What do cybersecurity and social media have in common? Your first thought may be computers or the internet, but Chambers College alumna Fanta-Marie Toure would have to disagree.

As a cybersecurity professional and a social media influencer, Toure has been able to share her knowledge with individuals who, like herself, might not have always imagined working in the field.

In 2021, the Philadelphia native graduated from West Virginia University with an undergraduate degree in political science and a plan to pursue law.

“I was in a bit of a pickle studying political science,” Toure said. “I planned to become an IT attorney but got waitlisted at all the schools I applied to, and finding a job during the pandemic was pretty rough.”

Toure did not let this setback set her back, and she pivoted to her next opportunity.

“I kept seeing cybersecurity positions being promoted all over social media, and after doing some research, decided it was my next move – and it's been the best decision ever,” Toure said.

Toure’s research led her to the Chambers College's Master's of Science in Business Cybersecurity Management program, which gives students the skills they need to become cybersecurity professionals and adapt to growing changes in security technology.

Since completing of the program in Toure has continued to create opportunities for herself: she is currently a cyber security analyst for a national security company and social media influencer.

You read that right. Toure has been creating social media content for the past year and has quickly become one of the leading social media influencers in cybersecurity. She shares her expertise on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

“I started social media after I moved to a new city for a job and began sharing how my experiences and education in the business college prepared me for the industry,” Toure said.

“I began to get a following, and people started asking things like, ‘Can you make more content? Can you post about this? Can you talk about that?’ I realized that it was self-fulfilling to help people and just kept posting content, and during that process, I began to attract more viewers.”

While her engaging content has earned her significant recognition and job opportunities, Toure believes that one of her biggest influencer accomplishments was becoming the face of CompTIA.

“CompTIA is the biggest certifying body in the industry,” Toure said. “They supply relevant certifications for entry-level, intermediate and advanced cybersecurity professionals. It’s crazy that I get to represent a company whose goal is to help people succeed and grow in the field at all stages of their careers.”

Toure’s goal is to become the same kind of voice that inspired her to pursue cybersecurity when she was exploring her next career steps.

“I want to help beginners find a way. People in entry-level who don't have the time or money to research, figure out a path,” Toure said.

That path looks different for everyone. Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields in the world, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that cybersecurity jobs will grow by 32% from 2022 to 2032, equating to 16,800 annual job openings.

In the Chambers CYBR program, students don’t just have to do technical coding. They’re exposed to jobs working in ethics, law, machine learning, auditing, networking, enterprise architecture, and so many other fields.

Toure credits the program, and Dr. Chris Ramezan, an assistant professor of cybersecurity and coordinator of Business Cybersecurity Management at the Chambers College, for making her into the successful professional she is today.

“The most impactful part of the program was the relationship that I built with Dr. Ramezan,” Toure said. “You can just tell that he cares, and he's willing to help you, hold your hand, and teach you, especially somebody like me who had no experience in the industry.”

Reflecting on her time as a CYBR student, Toure believes the program and her social media research have helped her stay ahead and adapt to the ever-changing field.

“The material that we learned in my class has helped set me apart from others in my field,” Toure said. “I find myself making content or having conversations with people who've been in the industry for a long time.

“Based off what content has brought me, I think I just want to keep educating people about cybersecurity. My personal goal would be to eventually have my training academy that helps teach people the ins and outs of the industry.”