Curious, Kind, and Unapologetically Herself: Katelyn Baker’s Story
Every time I talk to Katelyn, I walk away a little lighter. Her energy is infectious — the kind that instantly puts people at ease and brings joy to the room. She’s one of those rare people who offer both depth and comfort in every conversation. Whether she’s breaking down cybersecurity risks, encouraging others to be their whole selves, or reflecting on the rawest parts of her cancer journey, Katelyn shows up fully and with so much heart.
She’s endlessly curious about people, passionate about helping them stay safe, and deeply committed to keeping the human side of security front and center. Through it all—the leadership, the learning, the laughter—she remains entirely and unapologetically herself.
In this interview, Katelyn shares how a journalism degree led to a purpose-driven cybersecurity career, what kept her grounded through cancer treatment, and why “be kind, have fun, and do your best” is more than a saying she tells her daughter. It’s how she chooses to live.
Leadership & Career Journey
You’ve built an impressive career leading enterprise-wide security communication while staying authentic and true to who you are. How did you find your way into this intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, and storytelling? What’s been the most meaningful part of the work for you?
As Bob Ross would say, it was a happy accident! I pivoted a journalism degree into corporate communications right after college. When I relocated from Seattle back to Nashville, I knew I wanted to return to HCA Healthcare. Luckily, I had kept in touch with a lot of former coworkers and found this incredible position. I love my job – my favorite part is that I know I am helping people stay safe against cybercriminals not just at work, but at home, too.
How has your background in journalism and internal communications shaped your approach to cybersecurity awareness and engagement?
I am so curious! I want to understand why people do what they do. A lot of today’s cybersecurity wisdom says that humans are the weakest link. Well, they can be, but I also think they’re our strongest weapon in the fight against cybercriminals! Once we uncover how people behave and why, we can help shape their choices and make them more secure.
Breast Cancer Journey & Resilience
You’ve shared so powerfully about your breast cancer journey. What inspired you to open up, and how has it reshaped your perspective on ambition?
One in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. I have no family history of the disease and carry none of the cancer-causing genes. That basically means it was random! It was also by chance that I caught my cancer. I found a lump in my breast drying off after a shower. It was stage 3 by the time we got my tumor out and I’m so thankful it hadn’t progressed further. I want every woman to know they have to be their own health advocate. Again, I had no reason to think I’d ever get cancer, but I did – we must all be listening to our bodies and checking our breasts!
You’ve mentioned it was harder to slow down your ambition than it was to lose your hair. What does ambition look like for you now, and how do you balance drive with self-care?
I did say that and it still rings true! A lot of people told me I would be able to step back and slow down while I received cancer care. I found that was not my path. Working kept my mind on something else besides how sick I was and the fragility of life.
What advice would you offer to other professionals navigating high-pressure roles while also trying to honor their health, family, or inner voice? And how do you personally keep things human and authentic as a leader, even in a fast-moving, high-pressure space?
I like how you worded this, Maliha! You have to just take things as they come and honor what feels right. While work was there for me during cancer, I’m finding now I do feel like I need to turn more attention to my physical health and my family. I thought my late 30s would be about fast tracking my career and it turns out that life has other plans. I do bring 100% of myself to work and am thankful to have a boss and a team that accepts it. I let them know when I’m having brain fog from chemo or a hot flash. By showing up as me, flaws and all, I hope it enables everyone I know to do the same.
Cybersecurity & the Human Side
In cybersecurity, there’s often a tension between the technical side and the human side. How do you make sure your awareness and communications efforts truly resonate—not just check the compliance box?
The team at HCA Healthcare is amazing about this. Most of my direct reports have a background in journalism, education or design. We know the immense value of our technical peers and they know that we can take something extremely complex and boil it down to be quick to read and easy to understand. Once we’ve got content we agree on, that’s when the magic happens. My team is so creative and we’ve been given a large amount of freedom to be fun. We love a pun and a theme. Whether it’s doing a call for dog photos and your favorite cyber tip before National Dog Day or writing a cyber-themed holiday email, we aim for our messaging to make our colleagues pay attention!
You also work closely with C-suite leaders and executives on security communications. What’s your advice on tailoring complex cybersecurity messages to diverse audiences, including the boardroom? What should we know to communicate effectively at that level?
While punny emails can work for our front-line colleagues, we know it’s not going to hit the same with executives. These are extremely busy people with their focus on patients. We believe that cybersecurity impacts our ability to hit our patient care and business outcomes. That’s where we connect. What do the metrics say? We know 95% (!!) of breaches are caused by humans. How can my team make sure our humans are better trained to respond to these threats? Once you know the business drivers, you find the data to back up what you’re asking for.
