Ep 3: Journey through the Tech World with Tiffany Ricks
- Author
- Arteen Arabshahi
- Published
- Mon 25 Jan 2021
- Episode Link
- https://the-on-ramp.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-3-journey-through-the-tech-world-with-tiffany-ricks-r1prXaW_
We have another inspiring conversation today on The On Ramp! Joining us is the Founder and CEO of Hacware, Tiffany Ricks. Hacware is an AI-driven cybersecurity business that helps protect against phishing attacks. Tiffany has been featured in SXSW, 2020 TechCrunch Startup Battlefield, WSJ, and 2021 Cybersecurity Innovator of the Year finalist by D CEO Magazine, and more as well as started multiple businesses in her career after working at companies like L3 Technologies and Best Buy. Along the way, she has become a mother of two, got her Master’s degree, and dedicated as much of her energy as possible to inspire others to reach their dreams. In our conversation, we hear about all the highs and lows of Tiffany's journey and being laid off by the Georgia Lottery during college. She explains how this eventually lead to her success, starting her first company with only $200, and the positive things that have come since. We also touch on Tiffany’s experience as a trailblazer, being treated like an outsider in certain industries, and how that’s improved over the years. One tangible takeaway from Tiffany's story is the replicable nature of her growth; despite stops and starts, successes and failures, Tiffany stayed committed to her goals and ultimately achieved them, a lesson for us all. Join us for an authentic and uplifting discussion with someone who has paved her own way into success.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Finding gratitude in difficult times and the parts of 2020 that Tiffany is most thankful for.
- Tiffany's experience of getting laid off by the Georgia Lottery in 2003.
- The business that Tiffany started after losing her job and the cycle of problems she faced.
- Funding the business initially and the savings that Tiffany used to get things going.
- Breaking the mold and finding a niche in the world of tech.
- The depression that Tiffany experienced after feeling like she lost everything.
- Moving forward after the lay off and how Tiffany rebuilt her career.
- The time that Tiffany spent at L3 Technologies and how she found that job.
- There and back again as an entrepreneur — transitioning back into being a founder.
- Burgeoning success at HacWare and the continuing quest to keep growing!
- Tiffany's definition of success; a simple approach to reaching goals.
- Problem-solving and inspiring others as the biggest motivators for Tiffany.
- The elements of her business that Tiffany is most proud of.
Tweetables:
“I remember calling my dad, and I was telling him, 'I don't know how I am going to pay my bills.' I had to sell some of our equipment to pay for food.” — @TiffanyRicks [0:09:09]
“It's always a battle. In every room you are underestimated and you have to keep proving that you are really good at what you do.” — @TiffanyRicks [0:18:44]
“I had to rebuild and start all over again.” — @TiffanyRicks [0:21:49]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
