Ryen Macababbad

Hi! I'm Ryen, pronounced the same way as Ryan :)

I'm a Principal Security Program Manager at Microsoft.

My background is in Leadership and people management, Customer Trust, Security Architecture, IAM, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint AV/EDR, and various proprietary military systems.

I was in the U.S. Army for 8 years active and 6 years Reserve. I got out as a Sergeant and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Afghanistan greatly impacted me, leaving me suffering from ongoing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

I transitioned using a program called the Microsoft Software & Systems Academy (MSSA), Camo 2 Commerce, and a ton of networking through LinkedIn and Meetups.

In the years during and following the COVID-19 pandemic I learned I was autistic and ADHD. After working with my doctors for over a year, I was finally able to get on the right dosage of medications to help me maintain focus, combat executive dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and rejection sensitivity.

As a child, I grew up in several different foster homes and group homes. Many of the experiences that I had growing up were things no child should ever go through, including verbal, emotional, and physical abuse. But I can honestly say that without those experiences, I would not be the person that I am today.

Statistically, I had a higher chance of a sad story than a success story, but I refused to be defined by my circumstance. I believe you can come from nothing and make something of yourself. I have an AAS in General Studies, no certs, and a whole bunch of self-learning. I have seen consistent and accelerated career growth. I say this not as a brag, but to inspire and encourage hope.

Don't let failure discourage you. Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Better. Do the thing. And #AlwaysBeLearning.

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For my passion projects, I love mentoring servicemembers and veterans looking to transition into tech careers and empowering women and POCs in IT to meet their goals. I'm also a maker and love building things and doing projects.

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You can read some of my articles on LinkedIn or connect with me via the social network buttons below!