Key Takeaways:
- Betta Lyon Delsordo is an ethical hacker who challenges outdated stereotypes and mentors the next generation of girls in tech.
- Ethical hacking is a legitimate career path that involves defending organizations from cyber-attacks and teaching them how to protect themselves.
- Delsordo’s expertise lies in artificial intelligence (AI) and she has worked with a range of companies, from social media platforms to regional banks.
- She believes that technology is power and that a career in tech can change women’s lives, providing them with money, influence, and opportunities.
- Delsordo is passionate about teaching others and encourages girls to pursue careers in tech, despite the challenges and biases they may face.
Introduction to Ethical Hacking
Betta Lyon Delsordo is a 25-year-old ethical hacker who is challenging outdated stereotypes and redefining the image of a hacker. Unlike the typical portrayal of hackers as loners who work in dimly lit basements, Delsordo is articulate, confident, and outgoing. She works a nine-to-five job with a company called OnDefend, where she is paid to hack into organizations’ systems and teach them how to protect themselves. With global cybercrime costing trillions of pounds every year, Delsordo’s skills are in high demand, and she has already worked with a range of companies, from social media platforms to regional banks.
The World of Ethical Hacking
Delsordo’s particular specialism is artificial intelligence (AI), and she is confident that she can keep up with the fast-evolving field of hacking. She has a master’s degree in cybersecurity from the Georgia Institute of Technology and has spent years experimenting and learning in her own time. While she admits that the lines between ethical and malicious hacking can sometimes blur, she is adamant that she has never stepped over to the dark side. She gives the example of "hacktivists" who use their skills to make a political point, but stresses that her profession as an ethical hacker requires her to remain "whiter than white."
Overcoming Stereotypes and Biases
Delsordo’s journey into the world of tech was not without its challenges. She had to fight against the pervasive "tech is for boys" belief and faced sexism and misogyny along the way. Her parents were not initially supportive of her decision to pursue a career in tech, and she had to work hard to prove herself. However, she was determined to succeed and found solace in online communities and initiatives that supported girls in tech. She participated in the Technovation challenge, which encourages girls to design apps that support issues they care about, and found a mentor who helped her build her skills and confidence.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Delsordo is now paying it forward by mentoring girls who are participating in the same Technovation challenge that she once competed in. She uses her social media channels to point girls to free online resources where they can learn to code and encourages them to pursue careers in tech. She believes that technology is power and that a career in tech can change women’s lives, providing them with money, influence, and opportunities. She is passionate about teaching others and wants to discourage the idea that tech workers need to conform to a particular profile. She stresses that being an ethical hacker is a fun and rewarding career that involves helping people and solving puzzles.
Breaking Down Barriers
Delsordo’s message to girls who worry they won’t fit in is that building a tech career is more than possible, and it’s not true that tech workers all need to conform to a particular profile. She wants to encourage girls to pursue careers in tech, despite the challenges and biases they may face. She believes that ethical hacking can be a fun and rewarding career that involves helping people and solving puzzles. With her expertise and passion, Delsordo is helping to break down barriers and challenge outdated stereotypes, inspiring a new generation of girls to pursue careers in tech. By supporting initiatives like the Technovation challenge and mentoring girls in tech, Delsordo is helping to create a more inclusive and diverse tech industry.
