Spotlight on Cherry Yang: A journey of resilience, mentorship, and leadership in Identity
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to soar. With a global skills gap threatening the security of organizations, programs like Okta’s What’s Next initiative are more important than ever.
What’s Next by Okta Learning is designed to close the skills gap, offering individuals the opportunity to reskill or upskill, empowering them to step into vital roles in Identity and Access Management (IAM). One of the most inspiring stories to emerge from this program is that of Cherry Yang.
After unexpectedly losing her job, Cherry Yang decided to leverage her existing working knowledge in IAM by focusing on Okta's cutting-edge technology. Recognizing that her previous experience in IAM was somewhat limited, she saw What's Next as the perfect opportunity to strengthen her expertise and gain a more comprehensive understanding of IAM.
Yang dove headfirst into Okta's training courses and certification pathways, which allowed her to explore all aspects of IAM, from high-level concepts and architecture design to detailed configurations. Okta's platform provided her with a model for implementing solutions that adhere to and lead cybersecurity IAM standards.
Through this program, she was able to expand her knowledge in areas such as authentication factors, authorization design, and infrastructure considerations. By immersing herself in Okta's robust IAM framework, Yang gained hands-on experience with features like single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, lifecycle management, and API access management.
This comprehensive approach helped her develop a more structured and industry-aligned expertise in IAM. Through hard work and persistence, Yang has since earned multiple Okta certifications, demonstrating her expanded knowledge and commitment to becoming a leader in this high-demand field.
But Yang’s journey isn’t just about personal success — it’s about lifting others up along the way. She has voluntarily become a mentor to many other grant recipients in the What’s Next program, offering guidance, support, and inspiration in a private LinkedIn group. From helping others troubleshoot challenges in labs to sharing her own success stories, Yang’s contributions have been invaluable to the community.
As she shared in a recent LinkedIn post, “The field of Identity is critical in today’s digital world. I chose to build a career in Okta because I saw the potential for growth, impact, and making a real difference in how organizations secure their systems.”
Yang’s story exemplifies the goal of the What’s Next program — empowering people to forge new paths in cybersecurity and Identity. Her success also highlights why becoming Okta certified is a strategic move. According to CIO Magazine, Okta skills are in high demand, and those with Okta certifications are among the top earners in the tech industry. Certification Magazine further emphasizes that IAM practitioners who are Okta certified command some of the highest salaries globally, making this path rewarding and lucrative.
As Yang continues pursuing her new career, she stands as a role model for anyone looking to reskill or enter cybersecurity. Her resilience, leadership, and willingness to mentor others have solidified her future and contributed to solving the cybersecurity skill gap challenge we face today.
Cherry Yang’s journey is a testament to the power of community, mentorship, and continuous learning. If you’re looking to embark on a similar path, the What’s Next program by Okta might just be your opportunity to break into one of the most critical fields in today’s economy — and, like Yang, make an impact. And, if you are looking to strengthen your IAM team or take on complex IAM projects, Yang is still seeking employment opportunities. Please don’t hesitate to contact her.
Are you ready to follow in Cherry Yang’s footsteps and start a new chapter in your career? Apply for What’s Next by Okta Learning, where your journey toward becoming an in-demand cybersecurity professional can begin today.
What's Next by Okta Learning is a learning grant program that offers individuals in the United States a chance to improve their skills and pursue technical careers. It provides access to Okta’s on-demand course catalog, a certification exam voucher, and a premier practice exam voucher. The Program specifically targets individuals who lost their jobs as a result of layoffs in the United States and are actively seeking employment in a technical role within the Identity and Access Management space. The program also is open to veterans and military spouses, and if you or someone you know is a veteran and/or a military spouse, please encourage them to apply.
