AAPI Heritage Month, Employee Spotlight: Julia Delgado, Information Security Analyst
The U.S. is known to be a cultural melting pot, with people immigrating from all over the world and living together in the same communities. This is an incredible byproduct of immigration, as cultures blend and give way to entirely new traditions and greater levels of compassion and understanding in our communities. At Canoe, we strive to make our workplace as diverse as the U.S. at large, ensuring that a wide range of perspectives and heritages are always present. With May as AAPI Heritage Month, we took the time to speak with our employee Julia Delgado, a second-generation U.S. citizen whose grandmother immigrated from Vietnam. Hear from her about her perceptions of InfoSec, her cultural background, and how her Vietnamese heritage has impacted her at work and at home.
What inspired you to pursue a career in InfoSec? What drew you to Canoe?
When I was in high school, I was the head of our robotics team, so from a rather young age I was interested in technology. At home, I enjoyed mystery novels and video games focused on puzzles. Information Security became a natural intersection of my interests as I got older, and I am really fortunate to have discovered this!
The fintech industry is not something I was familiar with from the start, so having the opportunity to work for Canoe and grow in a new space was exciting for me.
Why is infosec so important to the world at large?
The whole world is now connected through the Internet of Things, so I believe it is incredibly important to empower people to take control of their information and make intentional, conscious decisions on who and what uses their data. Small things like knowing where to opt-out of viewing history that feeds a larger marketing algorithm or strengthening password complexity to prevent account compromise creates personal agency. It is a universal and ageless field that is critical to not only business but also the individual.
What project has been the most fun/challenging for you at Canoe since your start? What can you share with us about it?
User education is an area that I am very passionate about. In my role at Canoe, I have been able to curate cybersecurity training around safe development practices, phishing tactics, and internet safety. Education takes the form of regular test phishing emails sent out to our employees, on-demand video modules, and newsletters sent out with best practice tips. These lessons learned expand outside of the workplace and can be used when navigating the internet for personal use. Being able to spot a deceptive promoted ad on a website or a suspicious QR code on a flier seen while taking a walk are scenarios where training makes a big difference both online and offline.
What is one aspect of your culture that you are most proud of? Any traditions or lessons you’ve learned that impact your work at Canoe?
My grandmother is an immigrant from Vietnam who moved to the United States after getting married. Once in the U.S., she took on many laborious jobs with the intent of providing not only for her four children, but also for her future grandchildren and her own siblings back in Vietnam. She has always been a hard worker and dedicated to helping the members of her family succeed. Her work ethic and support for others are traits that inspire me, and I believe are reflected in my work at Canoe!
What is the best advice you have been given in your career?
Information security is a rapidly growing industry and requires an adaptable mindset. The best advice I have been given is don’t be afraid of asking questions and always speak up. Both being right and making mistakes are valuable chances to grow and become even more of an expert in the field. Never stop learning!