From Student to Aspiring Tech Professional: Paola Mendiola on Building a Career in Cybersecurity | Ep036

In this episode of Career Downloads, host Manuel Martinez interviews Paola Mendiola, a promising digital forensics student at CSN who shares her journey into technology and cybersecurity.

Episode Summary
Paola takes us through her tech journey, beginning with the transformative moment when her father brought home their first computer. This experience allowed her to connect with family in Mexico through video calls – a pivotal event that sparked her passion for technology. As a first-generation tech enthusiast, Paola discusses navigating educational opportunities, from her high school IT and cybersecurity program to her current studies at CSN.

Throughout the conversation, Paola candidly shares her experiences with high school robotics competitions, her valuable training at Tech Impact, and how she's building her professional network as a newcomer to the industry. She provides thoughtful insights about overcoming shyness, establishing a professional presence on LinkedIn, and the crucial importance of finding mentors who can guide your career path.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is Paola's fresh perspective as someone actively entering the field. Her story of recently speaking to young women in tech and her aspirations to become a cybersecurity educator highlight her commitment to helping others following in her footsteps.

Key Moments in This Episode
02:38 - How Paola's tech journey began when her dad brought home a computer
11:55 - Paola's experience in high school robotics competitions
16:24 - Getting hands-on IT experience through Tech Impact
29:20 - Transitioning from shy student to LinkedIn networker
44:30 - Speaking to young women about tech and coming full circle
52:54 - Paola's aspiration to become a cybersecurity teacher
01:02:40 - Advice for people looking for opportunities in tech

Connect with Paola
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolamend/

Resources Mentioned
Tech Impact: Non-profit organization providing IT training
SIM Las Vegas: Society for Information Management
NCWIT: National Center for Women in Information Technology

New episodes of Career Downloads are released every Tuesday. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform to catch all our career conversations with professionals across the tech industry!

Join our community on the social platforms:
Website: https://careerdownloads.com
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-downloads
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@careerdownloads?sub_confirmation=1
X/Twitter https://twitter.com/@careerdownloads
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@careerdownloads
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/careerdownloads
FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/people/Career-Downloads/61561144531249

#CareerDownloads #Cybersecurity #TechCareers #WomenInTech #DigitalForensics

Released: May 20, 2025