Over the past year, I have had some exciting opportunities and made a lot of life changes. I am also starting a new role, which has made me reflect on what made my last role so special. So, I wanted to document all of this as a personal update and as a record of why I have felt so happy. Work takes up the majority of my time and thoughts; this past year has shown me just how much company culture can shape someone’s outlook on life, work, and happiness.
First, let’s talk about where I’ve been.
Where Have I Been?
My research opened up some unexpected opportunities in 2025. As a result, I was fortunate enough to have experiences that might otherwise have passed me by. Thus, I decided to pause writing on [ret]2read.
From January through June 2026, I was traveling or presenting at a conference almost every week. I moved into a new apartment in July and gave my final “big” 2026 presentation at Black Hat in August.
I love writing, and I have blogged consistently for years. However, I needed to take this pause. Between traveling, presenting, moving, and everything else going on, there wasn’t enough time to do everything I wanted to do, and I care about quality. When I cannot deliver good work and that work is optional, I think it is best not to waste my audience’s time and energy.
It was not until early October 2026 that I finally got the time to sit down and think about what is next. This includes my website, conferences, and the [ret]2read publication.
Da website
I have had the same blog format since high school. When I went to college, I wrote about college life, and eventually my content turned to technology. This evolution is documented in What’s Next?: The Story of My Website.
Since graduating in 2025, my life and outlook have changed a lot, so I decided that my old website was not the best fit for me anymore. I had some great conversations with the folks at All Out Scale, and they helped me think through what might work.
This week, I released the first revamp of my website, which changes how I present myself and my content. If you have time, feel free to check it out and let me know what you think.
As a heads up, it will be going through a few more changes before 2027. Please tell me if you spot any issues.
What’s up with the conferences?
I loved my packed conference run and am so grateful for it, but I want to be pickier about how I spend my time going forward. It’s wild to think that I’m only in my early twenties and have already done 60+ speaking engagements. It’s been such a privilege, but I think it’s time to make room for a few other hobbies.
Instead of aiming to present 20+ talks per year, I am targeting about six conferences where I will speak, choosing some new events each year. I still plan to attend a ton of conferences, just as an attendee rather than a speaker.
This will leave more time for research and writing too!
Sponsors omg!
Also, [ret]2read will be coming back in 2027 as a monthly publication… and will be accepting sponsors! Sponsor spots will look something like this:
Sponsor
Example Co.: Every Mac patched within a day of Apple’s release
Example Co. enforces macOS updates across your fleet with Declarative Device Management and flags any Mac still exposed to a CVE Apple has already fixed.
Sponsors write this section. They have no input on anything else in [ret]2read.
There will be one sponsor per issue, and the first quarter of issues will be available to sponsor in late December 2026.
O.o I might switch to two or three sponsors per issue later on, so if you’d like to sponsor at a discount, let me know. 😁
In other news, you might have learned that I am switching jobs.
Is it really drinking the Kool-Aid if the culture is good?
At my last job, I drank the Kool-Aid, and honestly, I had a dang great time. So much so that I hope to find that culture again.
I’m naturally a high-energy person, BUT there have been times in my life when I was depressed and miserable. Not from depression itself, but from being in an environment that wore me down.
I was honestly scared to enter the workforce. It seems like there are very few people who actually like their jobs. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy most of mine, but I have also learned the hard way how difficult some workplace cultures can be. Some environments are closed off, siloed, and often intimidating in how they treat people who think differently.
Having seen both sides, I now know how much a workplace can affect someone’s motivation.
So, what made my last role such a positive experience?
What made the company culture so good?
There were a lot of things that made this company special to me, but I think the biggest factor was the culture and the people.
I worked with great people, had an amazing work-life balance, and was at a company that publicly supported the community (#FOSS) I cared so much about. I worked under a director who also had a blog and understood why writing and community involvement mattered to me. I had two managers who, from day one, were on board with helping me advance. There was also an amazing security advocacy team that pushed for me to speak on company time.
The company itself started with a dedication to free and open-source software and has a huge track record of contributing to the industry. I felt like the company actually wanted to make the field better, and I cared about that a lot.
Leadership
I had flexibility, and I felt reasonably aligned with the company’s leadership, all the way down to my individual role. I understood how my work contributed to the company’s broader goals, and I believed in what we were doing.
I also felt respected by leadership. When I had issues, even senior leaders cared about what I had to say. I believe that was partly because I not only brought value to the company but was also on board with what the company was trying to accomplish.
People skip this part when they talk about workplace culture. Good benefits and flexible hours are nice, but people who want you to succeed matter a lot.
I did not have to choose between doing my job well and doing the things I love. I got to do both, and that support is a big reason I got so much done this year.
Why switch companies? Why put all of this on the internet?
So, the only reason I’m switching jobs is that I received an opportunity to work at a company I’ve dreamed of joining for a long time. This company also has a strong track record of supporting FOSS and the security community. (hint hint!)
I’m sharing my love for my previous company’s culture publicly to show that you can find a job you love. And if I ever find myself in a workplace that isn’t the right fit, I want to look back on this post and remind myself that great environments exist, and that I can find one again.
For Anyone Feeling Stuck
If you are feeling stuck, miserable, or exhausted, please have hope.
I know how difficult it can be to feel like the environment you are in is holding you back, especially when you aren’t sure what to do next. But I also know how much things can change when you find the right people and opportunities.
Figure out what matters to you. Look back at your jobs so far: what did you learn, what did you like, and what do you want next?
Think about who could connect you. Go to conferences, community events, and online meetups. Meeting people is often how new doors open.
I’m so grateful for this past year and the people who made it happen. I’m excited for my next role, and I want to give my last workplace credit for how much it helped me grow.
I hope more managers and companies realize how much the environments they build affect people.
And if you’re still looking for a place where you can do well, please don’t give up. You got this.
If you enjoyed this post, consider reading Don’t Be a Corporation: Brand Names, Communication, and Slogans or Switching Companies: Internship Return Offers.
Other updates
I recently enrolled in the Fashion Styling Fundamentals course at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and it’s been going great so far! I love my professor and classmates. Everyone is so driven and creative, and I’ve been having a lot of fun experimenting with design.
I also started an all-girls book club! We had our first meeting, and it was so much fun. A special thank you to Sophia Larson for helping me bring it all together!
Lately, I’ve been reading Alex Beaver’s Secure at Scale and listening to Alex Hurtado’s Detection Dispatch. I’ve also been trying to learn more about animation, digital design, and marketing, taking inspiration from All Out Scale and Aspiron Search.
And for Halloween, I dressed up as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader!
