Lisa Ventura MBE, a talented Content Specialist living in the United Kingdom, joined Qualitest in November 2022. As a part of the Marketing team, Lisa creates thought-leading, insightful content, varying from blogs and white papers to case studies, infographics, and videos.
Lisa’s expertise lies in tech and cyber security. Back in 2009, she hopped on board her ex-husband’s cyber security software development company and that’s when her journey into cyber security began. Since then, she’s been hooked on the human side of cyber security and spreading the word about the increasing cyber threats and all the sneaky online scams out there. “I want to make sure everyone knows what they’re up against and how to stay safe,” she says.
Lisa, driven by her passion, founded a blog/content hub called “Cyber Security Unity” in her spare time. Alongside her commitment to growing communities and assisting individuals, she actively engages with the online cybersecurity community.
When asked about programming, Lisa shares that while she isn’t a programmer, she has some exposure to C++.
Lisa admits that she didn’t actively choose a career in tech; it somehow found her instead. But now that she’s in it, she can’t imagine doing anything else.
Coming to her Qualitest journey, Lisa shares that she was enjoying a quick getaway in Worthing to catch up with her family, following her time at DTX in London, when she received a call from Alfie Leadbetter, who reached out to discuss the role she currently holds.
“Can you believe it? It was my birthday, and I was browsing through a shop when Alfie called,” she reminisced. A few weeks flew by, and before she knew it, Lisa had joined the Qualitest team. Since then, she has felt right at home. “I absolutely love what I do, and the best part is working alongside this incredible team. We’re always there for each other, ready to lend a helping hand and offer support.”
“I am neurodivergent,” Lisa explains, reflecting on her journey. “And I think that’s why I’ve thrived in IT and cyber security since I stumbled into it back in 2009. Being in IT and tech requires very logical thinking, and I often liken my neurodivergence to being like Mr. Spock on Star Trek, like a Vulcan on a planet full of humans.”
Lisa confesses that she wasn’t particularly fond of school. “I endured relentless bullying there, which made it a difficult place for me. To cope, I adopted a strategy of keeping my head down and getting on with my work. Despite the hardships, I knew deep down that I wanted to be a writer and that’s exactly what I ended up doing.”
Lisa’s got some awesome advice: Take advantage of all the opportunities that Qualitest has to offer and get involved in as many different groups as you can.
Lisa is a part of the Women at Qualitest group and loves it. “It’s a fantastic way to meet cool colleagues and stay in the loop about all the exciting stuff happening at Qualitest,” she says.
Lisa’s proudest moment was on June 17, 2023, when she was awarded an MBE for her services to cybersecurity, diversity, and inclusion. “I couldn’t believe it when I received the letter a few weeks ago! I had to call the number on it to confirm its authenticity, and it turned out to be real!”
Lisa will be invited to receive her MBE at an investiture ceremony at either Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle in a few months’ time. “I’m already so excited about it and wondering what I’ll wear!”
Lisa is a huge movie buff. You can find her at the cinema on most weekends. Lisa owns her own home cinema/projector system, so she can watch her favorite films on a big screen in the comfort of her home. Her favorite genre is sci-fi!
When it comes to music, Lisa is a huge fan of the rock band Queen, and she loves Freddie Mercury. Lisa also journals regularly. “I’m a huge bullet journaler, who loves creating detailed spreads in one of her many notebooks/journals.”
Lisa also blogs in her spare time and tinkers with WordPress. Additionally, Lisa enjoys retro computing. Together with her husband, she has created a retro room in their home, scouring eBay to find various machines from their youth. “My first computer was a Texas Instruments TI-4/99, and I have acquired one from eBay that still works! You can often find me playing Space Invaders or Pac-Man on it. Lastly, I have a huge interest in all things related to nuclear war and the Cold War period from the 1960s to the 1980s.”
When asked about her reading preferences and books, Lisa shares that she simply adores autobiographies. Her last read? Elton John’s!
A leader who inspires Lisa is Professor Sue Black who led the campaign, years ago, to save Bletchley Park. “Professor Sue Black is now a Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist in the Department of Computer Science at Durham University. She overcame being in an abusive relationship and left it with three children and only a few pounds to her name, but she went on to create the highly successful career she has today. She is truly inspirational, and someone I look up to immensely. I had the opportunity to meet her at Infosec in 2019, and I was completely star-struck.”
At Qualitest, we believe in providing our employees with ample opportunities to enhance their skills, learn new technologies, and take on challenging projects that push their boundaries. #BeMoreAtQualitest and unlock your full potential. Interested in working with us? Join a team of world-class experts in quality engineering right here at Qualitest.
