I’ll struggle and fall short. In both situations, I have to give myself grace and be proud of whatever part of the journey I’m on. Life will always happen in its own time, and I have everything within me to become everything I want to be.
Q: What advice did you get when you were just starting out that helped you immensely?
I was told to stop being so humble about my accomplishments. For me, achieving goals was like checking off boxes—once a goal was achieved, I moved on to the next one. My goals were ambitious, and I often compared myself to the greatest, so I didn't feel accomplished until I met my final goals. The advice to stop being so humble and to celebrate victories, no matter how small or big, and to share my stories with anyone who wanted to listen, helped me immensely.
That little piece of advice to stop being humble and start sharing my journey and stories with others took my career and life to places I never imagined. You never know who you may impact with your stories. Many people in this world are going through similar challenges, and by sharing your experiences and lessons learned, you never know who you might inspire or help.
Q: What do you do when you feel overwhelmed by your life or career?
When I feel overwhelmed in life or my career, I take a break and start doing things I enjoy. I reconnect with my creative side and tap into the child within me. If it’s work-related stress, I give myself a break to engage in a hobby. It could be something simple like taking a walk, dancing, or playing with my cats.
When life becomes overwhelming, I focus internally on myself because the external world is affecting my inner peace. Keeping my inner world at peace becomes my top priority, so I practice self-care. I find ways to cater to myself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. By doing things that make me happy, I create positive experiences and memories to draw upon during challenging times.
Q: What is something that you have accomplished in your lifetime so far that would shock your 16-year-old self?
Looking back, my 16-year-old self would be shocked to see the person I have become today. At that age, I was still grappling with understanding my place in the world, often feeling different and out of sync with my peers. Being diagnosed with autism added another layer to my journey, but it also became a source of strength.
One of my proudest accomplishments has been building a successful career in cybersecurity. Despite the challenges and obstacles, I have carved out a space where my unique perspective and skills are not just accepted but celebrated. Overcoming imposter syndrome, especially in a field where I was often the only African American female, was no small feat. I have turned those differences into my strengths, advocating for diversity and inclusion within the industry.
My journey has also been about embracing my neurodivergence. What once felt like a hurdle is now a powerful tool that gives me a distinct edge in my field. My ability to see things differently, to focus intensely on tasks, and to approach problems with a unique perspective has been invaluable.
If my 16-year-old self could see me now, I believe she would be amazed and inspired by how far I've come. She would see that the very things that made me feel different and isolated are the same things that have empowered me to succeed and make a difference in the world. I am proud of my journey, my resilience, and the person I have become, and I am excited about the future I am continuing to build.
Q: What excites you most about your career or life?
There is always a teachable moment, and I frequently encounter challenges that can't be solved with a simple Google search. I love that my job allows me to use my natural investigative, analytical, logical, and curious skills to develop better ways to threat hunt and improve our programs' efficiency. This isn't something a degree can fully prepare you for—it requires a unique mindset that thrives on the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of solving complex problems.
Q: When did you realize what you were meant to do in life?
I've gone through a lot in life, often taking the harder route. This path, though challenging, has given me invaluable knowledge and experience. With every challenge I faced, I learned lessons, and I also absorbed wisdom from others' experiences.
The moment I realized my calling was when I started sharing my stories and the research I conducted. People began to resonate with what I shared, and that's when it clicked. I love investigating, running experiments, and diving into data. Systemizing this information and presenting it in a way that’s easy to understand has always been a passion of mine. I've often been told I have a knack for storytelling and research.
From my career and life, I've learned that storytelling through data is the most effective way to capture people's attention and ensure they learn something. Combining my skills in research and storytelling, I understood that my path in life is to share my wisdom and findings with those who want to listen. The universe has a way of aligning me with students who seek answers, and my role is to provide those answers and keep the knowledge flowing.
Q: What do you do when you’re not sure how to achieve your goals?
When I'm unsure how to achieve my goals, I start by researching extensively. I ask questions to those who have already achieved similar goals and use resources like books and the internet to gather as much information as possible. This helps me gain a clear understanding of what I'm trying to achieve and what it will take to get there.
From there, I devise a realistic plan tailored to my strengths and circumstances. I break down the goal into smaller steps and integrate them into my existing habits, so they naturally stick. I give myself grace when I get off track, but I also ensure that I challenge myself enough to keep progressing.
I remind myself that achieving goals is a marathon, not a race. My timeline may look different from others, and that's okay. What's important is that I feel good about the decisions I'm making and the progress I'm achieving.
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