Finding a community in the tech industry was life changing for Stacia Mason, a 2023 graduate of WMCAT’s inaugural Cybersecurity pathway. As a dedicated learner, mother, and tech professional, she credits WMCAT for helping her build social capital in the industry. While Stacia was gaining confidence in her technical skills, she leveraged WMCAT’s network to build social capital in the local tech community. “We have a huge tech community here in Grand Rapids. More than putting in applications, people are landing jobs by having conversations with people,” Stacia shared.
“I know that I’m capable of accomplishing great things and I know that there is more out there for me to accomplish.”
Through professionally lead instruction and leadership and personal development at WMCAT, Stacia honed the skills and confidence needed to break into the cybersecurity field. “It’s picking up those soft skills, knowing how to network with people,” Stacia shared. “As soon as they have a position available, they’re thinking about you.” Now, Stacia is thriving in her new career as a GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) Analyst. “My career means so much to me,” she explained. “It is personal growth for me. It inspires me daily to keep trying.” Through mentorship and connections, Stacia turned her passion into opportunity, fostering a network that continues to support her success.
