Victoria Distrito was a participant in the Catalyst’s Accelerated Cybersecurity Training Program (ACTP) and Advanced Cyber Education (ACE) program. Previously, she also served as a technical advisor at Catalyst, and now she is an energetic member of the Catalyst Ambassador team, paving the way and creating opportunities in cybersecurity.
Victoria Distrito had a thriving career in computer engineering — and then she took maternity leave. Her extensive experience was suddenly diminished by a move away from the city to grow her family.
There was a gap after maternity leave, and the only way you found your way back into things was to upskill.
It felt like trying to summit a mountain just to get back into a technical role.
Victoria applied to many programs before finding the Catalyst. Aside from the gap in her résumé, there were other complications. She wanted a job that wouldn’t require constant travel. Living in Newmarket complicated things further, since most of the roles she was applying for were based in Toronto.
“I wasn’t getting any traction at all,” she says. “I knew by then I needed career support.”
Another barrier was that she had studied in the Philippines. When applying to jobs, there was often a mismatch of credentials.
“But the Catalyst was open to that kind of diversity in education and experience,” she says. “It was a perfect opportunity to upskill and re-enter the market.”
Victoria speaks often about the importance of community.
“Communities are built by sharing the same stories,” she says. “And I met a lot of other people in the same shoes as me.”
In the Mastercard Emerging Leaders in Cyber Initiative (ELCI), many of the women had gone through similar experiences. They shared the same kinds of obstacles and career disruptions.
“That’s what makes community,” Victoria says. “It boils down to a sense of belonging.”
Upskilling, she realized, wasn’t simply about developing professional strengths to bring to the workplace. It was also about setting goals, sharing challenges, and learning how to face them together.
Being a woman in cybersecurity or a technical role, you often have to work twice as hard just to advance, to prove yourself.
Victoria had anticipated an air of competitiveness among the cohort. Instead, the opposite was true.
“As it turns out, we were allies,” she says. “We knew each other’s struggles, so we could push one another.”
The ELCI cohort even had a motto: No one left behind.
Victoria had never imagined that degree of selflessness in a professional setting.
Today, her perspective has shifted. Now that she is involved in hiring, she has become open-minded about the kinds of skills that make a strong technical professional.
She looks for a person’s ability to grow, to progress, and to show initiative.
Her time at the Catalyst also reinforced her belief that soft skills are essential in technical roles, sometimes even more important than a long list of certifications.
“It’s pretty amazing,” she says. “Now I get to promote the program to other people. I’m a Catalyst Ambassador.”
From her vantage point in the industry, Victoria believes one of cybersecurity’s biggest challenges is the pace of technological change and the rapidly evolving regulatory environment surrounding it.
“It’s more than we can cope with,” she says.
The speed of change contributes to talent shortages, skills gaps, and budget pressures across the field. But, according to Victoria, the Catalyst often stays ahead of those challenges.
“It’s amazing to me,” she says, “that the Catalyst recognizes this already. They’re always one step ahead. I’m encountering a problem, and they’ve already thought up a solution to it.”
The program also opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed.
Now that she’s in a position to advise others in the Catalyst cybersecurity community, Victoria focuses her message on passion.
“Find your niche,” she advises.
Her hard-fought road has taught her that finding meaning and staying power requires genuine passion for the work. It has to be something that resonates with you.
Having fallen in love with the Catalyst community, Victoria emphasizes that cybersecurity is ultimately about the community you serve. The field evolves rapidly. To keep pace, professionals must continuously build skills that meet the demands of the technology cycle.
Without passion or industry fit, she argues, burnout is inevitable.
The key ingredients for success?
Passion, curiosity, and initiative.
Now settled in Newmarket, with her family in place and a remote role in a field she cares deeply about, Victoria reflects on the path that brought her here and the role the Catalyst played along the way.
“This is world-class,” she says. “It’s top-notch.”
Bio:
As a seasoned Cybersecurity Analyst with a passion for digital defense, Victoria thrives on the frontlines of network and cloud security. Her journey in cybersecurity is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence, evidenced by her GIAC (SANS) certifications (GPYC (Python Coder), GCIH, GSEC, GFACT) and hands-on experience in threat hunting, incident response, and security automation.
As a collaborative team player, she leverages her excellent communication skills to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders, translating complex cybersecurity concepts into actionable insights. Her proactive mindset and ability to work under pressure have been crucial in responding to and mitigating security incidents efficiently.
Beyond the digital battlefield, Victoria is committed to nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. As a member of the Program Advisory Committee for a college’s Cybersecurity Program, she bridges the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that the curriculum stays aligned with real-world challenges.