Meet Forbes Chicago’s 30 under 30 recipient Samantha Bolet

Samantha Bolet is shaping the future of tech and ensuring it includes the contributions and voices of women of color. A recent recipient of Forbes Chicago’s 30 under 30 acknowledgment, Bolet, 28, is the co-founder and Vice President of Latinas in Cyber, a non-profit that empowers Latina women to pursue careers in cybersecurity.

According to the 30 under 30 recipient, the organization works to increase the pipeline of Latina women entering cyber security and stem careers. The non-profit establishes education resources, certifications, networking programs, and other opportunities to help Latina women enter and advance in the cyber security field.

A Chicago-based entrepreneur, Bolet launched the self-described passion project in September of 2022 alongside a team of women invested in making the tech sphere more accessible to women of color. “We all really fervently believe in getting more women into this space,” said Bolet.

Since the organization’s inception, Latinas in Cyber has partnered with corporate sponsors Google, cyber security platform Coalfire, and the University of California Berkeley. 

With such significant tech accomplishments under her belt, it might surprise one that Bolet didn’t initially plan to work in stem. Bolet began her career studying journalism and political science, which introduced her to cyber policy.

She subsequently obtained a Master's degree in tech management and information systems, which led her to the intersection of technology and public policy. Today, Bolet’s primary area of expertise is data privacy.

“Within data privacy you’re working in a technological environment to understand how users and companies interact with personal data, while also making sure they adhere to regulatory components,” said Bolet.

In an era where AI technology poses unprecedented privacy risks, protecting one’s personal data is a concern for many. Women are in a unique position regarding data privacy, and it is important to Bolet that women like herself have a say in decisions that shape technologies which directly impact our lives.

Aside from her work with Latinas in Cyber, Bolet works full-time in cyber security, a field which Bolet says provides a level of financial independence that many modern women strive for.

“Other career paths that pay well, like being a doctor, an engineer, etc, there’s a really high academic barrier to entry. You have to get your MBA, or your M.D., whereas in cyber security you don’t necessarily have to. You can still have a really high-paying job with remote capabilities, stock options, and a lot of other opportunities that are flexible for women.”

Forbes launched their local 30 under 30 program in 2022 as an iteration of their traditional 30 under 30 list, aimed at acknowledging budding entrepreneurs making an impact around the country. 

When asked how she found herself on the Forbes local 30 under 30 radar, Bolet’s response was simple. “I just went for it,” she said, initially becoming aware of the new program in an Instagram ad. 

Bolet’s advice to young women looking to further their careers, whether that be in stem or in another career field, is to advocate for oneself. “If you wait for someone to select you or recognize you or give you permission to enter into a space, you may not always get that moment of acknowledgement. It’s important for us to create visibility for ourselves.”