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In today’s evolving job market, the rules of career growth are changing—and this episode is your guide to navigating it with confidence.

Dawn sits down with Natasha Schwartz, a seasoned staffing and recruiting expert with over 30 years of experience, who is now pivoting into cybersecurity while leveraging her deep expertise in talent strategy.

Together, they unpack what it really takes to stand out, pivot careers, and navigate today’s hiring landscape.

In this episode, we explore:

• 💡 Why transferable skills make up more of your value than you think (hint: up to 80%)
• 🎯 How authenticity—not perfection—wins in interviews
• 🧠 The importance of self-care and mental readiness during the job search process
• 🔍 How to evaluate whether companies truly support inclusive hiring practices
• 🚀 Why blending your past experience with new skills is the key to unlocking future opportunities

Natasha also shares her journey into cybersecurity and how even non-technical topics—like performance reviews—have a place in tech spaces.

If you’re navigating a career pivot, re-entering the workforce, or simply trying to stand out in a crowded market, this episode will remind you: you bring more to the table than you think.

💡Work Smart, Live Balanced, and Thrive in your Career Journey.

Connect with us:

Natasha Schwartz LinkedIn

Dawn Butler Linkedin

Resources:
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

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

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.

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This episode dives into innovative approaches to hiring that focus on genuine conversations, soft skills, and strategic collaboration. Tara Turk-Haynes shares practical frameworks and insights for transforming hiring processes to better assess candidates and foster lasting talent retention, especially in technical and cyber roles.

In this episode:

• The importance of viewing interviews as conversations, not interrogations
• The role of storytelling and soft skills in assessing fit and potential
• Common pitfalls in traditional hiring practices, especially for technical roles
• Strategies for including non-traditional candidates and broadening talent pools
• The critical impact of organizational culture, communication, and process timing on hiring success
• The significance of defining clear job descriptions and aligning expectations with performance metrics
• How to leverage understanding of team dynamics to improve hiring and onboarding
• The increased importance of inclusion and soft skills evaluation in the evolving cyber landscape

T. Tara Turk-Haynes is the Founder of Equity Activations that partners with organizations to embed measurable equity strategies into how they hire, lead, and grow.

Tara's work spans talent acquisition systems, leadership development, organizational culture, and inclusive communications. Tara's work and thought leadership have been featured in Fast Company, Lars Schmidt’s Redefining HR, and on stages including Culture Amp’s Culture First and RecFest.

As a first generation college graduate and corporate leader turned founder, Tara works with organizations ready to take equity seriously as infrastructure.

Connect with us:

Tara: www.equityactivations.com

Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbutler1/

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.

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In this episode, we explore the raw realities of career journeys, the power of authentic networking, and the importance of resilience in tech. Daniela, a college student and club president, shares her experience of overcoming insecurities at career fairs, the lessons learned from failure, and her passion for sustainability in AI and edge computing.

In this episode:

• How first impressions at career fairs can feel disastrous but still lead to growth
• The mindset shift from "getting any job" to "finding the right fit"
• Strategies for making authentic connections rather than performing
• The role of vulnerability and resourcefulness in career progression
• Insights into the environmental impact of AI and the advocacy for sustainable tech
• The importance of audacity in career and leadership, regardless of gender
• Real talk about imposter syndrome and the ongoing nature of learning

Resources & Links:

• Her Cloud - Valencia College Club
• Book: "Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown
• Edge Computing & Sustainability

Connect with us:

Daniela: LinkedIn

Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbutler1/

This episode reminds us that vulnerability, resourcefulness, and a genuine desire to learn are the real keys to unlocking confidence and opportunity in the tech industry. Daniela’s story exemplifies that setbacks are just setups for a comeback. Stay ambitious, stay authentic, and keep pushing forward.

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.

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What if hitting pause could become the most powerful move in your career?

In this honest and soul-stirring episode of Bytes, Bits, and Brilliance, Dawn sits down with Nyam, a digital product delivery leader who made the bold decision to take a year-long sabbatical after experiencing burnout. Together, they explore how intentional rest can lead to deep transformation, renewed creativity, and a redefined sense of purpose.

They unpack:

• 💭 The emotional journey of stepping away from traditional career paths
• 💰 Salary transparency, negotiations, and the need for equity in tech
• 🌿 How sabbaticals can serve as seasons of reflection, creativity, and self-leadership
• 👩🏾‍💻 The unique pressures Black women face around taking time off
• 🧘🏾‍♀️ Why aligning your career with your values may require courage and recalibration

Through stories of burnout, bravery, and breakthrough, Dawn and Nyam remind us that growth doesn’t only happen in forward motion—sometimes, it begins in stillness.

