Kristina Laidler
Microsoft Cyber Defense Operations Center
Redmond, WA USA
"Take the no’s and just keep pushing through that—because you’re worth it...because you want something better."
Career Roadmap
Kristina's work combines: Business, Technology, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I feel like this was a problem I created for myself more than anyone else doing it to me. I committed myself to constantly learning so that I wouldn't feel like this.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Washington State University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Has a calling to protect people; helping to secure data and services in the Microsoft cloud helps her do that on a large scale.
2.
On some level, she’s always been a security and privacy advocate—whether it was defending friends from bullies or standing up for the vulnerable.
3.
In college at Washington State University, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, but knew she needed to make a living.
4.
She says to think three to five years ahead—she started out in law enforcement, then planned and made the switch to cybersecurity.
5.
When she started, everyone was self-taught and she was excited by the idea that you learned by doing the job.
6.
She started out in computer analysis response and recovering evidence, and that opened a new door for her.
7.
The biggest obstacles she faced came from within herself, wondering and worrying whether she knew enough.
8.
Says you should feel like you’re getting as much from your job as you’re giving—when that happens, you know you’ve hit the right balance.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I'm not good enough.
How I responded:
I feel like this was a problem I created for myself more than anyone else doing it to me. I committed myself to constantly learning so that I wouldn't feel like this.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When I started out in the field, everyone was self taught, there was no book to follow. I had to figure it out by doing.
I have always worked in a male-dominated field - took me a while to find where I fit.