Hi, I’m Abhijeet Kumar, a master’s student in Cybersecurity Engineering at the University of Maryland. I’m really grateful to The Diana Initiative for supporting international students like me and giving us the opportunity to grow and thrive in this field. Having moved to the U.S. from India, I’ve been amazed by the openness and enthusiasm of the cybersecurity community through conferences, hacker clubs, and mentorship. I used to watch recordings of Black Hat, DEF CON, BSides, and The Diana Initiative online, and I always wanted to attend in person one day. Thanks to this scholarship, that dream is now becoming a reality. I’ll be experiencing Hacker Summer Camp live for the first time. What I’m most excited about is the chance to get hands-on practice, connect with mentors in red teaming as I prepare for my OSCP, and meet and network with others who are equally passionate about cybersecurity. Events like this offer lessons you can’t get from videos; they provide real tools, real ...
After years in product management, I transitioned into cybersecurity to focus on securing infrastructure in partnership with the teams that build and run it. My interests center on cloud architecture, detection engineering, and identity. I believe security is most effective when it aligns with business goals and supports product velocity, not when it competes with them. I’ve developed hands-on skills through structured learning, a home lab, and certifications including Security+ and AWS Cloud Practitioner.
At Hacker Summer Camp, I’m most excited to connect with others who care about building security into the way teams work -- not just as a technical function, but as a collaborative one. After months of learning on my own, I’m looking forward to conversations, community, and a deeper sense of belonging in the field.
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