Meet Deb Golden

“If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you. Every day, I choose to show up and fight—for me, for my family, for my friends, for my life. And I don't take a good day for granted, ever.”

As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been interested in technology. Coding and programming gadgets my father brought home from work always intrigued me throughout my childhood.

But the funny thing is, he never brought home any of the manuals to go with them—so I spent my time trying to figure out how to make them work. And by work, I mean playing video games—which at that time was nothing more than a series of BASIC coding instructions. But what I didn’t realize was that this self-taught “game-based learning” approach was laying the foundation for my career in cyber.

Turning a passion into a career

My interest in solving challenges and looking at ways to innovate has only grown over the years. And has transformed from personal interests into professional endeavors. Little did I know back then, this interest in game-based learning and STEM would help develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential to navigating today’s challenges—especially in cyber.

Another critical part of my job is the ability to remain calm under pressure and react rationally to the inherent adversity in a field dedicated to preventing, responding to, and recovering from sophisticated cyberattacks. Several life events have grounded me and established what I like to call my “grit factor.” These very personal experiences—some of which were traumatic in nature—have allowed me to explore the human-response element of cyber, specifically how my own experiences have enabled me to push through chaos, uncertainty, and unpredictability.

Making mental and physical health a priority

Over the last several years, I’ve faced some serious, life-threatening health challenges of my own. And while my condition is currently “in check,” it’s something that I’ll need to deal with for the rest of my life. As with everything, we all have choices to make about our outlook in these situations, and I think I’ve been unwavering about my decision to show up and fight—for me, for my family, for my friends, for my life. I don’t take a good day for granted, ever—even the ones that seem the most challenging (and trust me, they exist!).

Throughout each week, I make my physical and mental health a priority—and I encourage others to do the same. And while I’m a regular at spin and strength training classes, I’m always looking for new activities that will allow me to expand both my physical and mental strength, competing with myself to reach new heights without a phone or laptop in sight.

Not only is this important for my physical health, but it helps me give my all at work, allowing me to have a mental reset—and a necessary mental release—that comes from the physical exertion of working out. After all, the best ideas don’t come to you when you’re working at a desk, they come to you when you’re relaxed and able to think through the “art of the possible.” Sometimes we think we don’t have time to do anything, but when you break it down and realize all the things you can do in small increments of time—even just five minutes—it makes it easier to give yourself the break you undoubtedly need.

I remind my teams that we must find purposeful moments in the day to take a collective breath—to be grateful for each day and ensure that hard times don’t turn us into someone else. Because hard times show us who we really are—and sometimes, we need to fall to truly understand what’s needed to rise again. Through challenging times, it’s important for us to remember that we’re strong and capable. And even when you may be up against something unthinkable, we can keep pushing forward, we can evolve, and we can continuously reach toward a better self.

To help others in their lives, I began training service dogs a few years ago—knowing that the skills and knowledge of “puppy raising” would ultimately allow someone else to have freedom and independence. The dogs have also become a big part of my work because they’re always by my side—even at the client site. I am an official certified service dog trainer and have trained many puppies (from six weeks old and many for the full duration until the puppies turn sixteen(ish) months!) who have successfully graduated in-for-service training (aka college), where each of them will ultimately proceed with additional training and begin their life-changing career as a guide or service dog.

teams, our clients, and ultimately our community. Because of the way I choose to lead, it’s probably no surprise to many who know me that I have, and will continue, to speak up in response to the senseless acts of racism, bigotry, bias, and unequal treatment that continue to plague our country.

I strongly believe that we must continue to push the boundaries on establishing even more diverse teams—that not only reflect what we want to see in the world but offer diversity in thought and action. As the cyber landscape continues to expand and become more complex, it’s more important than ever for us to come to the table with different perspectives to help our clients address those challenges. And that’s what ultimately enables us to stay one step ahead.