“After finishing my Master’s in Industrial Engineering and building a strong foundation through my work with leading companies such as Siemens, Porsche and Mercedes, I began to explore how I could further align my career with my long‑term interests. This led me to follow my dream of moving to California to pursue a cybersecurity program at Saddleback College. Thanks to the support of the WiCyS community, I found my place in the field and decided to stay. Through programs such as the Target Cyber Defense Challenge and the Security Training Scholarship, my interest and confidence grew, and I realized I truly belong in cybersecurity. I am excited to keep learning and growing in this field.”
—Gözde Karaca, OT Cyber Security Risk Manager, ALTANA
For Gözde Karaca, cybersecurity was not always part of the plan. Born in Germany and holding a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, she built an impressive early career working with global companies such as Siemens, Porsche and Mercedes. Her roles spanned procurement, sales, logistics, and project management, giving her a strong foundation in complex, analytical environments. Yet despite her success, something felt missing. That realization became the catalyst for a bold career shift.
While working on an IT-focused project at Mercedes, Gözde found herself increasingly drawn to the technical side of her work. At the same time, she held a lifelong dream of moving to California. That dream led her to Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, where she enrolled in the Cyber Security & Information Security Analyst program. What began as a way to expand her engineering skill set quickly evolved into a passion that reshaped her career goals.
As an international student entering the cybersecurity field, Gözde sought community and support. A simple Google search led her to Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), a discovery that would change the trajectory of her career. Having often been the only woman in the room throughout her engineering career, she was eager to connect with other women and hear their stories. Joining WiCyS marked the first time she had been part of a cybersecurity or tech-focused community—an experience that solidified her decision to pursue a future in the field.
She describes WiCyS as a place where voices are valued, and gender never defines worth. “I’ve never experienced a more supportive environment,” Gözde shares. “Women help each other without expecting anything in return. WiCyS is highly supportive, career-changing, women-elevating, and incredibly confidence-boosting.”
Through WiCyS, Gözde immersed herself in hands-on learning opportunities that strengthened both her technical skills and her confidence. She participated in the WiCyS Target Cyber Defense Challenge, her first-ever Capture the Flag (CTF) competition, where the gamified learning experience pushed her out of her comfort zone and accelerated her growth. She later joined the WiCyS Incident Response & Review Mini-Sprint, gaining real-world experience analyzing logs, identifying threats and working through the full incident response lifecycle.
Gözde also took part in the WiCyS Security Training Scholarship, advancing to Tier 3 and connecting with accomplished peers across the cybersecurity community. A standout component for her was the talent assessment, which helped her better understand her strengths across defensive, offensive and compliance domains. She also completed the WiCyS Spring Camp, earning the ISC2 CC – Certified in Cybersecurity certification, an important credential that validated her knowledge and supported her job search.
In December 2024, Gözde completed her cybersecurity program at Saddleback College. Just months later, she landed her first cybersecurity role as an Information Security Analyst in Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) at Klever Compliance in Los Angeles. She credits WiCyS with playing a major role in her success, from hands-on skill development to the confidence gained through community support.
Today, Gözde’s journey has come full circle. She has recently relocated back to Germany for a new role as an OT Cyber Security Risk Manager at ALTANA, where she focuses on protecting manufacturing environments by managing cyber risk at the intersection of operational technology and IT. The role allows her to draw directly on both her industrial engineering background and her cybersecurity expertise.
Despite the move, Gözde remains closely connected to WiCyS. She continues as a mentee in the WiCyS Mentorship Program and plans to get involved with the WiCyS Germany Affiliate. Looking ahead, she hopes to grow into a leadership role and give back as a mentor and senior leader. “All the training, programming and time I spent with WiCyS led me to where I am now,” she reflects. “Cybersecurity felt scary at first, but seeing so many women who transitioned careers just like me changed everything.”
WiCyS played a pivotal role in Gözde’s journey of reinvention, helping her reskill with confidence, recognize her strengths and redefine what her future could look like in cybersecurity. Through community, mentorship and hands-on learning, she found not only technical growth but a deep sense of belonging in a field that once felt intimidating. As she continues to grow, Gözde carries the WiCyS mission with her, committed to supporting and elevating the next generation of women in cybersecurity.
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