We experience payments in seconds. A tap. A PIN. Approved.
For the person paying, it feels effortless. Behind that moment sits technology, security, compliance, and people who analyse requirements, spot gaps, and protect the systems businesses rely on.
Simple experiences for customers usually mean real complexity behind the scenes: standards, risk assessments, and audits that demand preparation, detail, and collaboration.
For me, finding my place in this world was not the result of a carefully planned career path. It was about following opportunities, staying curious, and discovering that the job I never expected can become the one you love.
I started in IT in 2013, though Information Security wasn’t the plan. I began in banking, then moved into payments, which showed me how technology, business, and financial services connect. From there, my security interest grew naturally.
The real shift came in a compliance role working on SOX, PCI DSS, and P2PE audits. That’s when I saw the links between compliance, technology, processes and security. Working in FinTech also exposed me to the pieces behind every secure payment: policies, controls, HSMs, cryptography, key management and audits.
The more I understood how those pieces fit, the more the work drew me in.
“I’ve found that I really enjoy analysing requirements, understanding how things work, identifying gaps and solving problems.”
I didn’t map this path from the start. I found it.
One useful lesson for anyone starting in technology: you don’t always have to know exactly where you’re going.
When someone taps a card, they’re not thinking about the controls underneath, and they shouldn’t have to.
That’s part of what I enjoy. The field keeps changing, so there’s always something new to learn. I value working with different stakeholders and learning from their expertise. Some of the best lessons come from asking questions and understanding how other teams operate.
“It has been both challenging and rewarding.”
In a traditionally male-dominated field, I have sometimes felt I needed to prove my technical ability. Assumptions that I might not fully understand certain aspects have surfaced.
My response has been consistent: keep learning, ask questions, build knowledge, and let the work speak for itself.
Those experiences strengthened my belief in confidence and in supporting others rather than treating them as competition.
Visibility matters to me. By sharing my story, I hope to encourage other young women to consider technology and Information Security. If my journey motivates even one person, that will mean a great deal.
Since joining Ecentric in May 2019, the people and sense of community have been defining. I describe it as feeling like a family and credit supportive colleagues and leaders with helping me grow.
Mentorship from managers, executives, and even external vendors has played a big role, as have the supportive men who treated me with respect and believed in my ability.
At Ecentric, “Be the best people to work with” is about more than customers and partners. It’s about sharing knowledge, welcoming questions, and recognising that everyone brings something different.
My experience reflects that.
Ask me about the achievement I’m most proud of, and I don’t name an award.
I talk about the quieter wins: a successful audit, positive feedback from auditors or stakeholders, months of careful work coming together. I see those moments as team successes.
“It’s not just about an individual achievement. It’s about knowing that everyone’s contribution helped us get to that outcome.”
To young women considering technology or Information Security, my message is simple:
“Don’t be intimidated by how vast the field is. There are countless areas and career paths available, and you don’t have to know everything from the beginning. There is a place for you in this field.”
If I could speak to my younger self, I would say: don’t let someone else’s age, experience or position make you doubt yourself.
Trust the journey. Stand firm in what you know. Speak up and balance that confidence with respect. Don’t let anyone make you feel you don’t belong in the room.
Technology will keep evolving. Security requirements will grow more complex. One thing stays constant: people remain at the centre.
I describe myself as shy and introverted. I prefer working behind the scenes.
Being behind the scenes does not mean being without impact.
Sometimes the most important work is the work customers never see: the gap found before it becomes a vulnerability, the control strengthened before it becomes a problem, the question asked at the right time.
These are the moments that build trust.
Because beyond every transaction, people are making it possible.
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