How Chantel Edwards Went From Dropping Out Of College To Commanding The Cybersecurity Space

Chantel Edwards has a heart for leadership and mentoring the next generation.

With an unshakable drive, Edwards is charting her path as a leader in cybersecurity. Edwards’ exposure to technology was planted while serving in the U.S. Air Force as an all-source intelligence analyst for nearly nine years, a move that followed after she dropped out of college, she explained to AFROTECH™.

“I was in military intelligence and that’s where we really start studying adversaries, bad guys, why they do what they do. It was always an interest in national security. So once you’re in the build in the form and industry of security, protecting things that matter, you’re interested in understanding why the bad guy does whatever they do,” Edwards said to us. “It just — over time — translated to cybersecurity. And because I am a person of a certain age, I like to tell people I was in cybersecurity before cybersecurity was a thing.”

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Edwards’ career spans over two decades, currently serving as a cybersecurity director for a financial services company. She does not take it lightly that, as a Black woman in cybersecurity, she is a “double minority or a triple minority.” The field makes up 9% of Black professionals, according to The Aspen Institute estimates, and just 24% are women. Edwards also attributes “outstanding mentors” to investing in her career and has been paying it forward to play a role in shaping the careers of future leaders.

“Growing up, my favorite quote was, ‘I aspire to inspire.’ Over time, it’s still in my top 10 quotables, but I think it’s important to cultivate those around you. Iron sharpens iron. I can only improve by making those around me better and constantly pushing myself. So those are things that bleed into my everyday personality and my everyday life,” she expressed in an interview with AFROTECH™.

As it relates to growing trends within the industry, Edwards also addressed the rise of AI, a topic she approaches with cautious optimism. Growing up on films like “Terminator” and working in a field marked by data breaches and compromises, she’s always been aware of technology’s potential pitfalls. She encourages organizations to adopt AI responsibly.

“When it comes to AI in automation and tooling, my call is to make sure that we’re doing it responsibly — that you’re doing it with both eyes open — making sure you understand what purpose it serves,” Edwards told AFROTECH™. “And not trying to hyper-focus on short-term wins at the detriment of your company or organization.”

She added, “Make sure you understand the risks involved.”

AFROTECH™ Conference

You can hear even more from Edwards as she will be taking center stage at AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 as a speaker. The conference is returning to Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center from Oct. 27-31. 

For those interested in attending, click here.