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In this episode, we dive into the world of alternative tech pathways, exploring how apprenticeships and returnships are dismantling traditional barriers to entry. We break down how these "learn-and-earn" models allow participants to gain hands-on experience and professional mentorship while addressing the industry’s persistent skills gap and lack of diversity.

We also tackle the "career gap penalty" by looking at returnships, which provide a structured, paid "on-ramp" for experienced professionals re-entering the workforce after a break for caregiving or other reasons. Beyond these core programs, we discuss the broader ecosystem of coding bootcamps, microcredentials, and skills-based hiring that help career changers "stack" their way into technical roles.

Whether you are a newcomer starting from scratch or a mid-career veteran rebuilding confidence, these pathways offer a high-conversion route to a permanent role in the modern tech landscape

For women in tech and cybersecurity

If you’re working to find, refine, and use your voice—whether through leadership, speaking, or visibility—this is part of the work I deeply care about and actively support. Explore how I can help

Ask Me Anything (AMA) — coming soon

If you have questions—from career navigation to cyber pathways to dealing with being “the only one” in the room 👉🏽 send them in.

Podcast season update

Season Two of Bytes, Bits & Brilliance is coming to a close. I'd love your feedback as we shape Season Three. Share here

Support the show

Hey, listeners and tech enthusiasts! 🌟 If you've been enjoying our podcast and finding value in the insights shared, we'd love your support. You can:

• Take a moment to share this podcast with someone.
• Submit the interest form if you’d like to be a guest.
• Let us know how we're doing. We’d love to hear from you.
• Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.
• If you’re in a position to support financially, consider supporting via the Tip Jar, or Buy Me a Coffee. This podcast is a self-funded and how we give back, especially to underrepresented voices in tech and cybersecurity.

Your support keeps us going and growing. Thanks for being part of this journey and our community!

Stay connected! Sign up for the weekly newsletter, Courageous Circuits: https://tinyurl.com/wz8fepyc

Looking for mentorship? Let's talk about what you need and how I may be able to help: Mentor Moments

The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are personal and not reflective of any employer.

Send a text

In this episode of the Bites and Brilliance podcast, I speak with Sage and Haley, on our Away Mission at the Aspen Cyber Summit in November 2025.

Sage and Haley, both scholars at Bowie State University, share their journeys into the field of cybersecurity.

They talk about the importance of community and mentorship in navigating their careers, particularly as women of color in a predominantly male industry.

The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities they face as they define their voices in the cybersecurity ecosystem.

They discuss the significance of networking, volunteering, and finding mentors to help guide their paths.

Both Sage and Haley express a desire to bridge technical and non-technical aspects of cybersecurity, highlighting the evolving nature of the field and the diverse career paths available.

Their insights provide valuable advice for aspiring cybersecurity professionals, emphasizing the importance of community and proactive engagement in the industry.

Connect with my guests on LinkedIn:

Sage Despeignes

Haley Reyes

For women in tech and cybersecurity

If you’re working to find, refine, and use your voice—whether through leadership, speaking, or visibility—this is part of the work I deeply care about and actively support. Explore how I can help

Ask Me Anything (AMA) — coming in 2026

If you have questions—from career navigation to cyber pathways to dealing with being “the only one” in the room 👉🏽 send them in.

Podcast season update

Season Two of Bytes, Bits & Brilliance is coming to a close. I'd love your feedback as we shape Season Three. Share here

Support the show

Hey, listeners and tech enthusiasts! 🌟 If you've been enjoying our podcast and finding value in the insights shared, we'd love your support. You can:

• Take a moment to share this podcast with someone.
• Submit the interest form if you’d like to be a guest.
• Let us know how we're doing. We’d love to hear from you.
• Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.
• If you’re in a position to support financially, consider supporting via the Tip Jar, or Buy Me a Coffee. This podcast is a self-funded and how we give back, especially to underrepresented voices in tech and cybersecurity.

Your support keeps us going and growing. Thanks for being part of this journey and our community!

Stay connected! Sign up for the weekly newsletter, Courageous Circuits: https://tinyurl.com/wz8fepyc

Looking for mentorship? Let's talk about what you need and how I may be able to help: Mentor Moments

The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are personal and not reflective of any employer.

Send us a text

Early in my career, I misunderstood what mentorship was and how it worked. I believed it had to be formal, perfectly aligned, and initiated by someone else. I didn’t yet understand my role, or how essential mentorship truly was.

In this Mentorship Moment, I reflect on the assumptions I carried, the distinctions I didn’t yet understand, and how openness to mentorship later reshaped my career and growth.

This episode is for anyone who thought mentorship would simply appear, or who didn’t realize how much it could matter.

For women in tech and cybersecurity

If you’re working to find, refine, and use your voice—whether through leadership, speaking, or visibility—this is part of the work I deeply care about and actively support. Explore how I can help

Ask Me Anything (AMA) — coming in 2026

If you have questions—from career navigation to cyber pathways to dealing with being “the only one” in the room 👉🏽 send them in.

Podcast season update

Season Two of Bytes, Bits & Brilliance is coming to a close. I'd love your feedback as we shape Season Three. Share here

Support the show

Hey, listeners and tech enthusiasts! 🌟 If you've been enjoying our podcast and finding value in the insights shared, we'd love your support. You can:

• Take a moment to share this podcast with someone.
• Submit the interest form if you’d like to be a guest.
• Let us know how we're doing. We’d love to hear from you.
• Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.
• If you’re in a position to support financially, consider supporting via the Tip Jar, or Buy Me a Coffee. This podcast is a self-funded and how we give back, especially to underrepresented voices in tech and cybersecurity.

Your support keeps us going and growing. Thanks for being part of this journey and our community!

Stay connected! Sign up for the weekly newsletter, Courageous Circuits: https://tinyurl.com/wz8fepyc

Looking for mentorship? Let's talk about what you need and how I may be able to help: Mentor Moments

The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are personal and not reflective of any employer.