Lydia Kretschmer Expert Security Operations Manager at European Commodity Clearing AG
L
ydia Kretschmer is a security operations
A MULTIPOTENTIALITE
manager and blue teamer with European
Her first steps to a career in cybersecurity were
Commodity Clearing (ECC), the leading
through self-learning. She read a lot of research
clearing house for energy and commodity
papers, books and articles, followed NGOs that
products in Europe. It is a role far removed
focused on human rights in the digital space and
from those she held earlier in her career: in the
trained herself in information technology with self-
fashion industry.
paced learning courses, mostly Udemy.
“I was actively looking for a profession in which I
Although Kretschmer knew she wanted a career
would never get bored or stuck,” she says, adding
in cybersecurity she had no clear vision of the
“That’s why I try to become comfortable with feeling
roles she wanted to play and describes herself as
uncomfortable because without struggle there is
a multipotentialite: someone with many interests
no progress.”
and creative pursuits. She arrived at her current role serendipitously: she was contacted by a recruiter
Her interest in cybersecurity was first piqued
and “thought it might be a good opportunity to grow
when studying for a bachelor of science in
my skillset.”
Wirtschaftsinformatik (business information systems) at Leipzig University in Germany.
She says she is still trying “to better understand what working conditions fit me best and how to
“I read a lot of articles and books about digitalisation
benefit from previously gained knowledge in my
and the impact it has on society,” she says. “I was
current position.”
particularly interested in privacy and its limitations
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in the digital world. Eventually I decided I wanted to
Kretschmer describes herself as a well-organised
make an impact in society’s digital transformation by
person who needs a clear structure in her work
protecting human rights in the digital space.”
environment. “Work visualisation is as important as
W O M E N I N S E C U R I T Y M A G A Z I N E
M A R C H • A P R I L 2023