If I could offer just one piece of advice to my younger self, it would be this: Keep doing exactly what you’re doing.
That may sound unusual.
Why wouldn’t I go back with a list of lessons, smart strategies, or industry secrets that could fast-forward my journey? The truth is there’s no shortcut to success. There’s no wisdom without experience. And no amount of hindsight can replace the depth of learning that only comes from walking the path yourself.
As an immigrant woman of colour in tech, I’m often asked about my journey, how I navigated stereotypes, adapted to a new country, and built a life and career from scratch. People want to know how I overcame the odds. And I always come back to this: growth isn’t linear. It never was. And it was never supposed to be.
What helped me most wasn’t a carefully laid plan, but an open mind. One that could spot opportunities hiding in plain sight. One that could embrace uncertainty and turn it into momentum.
When I started my career as a software engineer, I landed my first job straight out of college, in the middle of a recession. Within a year, I was promoted twice. The path ahead looked promising, clear, structured, and upward. But I was observing the leaders around me, the ones shaping strategies and influencing programs, and I realised that’s where I wanted to be. Not just fixing defects. Not just doing great work. I wanted to help set the vision.
That desire led me to pursue an executive education in management. It wasn’t an easy decision. It meant giving up a paycheck, taking out a loan, and hitting pause on the more traditional expectations of “settling down.” It was uncomfortable, uncertain, and unlike anything I had done before.
But those two years changed everything.
They expanded my horizons and shifted how I saw impact, not just in professional outcomes, but in how I showed up for my community, my family, and myself. I understood that sometimes, the greatest growth doesn’t happen when you’re climbing up, it happens when you take a detour, when you change direction, or when you stand still and reflect.
Eventually, I pivoted into consulting. It was another unconventional move. While many peers were specialising in one area, I was reinventing myself with every project. I learned what it meant to lead without a title, to communicate across cultures, and to navigate ambiguity with grace.
The pace was intense. Learning was constant. And the structure? Far from traditional. But every project, every challenge, every conversation added to my toolkit in ways that no linear path ever could.
And that path led me somewhere unexpected, into cybersecurity.
While working on a cybersecurity engagement for a fintech client, something clicked. What started as a consulting assignment became a new calling. I led Governance, Risk, and Compliance workstreams. Then, something even more surprising happened. My leadership team asked me to take over the Application Security team. I had no formal background in AppSec. No certifications. No predefined roadmap. But what I did have was a mindset. I was known for getting things done, learning fast, and stepping up when it mattered.
That moment was a turning point.
It also brought with it the quiet weight of imposter syndrome. I remember questioning myself. Wondering if I belonged. But I chose to trust the people who had placed their faith in me. I borrowed their confidence until I could build my own.
Looking back, that choice to step forward even when uncertain was one of the most defining of my career. Because imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re not capable. It means you’re growing into something bigger than your past self. And growth, by nature, is uncomfortable.
During that time, I also made a conscious effort to seek out mentors. But not just within my own lane. I built relationships with leaders in product, HR, operations, finance, and across functions. I asked questions. I listened. I learned how different parts of the business think, what drives them, and how to connect the dots between their goals and mine.
Those conversations were invaluable. Many of those mentors went on to take C-suite roles, and I’ve continued to learn from them. That kind of cross-functional insight helped shape my own leadership style, one rooted not just in expertise, but in empathy and perspective.
Today, in senior advisory roles, I carry forward the mindset that shaped me early on. I don’t always have the answers. I still feel moments of doubt. But I’ve learned to lead with clarity, curiosity, and a deep understanding that leadership is not about control. It’s about connections.
Growth doesn’t follow a straight line. Neither does life. But if you stay open, seek learning, and keep moving, even with uncertainty, you will find your way.
You don’t have to be fearless to grow. You just need to keep showing up. And sometimes, when your own belief falters, it’s perfectly okay to borrow someone else’s.
Because even in the messiness of doubt and detours, you are becoming.
