My Story: Rebecca Taylor

By Rebecca Taylor

My career journey has been anything but linear, and I’ve come to really love that about it. I studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Portsmouth and, for a while, I wasn’t quite sure where I fitted or what came next. I didn’t come into cybersecurity through a traditional technical route, and I certainly didn’t have some grand masterplan. Instead, I found my way into the industry through a Personal Assistant role, and from there, through curiosity, hard work, generous mentors and sponsors, and a willingness to keep asking questions, I slowly built a career that feels deeply meaningful to me.

Today, I work as a Threat Intelligence Knowledge Manager and Researcher in the Sophos Counter Threat Unit (CTU), but at the heart of what I do is something very human: I help turn complex, often overwhelming information into something people can understand and act on. A huge part of my journey has been realising that the skills I once thought made me “different” in cyber (communication, empathy, storytelling, and creativity) are actually some of my greatest strengths. They’ve helped me build a career where I can connect dots, make cyber feel more accessible, and support people in feeling safer and more informed.

What matters most to me, both professionally and personally, is people. I care deeply about community, about opening doors, and about making sure others don’t feel as alone or unsure as I once did. Whether I’m mentoring, speaking, volunteering, writing, or just having honest conversations, I want to use my voice in a way that helps others feel seen, encouraged, and empowered. I’m passionate about making cybersecurity feel less intimidating and more human.

Beyond work, so much of who I am is rooted in being a wife, a mum, a writer, and someone who genuinely believes in the power of kindness and connection. My career matters to me, but so does how I make people feel along the way. If I can help people feel safer online, more confident in themselves, and more hopeful about their own path, then that means a great deal to me. More than anything, my journey has taught me that there is not one “right” route into meaningful work and that sometimes the most beautifully squiggly paths lead exactly where you’re meant to be.