Student Spotlight: Turning Passion into Purpose - Siddartha’s Path to Cybersecurity Leadership
We love seeing how our community members turn their passion for cybersecurity into real opportunities, and Siddartha Shakya’s story is one that truly inspires us.
Siddartha’s journey started long before his first NCL season. He immigrated to the U.S. from Nepal with his family, a move his parents made possible through sacrifices and hard work—including taking out loans to give him a better future. For Siddartha, earning his degree isn’t just for him—it’s a dream he shares with his parents and a way to honor everything they’ve done.
After a two-year break between high school and college, Siddartha started at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), where his love for tech and desire to protect others from cyber threats pulled him toward cybersecurity. From there, he transferred to George Mason University to keep building on that foundation. Along the way, he took on leadership roles, serving as president of the Asian Student Association, hosting LinkedIn workshops, and creating outreach opportunities for his peers. Those efforts didn’t just strengthen his community—they earned him multiple scholarships that helped him both financially and professionally.
When he joined the National Cyber League, everything changed. NCL gave him something the classroom can’t—real-world, hands-on experience that builds confidence and sharpens problem-solving skills. Competing in NCL helped him understand both red team and blue team roles, push his limits, and grow as part of a supportive community that shares his passion for learning.
Siddartha also participated in the CrowdStrike Mentorship Program, which he says was a game-changer. His mentors taught him why it’s so important to really understand the roles you’re applying for, what the realities of red teaming versus blue teaming look like, and how mentorship provides those much-needed reality checks—and confidence boosts—on your career path.
For Siddartha, success isn’t just about a paycheck. He talks openly about the importance of finding fulfillment in your work over chasing money. He plans to build his career right in Virginia, one of the country’s biggest tech hubs, and hopes to keep creating opportunities for others along the way.
He’s already looking ahead to the next NCL season and is excited about the future of cybersecurity—including the potential for AI to shape competitions and the industry as a whole.
Siddartha’s story is exactly why we do what we do. NCL is more than a competition—it’s a launchpad for careers, a community for learners, and a bridge to real-world opportunities with partners like CrowdStrike.