Dina Atwell Manager, Cyber Insider Threat and Technical Investigations at Capital One
L
ike so many women who have shared their
Today she is still in a threat analysis role, at a higher
career journeys, Dina Atwell — who lives in
level. She is manager, cyber insider threat and
Washington DC — ended up in cybersecurity
technical investigations with Capital One, a financial
by chance. She was “one hundred percent
services company in Mclean, Virginia.
certain” she wanted to be a lawyer when
she decided to apply for internships in Washington,
“I didn’t have a clear vision. I knew what I enjoyed:
thinking this would be a good place to start putting in
creating and strategizing for insider threat programs
applications to law schools.
and people leadership,” Atwell says. “Having those interests in mind and really just trying to contribute
She was accepted for an internship in the State
in that area led me to a more formalised role where
Department and ended up in what must be one
that’s now my day job.”
of the hottest spots in cybersecurity anywhere in the world: conducting analysis to identify, monitor,
Atwell did her internship at the State Department
assess and counter the threats posed by foreign
while studying for a Bachelor of Arts in political
cyber actors against US information systems, critical
science at Monmouth University and then went on
infrastructure and cyber-related interests.
to gain a master’s in homeland security from the same university. However, she sees some of the
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“They took a chance on me, even though I was
most important skills needed for her role as being
transparent that I did not have cybersecurity
communication, curiosity and analysis, and says
experience but was willing and excited to learn,” she
these can be developed and honed through any
says. “Once I was immersed in the position, I loved it.
major. “There are many different roles within insider
I was learning every day and it was like a whole new
threat and technical investigations you can pursue:
world opened up to me. I realised I could parlay my
from more of a project manager role to more of a
investigative passions with cyber.”
technical role.”
W O M E N I N S E C U R I T Y M A G A Z I N E
N O V E M B E R • D E C E M B E R 2022