Beyond
the Code.
My journey into cybersecurity
From a non-technical household in Nepal to building a career in cybersecurity in the United States, my journey has been driven by curiosity, persistence, and a belief that technology should create opportunities for everyone.
From curiosity to purposeThe spark
A question became a calling.
How can information be hidden in plain sight, and how can someone uncover what was never meant to be seen?
My fascination began with cryptography: the mathematics behind encryption and decryption, and the challenge of deciphering secret messages. Alan Turing and the Enigma machine captured my imagination. The Imitation Game brought the history of codebreaking to life, while Hackers introduced me to the creativity and unconventional problem-solvers of the digital world.
These stories made me curious about the science behind the mystery. A cryptography class turned that curiosity into a genuine passion. Encryption, cryptographic keys, and secure communication showed me a discipline built on mathematics, logic, and creativity. I was captivated by the idea that understanding a system deeply could help uncover its weaknesses and make it stronger.
The journey
No roadmap. A determination to keep going.
- NEPAL → UNITED STATES
Starting in unfamiliar territory
I came to the United States from Nepal as a first-generation immigrant, carrying the ambition to build a future for myself. Coming from a non-technical household, computer science was an unfamiliar world. I was learning technology while navigating an entirely new academic and professional environment, one class and one challenge at a time.
- EDUCATION & DISCOVERY
Finding a direction
Exploring technology gradually became a passion for understanding how digital systems work and how they can be protected. Cryptography was the turning point: cybersecurity was no longer just another area of computer science. I could see myself building a future in it.
- BELONGING & PERSISTENCE
One of only two women
There were only two women in my cybersecurity class. I was excited to learn, but I understood how intimidating an unfamiliar field could feel without an established network. Rather than discouraging me, that experience strengthened my resolve. I did not need to fit a stereotype to belong; I needed curiosity, discipline, and the courage to work through what I did not yet understand.
- THEORY → PRACTICE
Building a technical foundation
Through education, hands-on opportunities, and early internship experiences, I began connecting classroom concepts to practical work. Learning from the people around me helped turn an academic interest into a clearer understanding of technology and security beyond the classroom.
From curiosity to career
The same curiosity. A different kind of codebreaking.
Today, I apply that curiosity to real-world cybersecurity challenges at Darktrace. My progression from Cyber Technology Specialist to Cyber Analyst and Senior Cyber Analyst has brought together enterprise perspective, threat investigations, behavioral analysis, detection development and tuning, threat hunting, and cyber threat intelligence.
I work to understand suspicious activity, investigate what may be happening beneath the surface, improve detection capabilities, and translate technical findings into meaningful security insights. Every investigation presents a new question; every emerging threat offers another opportunity to learn.
The curiosity that first drew me to cryptography still shapes my work. Expertise is not a destination reached once. It grows through experience, collaboration, research, and a willingness to question what we think we know.
Purpose beyond the profession
Protect systems. Open doors.
My journey has shaped how I think about opportunity. Entering technology without a technical background or an established network can feel overwhelming. Sometimes the difference is access: to guidance, resources, encouragement, and someone who can show you what is possible.
Through the CyberSafe Foundation’s CyberGirls Fellowship and Microsoft’s TEALS program, I share what I have learned with people beginning their own journeys. I want women to see that they belong in technology, and students of every gender and background to know they do not need everything figured out before taking their first step.
Looking ahead, I aspire to explore entrepreneurship and the possibility of building an initiative or nonprofit that expands access to technology education, mentorship, and career resources for underserved communities, particularly women and children. This is a vision for the future, shaped by the opportunities that helped me find my own path.
I entered this field because I wanted to understand its mysteries. I continue because I want to help solve its challenges.