What excites you most about the evolving human element in cybersecurity, especially as we enter this new era of AI and automation?
Ugh! I’m an AI avoider right now, but I know it’s coming for us all. My hope is that AI will help to push humans in the right direction when it comes to cybersecurity. How can we take things off the plate of a nurse? Instead of requiring them to remember how to report a suspicious email, could AI be on screen pointing out signs that an email might be a phish? That would be amazing.
Vision, Ambition & What’s Ahead
Looking ahead, what are your personal ambitions or vision for the future in this space? What should we be paying attention to over the next few years?
I want to increase cyber knowledge of the general population. I feel confident that my peers who sit at a computer all day know the signs of a phish and won’t fall for poorly executed phone scams. What about the person checking me out at the store or making my food at a restaurant? How do we get this education more widespread? We are seeing that criminals are getting more sophisticated and AI is only going to fuel their fire.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth or impact in cybersecurity, especially for women leaders?
Women are needed at every table in every industry! If you like a fast-paced workday, cyber is for you. As I said, you do not have to enter with any technical knowledge. Plus, there are so many free and low-cost course options out there. If you like to learn, you’ll be unstoppable.
Self-care and Personal Reflections
What’s a favorite self-care ritual or practice that helps you stay grounded and recharged?
As an Enneagram 3, I have zero tips in this space unless you also get satisfaction from checking things off a to-do list. I do make time to read every day. I read a lot of non-fiction, but my book club and my daughter are showing me the benefits of fiction reading, too. It is a great way to wind down and take my mind off the whirl of work.
You’re a leader, a survivor, a mom, a communicator. What legacy do you hope to leave behind—in your work and in your life?
I tell my daughter every morning to “be kind, have fun, and do your best”. That’s the way I live my life and I hope I’m remembered for it.
What’s one lesson you wish more leaders would learn earlier in their careers?
That life isn’t a straight line of success. Older generations have made career changes seem negative (“job hopping”), but most people don’t know exactly what they want to do at age 18 or 22. For ourselves and others, we need to give more grace.
When you’re not leading teams or inspiring others, what’s something you love doing just for fun—something that keeps you laughing or reminds you not to take life too seriously?
Traveling! I’m addicted. I flew for the first time in my life when I was 21 and now I’ve been to all seven continents. My family is helping me reach my new goal to visit every U.S. state. We’re doing the Northeast over fall break in October and (fingers crossed) I’ll be hitting number 50 on an Alaskan cruise this summer. There’s few things more invigorating to me than going somewhere new.
Tech She Secures Signature Question
Tell us about the “BADdest” challenge you’ve taken on—the boldest, most authentic, and driven moment you’re most proud of—and how it shaped you.
I found out I had breast cancer while sitting at work – an email popped up saying I had test results in my portal. My beloved boss was the first person I told. The next steps were to find the best surgeon and oncologist I could and get things scheduled quickly, and part of that was being very aggressive. As a tall and outgoing woman, I am told so often to sit down, to be quiet, to be less. Cancer showed me that you must advocate for yourself or you won’t survive. I had to call people repeatedly, I had to go in person and demand things, and I had to raise my voice to make things happen. It was uncomfortable, but looking back, it was a BAD challenge. One year into remission, I know it was a challenge I won.
Closing Reflections
Katelyn Baker reminds us that leadership can be equal parts bold and human — built on curiosity, clarity, and compassion. Whether she’s diving into cybersecurity strategy or reflecting on life’s curveballs, she brings a rare blend of insight, heart, and humor that makes every moment with her memorable.
She brings a mix of strength, wit, and genuine heart that makes you feel seen, heard, and maybe even a little braver. You’ll always learn something when you talk to Katelyn. You’ll probably laugh, too. You might even leave with a killer restaurant recommendation (I can’t wait to visit the spot you suggested again!). And above all, you’ll walk away reminded that showing up with heart really does matter.
This conversation reminded me how lucky I am to call her a friend. I’ll always be rooting for her — in tech, in life, and yes, on that final stretch to state #50. Thank you, Katelyn, for being vulnerable and sharing your story with us.
Maliha
Disclaimer: The content on this blog and website reflects a combination of my personal experiences, perspectives, and insights, as well as interviews and contributions from other individuals. It does not represent the opinions, policies, or strategies of any organization I am currently affiliated with or have been affiliated with in the past. This platform serves as a personal space for sharing ideas, lessons learned, and meaningful reflections.
