Both women and people of colour are underrepresented in the field of cybersecurity as demographic groups. To increase awareness of this issue, Talya Parker established Black Girls In Cyber, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to increase the presence and participation of Black women in branches related to national security.
Talya Parker contributes her success to her parents who migrated to the US from Jamaica when she was 8 years old. She adopted their hard-working nature, perseverance, and, perhaps, most importantly, their bravery – all values needed to enter an academic field and business in which she represented a minority. Holding a Bachelors of Science in Business from Florida A&M University, a Masters of International Business from Nova Southeastern University, and an Executive Masters degree in cybersecurity from Brown University, her career rests on interdisciplinary training in areas focusing on various aspects of security studies.
In the four years following her graduation, Parker gained first-hand, practical experience in the industry, installing security plans, privacy concepts, and internal data protection mechanisms for companies such as Nike or Deloitte & Touche. Currently working as a Cybersecurity and Privacy Architect with the Georgia Institute of Technology, she leads risk-assessments in due diligence with industry standards and government regulations.
Having gained professional experiences in the financial, technological, and economic aspects of the public as well as private sector, she decided to use her influence to inspire, support, and mentor people of colour in finding their footing in cybersecurity, privacy, and STEM careers. In recognition of the barriers she was faced with in accessing the industry, she pays as much attention to political, financial, and economic realities as towards individuals’ wellbeing.