Yelena Williams is a cyber security researcher for a large financial institution and is committed to empowering newcomers to grow within the field. She does this by helping them navigate complex topics while offering a relatable perspective rooted in her own experiences with “starting over.” In the middle of her 15-year career in tech, Yelena attended her first DEFCON event and fell in love with cyber security. Being in the US Army at the time, she switched to Cyber Warfare the very next year. While in Cyber Warfare, Yelena received extensive training in multiple disciplines in a way that she would describe as "an inch-deep, mile-wide in white-hat hacking." Post-military, Yelena has taken her unique experience and continued to apply that knowledge in new and exciting ways. Recently, she has shifted her focus to specialize in web applications. Ultimately though, her mission is to empower others with accessible knowledge while fostering a community of learners and risk-takers.