Shamika Abraham, a Lead Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst at Twilio, has built her career by embracing challenges and self-advocacy. With a non-traditional background in finance compliance, she pursued an entry-level cybersecurity certification to transition into a role at Twilio. Her skills in finance proved valuable in the company, particularly in writing white papers on PCI compliance. Shamika's career growth was facilitated by her ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with her team, leading to promotions to senior security analyst and program management roles. She later took steps to learn more about cybersecurity's technical domains through a rotation program, eventually landing as a cyber threat intelligence analyst. Shamika attributes her success to being vocal and direct in advocating for herself, seeking opportunities for professional development, and prioritizing self-care. Her journey is an inspiring example of finding power in self-advocacy and leveraging transferable skills to build a fulfilling career.