Stephen Dziwura (He/him)

I am a 2021 graduate of Disability: In's NextGen Leadership Program. I have been very interested in cybersecurity since high school, have been involved in cybersecurity clubs and have participated in numerous cybersecurity competitions. I am very interested in working in the cybersecurity field because I see cybersecurity professionals as the most important defense against threat actors who are trying to compromise our personal data, national infrastructure and defense systems and everything in between. Cybersecurity attacks are very personal to me because everyone in my family, myself included, have had our personal and financial data compromised at least once. Neurodiverse-friendly employers who are interested in hiring me should know that I am passionate about a career in cybersecurity because I see protecting our data as one of the most important challenges facing our country, and I want to be part of helping keep everyone safe. I have done very well academically both in terms of learning and also getting excellent grades, but even more importantly I have most of the intangibles supervisors desire to include being honest, open to learning, reliable, hard-working, respectful of others, flexible, and easy to get along with. In addition to my BS Degree in information Science, I also have a minor in Sustainability which I understand is beginning an even bigger program in many organizations. I am committed to doing the best job I can, and all I need to be a valued member of any organization is the opportunity to prove myself.

Ideal Workplace Values

The ideal workplace for me is one that is both diverse and inclusive and that recognizes that organizations and teams are stronger when everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, and works together towards well communicated goals and objectives. The ideal workplace would have strong leadership that values ethical behavior, creative thought, loyalty, and hard work. The culture would both recognize and appreciate that diversity is not needed so that you can simply check a box, but instead because diversity makes organizations both stronger and more competitive.