Grace Emmanuel didn’t exactly plan to go into tech. In fact, in January 2022, she was jobless and just trying to figure things out. She had studied German in school and had tried her hands at different things including sales and community management.  Tech came into the picture out of curiosity. Something to explore. Something to maybe pass time. 

But what started off casually became something much bigger. 

Cybersecurity caught her attention because she kept seeing people talk about hacking online. It felt mysterious, even cool. So she did some digging to understand what hacking actually meant, and that led her into the world of cybersecurity. 

She got into the Women Techsters Bootcamp and that became a major part of her story. Learning wasn’t easy at first. The bootcamp was broad and intense, and coming from an arts background, Grace often felt like she didn’t belong. Impostor syndrome was real, and there were times she felt completely overwhelmed. But community made the difference. Women in the space offered advice and encouragement, and her accountability partner also named Grace kept her grounded and going. 

One thing that stood out during the bootcamp was her facilitator’s teaching style. She broke things down in a way that made it all click, giving her the foundation that would shape her entire cybersecurity career. 

Since then, it’s been growth on all sides. She’s learned that it’s okay to take breaks, okay to feel off some days. What matters is not giving up. Today, Grace works as a cybersecurity analyst. Some of her friends call her a “cyberballer,” not just because of her skills but because she’s always looking for ways to give back. She mentors, shares resources, and reminds others that your background doesn’t define your future. 

For her, communication skills have been just as important as technical ones, and both continue to shape the way she shows up in the industry. 

To hear her speak a little German and share more of her story, click here