From car sales to key account manager in cybersecurity

“Totally different, that’s for sure! I spent years working in the automotive world as a car sales representative in the showroom, helping customers. I enjoyed it, but after a while, I felt stuck. The days all started to blend together, and there was no real growth anymore.

Then a former colleague mentioned that Phished was hiring for a customer service position and  thought it might be a good fit for me. So I went for it, without really knowing what I was getting into.”

“I had no clue what I was walking into. I figured I was pretty tech-savvy, so I thought I’d be fine—until day one. During onboarding, all these terms started flying around: DNS, domains, whitelisting, Exchange rules… I was completely lost.

But I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I spent hours Googling everything and peppered my colleague with questions—back then, it was just the two of us. And then he went on vacation, which meant I had to figure things out on my own. Looking back, that was the best thing that could’ve happened. By the time he got back, I actually knew what I was doing.”

“It actually started during my interviews with our COO, Manon. The vibe was super open and down-to-earth. I immediately felt like this was a place where you could ask questions, where it was okay not to know.

That was such a shift from my previous job, where you were just expected to follow instructions and not ask too many questions.”

“Absolutely. Open communication is really encouraged. No one will shut you down if you don’t understand something or if you disagree—as long as you speak up respectfully.

If you bring a good idea to the table, it’s not just brushed aside. We actually test it out.

There’s a strong sense of teamwork, and no one’s pulling rank. People trust each other here, and everyone’s voice counts.”

“There are a bunch of ways we share feedback: through team channels, during meetings, and in our weekly reports. Those reports even have a little ‘diary’ section where you can write about how you’ve been feeling or anything you’re finding difficult. It’s a safe space for the stuff you might not feel ready to bring up in a group setting.

Then you go over it in your one-on-one with your manager. It’s a really open conversation, no one’s going to shut you down. That kind of openness helps us grow, one step at a time.”

“For me, ownership is all about trust, being trusted to make your own decisions, lead projects, and really take the initiative.

It also means being accountable when things don’t go as planned. Mistakes happen, and that’s okay. What matters is being able to say, ‘That was on me, I'll take care of it.’ That kind of honesty builds real trust on both sides.”

“One of my first big technical challenges with a client really pushed me. He clearly knew way more about the topic than I did. I tried to help based on what I’d learned so far, but at one point he said, ‘That’s not correct, this is how it actually works.’ That stung.

But I owned it, apologized, and kept digging until I understood the issue. I kept asking questions, stayed curious, and eventually, we got on the same page and built a really strong working relationship. That experience took my technical knowledge to a whole new level. And yes, he’s still one of our clients today (laughs).”

“Honestly, not in the beginning, I didn’t really think about it. But that changed after a client once told me, point blank, that he didn’t take me seriously.

From then on, seeing women in tech roles started to mean something. Now, whenever a new woman joins the team, I think, ‘Yes, another one!’ The stereotypes are still out there, so it’s important we’ve got each other’s backs.”

“The team has grown a lot, and I’ve been able to grow right along with it. These days, I work with key accounts to make sure they’re getting the most out of our product, and I genuinely love doing that.”

“Honestly? All of them. I’ve never felt like being a woman worked against me here. Our COO is a woman, and there are many women in senior roles. Women are taken seriously, period.”

“For me, it all comes down to trust. From day one, I’ve felt trusted to do my job in a way that works for me. There’s coaching available, but even as we grow, we still work in small, close-knit ways. And there’s a real sense of unity. Everyone’s moving in the same direction.

You can feel that we all believe in the product. That mission, to help customers hit zero incidents, is really in our DNA.”

“Definitely. I’ve become so much more confident. I used to doubt myself—wonder if I could really handle it. Now? I know I can, and I’m not afraid to speak up and be heard.

Having a team that supports you, and the space to learn from your mistakes, makes a huge difference.”

“Go for it, seriously. You don’t need to be technical to get started. You’ll pick it up as you go.

Growth comes with experience, and you won’t be doing it alone. We’ve got your back, and you’re more than welcome here.”