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What happens when AI replaces the careers we've built our identities around? This question sits at the heart of my conversation with Naomi Buckwalter, Director of Product Security at Contrast Security and founder of Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation.
Naomi's cybersecurity journey began with a moment of clarity during a week-long hacking course that changed everything. "The clouds parted, angels were singing," she recalls of the experience that propelled her from developer to security professional. Through sheer determination—and admittedly, some persistence that bordered on pestering—she convinced a manager to create a position specifically for her enthusiasm. This story alone offers valuable insight for anyone looking to pivot careers: find what lights you up, then advocate relentlessly for your place at that table.
But our conversation quickly moves beyond career tactics to examine profound questions about humanity's future. With AI rapidly advancing, Naomi suggests we're approaching a fundamental shift in how we understand work itself. "Maybe technology's purpose was always to give us freedom to explore, create, and just be human," she reflects. This perspective challenges our cultural fixation on career as identity—a relatively recent development in human history.
What strikes me most about Naomi is how she embodies this philosophy already. Beyond her day job, she finds deep fulfillment refereeing volleyball matches. Not for money (she actually loses money doing it), but for the intoxicating energy of facilitating human connection. "You feel the cheers, the energy, the camaraderie—everything beautiful about humans seeps right into your body." This passion perfectly illustrates her core belief: we're happiest when contributing to others' well-being.
As we navigate an uncertain future with AI, perhaps our greatest opportunity isn't preserving jobs but rediscovering what makes us uniquely human. "Deep down, we're all good people," Naomi reminds us—and finding ways to express that goodness might be our most meaningful work of all.
What would you do if freed from traditional work? How might we restructure society to value human connection over productivity? Connect with Naomi on LinkedIn to continue this vital conversation about our collective future.

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