Connect with us:

Nyam: nyamadodoadji.com | shespeakssoftly.substack.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyamado/ | hello@nyamadodoadji.com

Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbutler1/

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.

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In this intimate and honest conversation, Dawn reconnects with longtime friend and former mentor Ali, an Afro-Latina, Caribbean-born technologist whose journey spans cybersecurity, data analytics, AI engineering, and beyond.

Together, they explore what it really means to lead and live well in the tech industry—where success demands not just skill, but soul.

You’ll hear insights on:

• 🌍 Building a thriving career while honoring your identity and personal story.
• 💪 The art of salary negotiation and knowing your worth in a competitive field.
• 🧘🏾‍♀️ The intersection of leadership, emotional growth, and self-care.
• 💭 Why rest and reflection are forms of progress, not pauses.
• 🤝 The irreplaceable value of genuine human connection in an A.I.-driven world.

From their shared experiences as Black professionals in corporate spaces to lessons learned through mentoring, Ali and Dawn remind us that professional growth and personal well-being are not opposing forces—they’re partners in building a sustainable, fulfilling career.

Connect with us:

Ali: http://linkedin.com/in/alissaom

Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbutler1/

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.

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This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a movement. In this episode of Bytes, Bits, and Brilliance, Dawn invites listeners to go beyond consuming content and instead co-create the next evolution of the show and its growing community.

She shares plans for exciting new features, including:

• 🎙️ “Ask Me Anything” episodes about career, leadership, and the next steps in navigating your path.
• 💬 Office hours-style sessions for real-time connection and shared problem-solving.
• 🧠 Technical deep dives that demystify AI while staying true to the podcast’s mission of humanity-centered leadership.

This season marks the beginning of an expanding ecosystem—a space where brilliant, courageous, daring, and audacious minds come together to learn, lead, and lift one another.

Dawn also announces plans to support small businesses as they navigate the AI era and invites listeners to share their stories, questions, and guest nominations to shape what comes next.

Join us through LinkedIn, our website, or the feedback form in the show notes—and let’s build this community together.

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)

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

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 Fan Mail

In this episode, we dive into the evolving world of IT workforce development—from internships and apprenticeships to change management and inclusion.

Feevan shares her inspiring journey into tech, starting from George Washington University to discovering her passion for cybersecurity through e-commerce security and IT strategy classes.

We also explore:

• The power of sponsors and mentors in opening doors for underrepresented voices in tech.
• Why inclusive practices are critical to sustainable workforce programs.
• The ethics of unpaid internships and how trust drives long-term career growth.
• The importance of effective change management during organizational shifts.
• Reintegrating professionals into the workforce through certifications, degrees, and upskilling programs.

If you’re passionate about leading with purpose, building inclusive pathways, and shaping the next generation of tech leaders—this episode is for you.

Call to Action:
It's critical that your voice is heard! If you need help finding, rediscovering or using your voice, I want to help. Learn more here.

Ask Me Anything (AMA)

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

Connect with us:

Feevan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feevan-megersa/

Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbutler1/

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 Fan Mail

In this conversation, I’m joined by Rob T. Lee, Chief AI Officer and Chief of Research at SANS Institute—a globally respected voice in cyber, AI, and education who also happens to be down‑to‑earth, funny, and incredibly relatable.

Together, we unpack what the future of cybersecurity careers looks like in an AI‑driven world, and what it really means to lead through rapid, messy, exhilarating technological change.

We get into:

• Why AI feels different from past tech shifts—and why anxiety, fear, and hope all show up at once
• The “framework of no” in cyber, shadow AI, and how leaders can move to a thoughtful “default yes” instead
• Practical ways to balance innovation and cyber risk without killing creativity or pretending “risk zero” exists
• Technical authenticity, vulnerability, and collaboration as real superpowers in AI + cyber work
• AI ethics, digital avatars, family stories, and the hard questions we must ask as tech evolves
• Pathways into cybersecurity, the power of role models, and why diverse, quieter voices are urgently needed

If you’ve wondered how AI will impact your job, your leadership, and your career path—or how to lean into this wave without burning out—this episode will give you language, perspective, and a few courageous next steps.

About Rob T. Lee

Rob T. Lee is the Chief AI Officer and Chief of Research at the SANS Institute, where he advises on AI governance and security. He authored the SANS Secure AI Blueprint and led the development of the SANS Critical AI Security Guidelines. With a career spanning the U.S. Air Force, NSA, CIA, and Mandiant, Rob pioneered digital forensics (DFIR) and cyber threat intelligence (CTI) and developed the widely used SIFT Workstation. Known for his contributions to cybersecurity education, he has trained over 100,000 professionals and is a sought-after speaker and advisor.

Connect with us

Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leerob/

Dawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbutler1/

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.