Debola Israel-Bolarinwa, a United Kingdom based Nigerian cyber security consultant has said she doesn’t think about her gender, skin colour, or race whilst executing her task in the cyber security industry that is male dominated.
In a chat with Bliss recently, the 57 year old security specialist said she got into the industry seven years ago and she has had no regrets since then.
“I have always been into IT through my management consulting work. I had always managed IT professionals. I had always had the background knowledge of IT. In the same vein, cyber was always there in the background. But in terms of focusing on it, I got into it about seven years ago.”
Talking about what endeared her to the world of cyber security, she said. “The fact that we need to pay keen attention to cyber in today’s world got me endeared to it. I foresaw all the things happening now with AI and others. I also realized that I also needed something I could rely on as a consultant rather than going to a nine to five job. I needed something that was sustainable. With regards to that, it was a scientific decision – what will pay my bill and what will give me a good retirement. So I settled for cyber.”
As a dynamic and results-driven independent cyber security consultant with extensive experience in leading enterprise-level security projects, managing cyber risk; and ensuring third-party supplier due diligence, compliance and assurance across critical sectors, Debola has worked within steering-groups and as part of a government think-tank in the UK to foster proactiveness and commitment to the development of a robust cybersecurity posture for the UK critical national infrastructure and energy organisations; as well as finding more effective ways to assure third party cyber suppliers.
Talking about her experience in the industry, Debola said the most people feel that cyber security is very “academic”.
“What you tend to find in cyber security is that people embrace it in a very academic way. Cyber security is supposed to be part of the fabric of an organization. It is not something you attach. If your cyber defense is not top notch, if you are not cyber resilient to the level you should be, the day you get attacked that is when you know how important it is to take cyber security seriously. When you are planning your strategy, cyber needs to feature heavily in that planning.”
Debola also said she has never allowed her gender to get into her way whilst executing her job.
“Wherever I go, I tend to focus on my work and I try not to get distracted. I don’t play the black woman card or gender card. Do your thing and do it well and you will be recognized. The men don’t always expect you to make real impact but when you sit down and begin to work, and then they will take you seriously. With me, the problem I have had at work is usually because of the kind of question I ask. I always want to know why we are doing this or that. That riles people. They don’t want to be questioned. A lot of people feel threatened in the work place. Go and do your work, don’t remember that you are a woman. Don’t think you are a black. Don’t allow anybody to use you in a nasty way.”
Even as she is a cyber specialist at the moment, it has not always been so for Debola.
“My first degree was in Applied Chemistry. I graduated in 1989. I went into banking. I am a qualified banker. Thereafter, I went into management consulting in 1993. I trained as a Project Manager and got all my certifications by 2000. Then I came to Nigeria in 2007 and set up my consultancy firm in 2008. I was in Nigeria for about nine years before I went back to the UK.”
Regarding why she went back to UK she said, “Actually, it was because of my family. I am so passionate about looking after my family. I am dedicated about my work but I am passionate about my family. My family comes first. We came to Nigeria because we wanted our children to know and be Nigerians. We kept them here for five years before sending them back to the UK whilst we remained. But I had to go back to the UK to be with my children.”
And now she is back home, Debola said she is ready to serve the country.
“I am at a stage in my life when it is time for service. I have always lived a life of service, anyway. Nigeria is a very rich country. There is no reason anybody shouldn’t have at least, one decent meal a day. There is no reason anybody shouldn’t send his or children to school. God has blessed us with good brains and good natural resources.”
