From Novice to Cyber Defender: Lavanya Sharma’s Transformative USC Pathway

Summary

• Early Start: Lavanya Sharma discovered coding in fifth grade at an after-school Scratch workshop with her dad.
• Choosing USC: At USC she studied Computer Science and Business Administration and added minors in cybersecurity and technology law.
• Hands-On Learning: She led the cybersecurity group CybOrg’s industry relations and competed in capture-the-flag events.
• Rising Star: In 2024 she was named a National Cyber Scholar and received the FS-ISAC Women in Cyber Scholarship.
• Inspiring Others: She led AthenaHacks and served as vice chair of Women in Engineering, mentoring younger students.

From Novice to Cyber Defender: Lavanya Sharma’s Transformative USC Pathway

Lavanya Sharma’s path into cybersecurity started early and kept widening. She graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2025 with a B.S. in Computer Science and Business Administration and minors in cybersecurity and technology law, and was the School of Advanced Computing’s 2025 commencement flag-bearer. She shared her story with USC Viterbi in May 2025.

First Steps: From Scratch to Cyber

Sharma was drawn to technology long before college. In fifth grade, her father spotted a flyer for an after-school coding camp, and she learned Scratch, a block-based coding language. She joined a robotics studio in middle school and took AP Computer Science as a high school sophomore. Her first exposure to security came through CyberPatriot, a national youth cyber education program. At USC, a freshman course called “From Hackers to CEOs: Introduction to Information Security” sealed it. “Immediately, I was hooked,” she wrote.

Learning Security at USC

At USC, Sharma studied web applications, digital forensics and ethical hacking. She also signed up for a new minor in law and technology from the Gould School of Law, taking courses in intellectual property law, cybercrime investigations and AI ethics. She joined CybOrg, a cybersecurity and forensics group, as VP of Industry Relations, bringing in professionals and alumni for workshops and career seminars.

Competitions and Recognition

Sharma competed in capture-the-flag events including the Western Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (WRCCDC) and the National Cyber League. In 2024 she received the FS-ISAC Women in Cyber Scholarship and was named a National Cyber Scholar. After graduation, she is joining F5 Networks as a software engineer.

Building Space for Others

Inclusion is a thread through her story. In high school, she co-founded AIHacks, which she describes as Southern California’s first all-female high school hackathon. At USC she joined the leadership of AthenaHacks, a hackathon for students of marginalized genders, and served on the Women in Engineering board, leading K-12 outreach and mentorship. She wants to build technology that works for everyone.

What Her Path Shows

Sharma’s story shows how many doors lead into cybersecurity. Youth programs like CyberPatriot, a single introductory course and hands-on competitions all played a part. For students weighing the field, combining security with another discipline, such as business or law, can open even more options.

John King, CISSP, PMP, CISM

John King currently works in the greater Los Angeles area as a ISSO (Information Systems Security Officer). John has a passion for learning and developing his cyber security skills through education, hands on work, and studying for IT certifications.