Wendy Battles
Cyber Security Awareness Advisor | Yale University
Wendy got her first “taste” of Yale while working as a management consultant on Project X. She then tested the waters in other fields, including learning and development, independent consulting, and health and nutrition coaching. While she loved many aspects of these professions, she longed to work as part of a team once more.
She found herself right back where it all began, in 2008, as a Yale staff member, working in Change Management. But by 2019, Wendy was ready for a change. After 11 years, she thought it would be a good time to stretch her skills and try something different. She had grown to love Information Technology (IT). Still, she didn’t possess the “techy” skills required for many IT roles, so when Information Security created the Cybersecurity Awareness Advisor role, she knew it was the role for her.
In this role, she and the other Policy & Awareness team members help increase cybersecurity awareness across Yale. They strive to make systems safer by changing behavior in simple and engaging ways. They are currently gearing up to launch an official cyber awareness program this spring.
Although spreading cybersecurity awareness keeps her plenty busy, Wendy’s ambitions reach far beyond her role at Yale. In September of 2019, Future Leaders of Yale (FLY) invited Wendy to participate on a panel about personal branding. In preparation, she started listening to a podcast called “Package Your Genius.” According to Wendy, this podcast led to an epiphany. “It was all about what it is that makes you shine. We all have something. I always knew I shined at public speaking, and one day while meditating, I heard “reinvention rebels” in my mind. I didn’t know what that meant at the time or what it would turn into, but I knew I had to do something with it.” It came together when Wendy launched her very own podcast, Reinvention Rebels, in October 2020. The podcast aims to celebrate, illuminate, and elevate women over 50.
She found herself right back where it all began, in 2008, as a Yale staff member, working in Change Management. But by 2019, Wendy was ready for a change. After 11 years, she thought it would be a good time to stretch her skills and try something different. She had grown to love Information Technology (IT). Still, she didn’t possess the “techy” skills required for many IT roles, so when Information Security created the Cybersecurity Awareness Advisor role, she knew it was the role for her.
In this role, she and the other Policy & Awareness team members help increase cybersecurity awareness across Yale. They strive to make systems safer by changing behavior in simple and engaging ways. They are currently gearing up to launch an official cyber awareness program this spring.
Although spreading cybersecurity awareness keeps her plenty busy, Wendy’s ambitions reach far beyond her role at Yale. In September of 2019, Future Leaders of Yale (FLY) invited Wendy to participate on a panel about personal branding. In preparation, she started listening to a podcast called “Package Your Genius.” According to Wendy, this podcast led to an epiphany. “It was all about what it is that makes you shine. We all have something. I always knew I shined at public speaking, and one day while meditating, I heard “reinvention rebels” in my mind. I didn’t know what that meant at the time or what it would turn into, but I knew I had to do something with it.” It came together when Wendy launched her very own podcast, Reinvention Rebels, in October 2020. The podcast aims to celebrate, illuminate, and elevate women over 50.