For the first meeting of the year, we swapped spreadsheets for inspiration boards. We hosted a Virtual Vision Board Activity—a creative and interactive way to set our intentions for 2025 while strengthening connections.

Bringing Visions to Life

The activity was simple yet powerful. Participants claimed a slide in a collaborative deck, added their names, and responded to a series of prompts by pasting images that resonated with their goals and aspirations. From career milestones to personal well-being, each board became a colorful snapshot of what we hope to manifest in the year ahead.

The best part? No overthinking allowed! We encouraged everyone to have fun, dream big, and let creativity take the lead.

“I had a great time creating my vision board! It was a fun way to visually capture my goals and aspirations for 2025 while identifying areas where I can improve. Really enjoyed the process!” - Marie Jonas, Manager, Marketing Automation, North Carolina, U.S 

After filling our slides with inspiration, we broke into small groups for breakout room discussions. People shared the meaning behind their boards, offered encouragement, and found common ground in their hopes for the future.

“Creating a vision board for 2025 was a valuable exercise in aligning both personal and professional goals, providing clarity and motivation for the year ahead.” - Jenna Newman, Hacker Success Manager, Community, Florida, U.S.

We wrapped up with a group share, where a few volunteers showcased their boards, giving us a glimpse into their goals and dreams. It was a great reminder that while our paths may look different, we’re all striving to grow, succeed, and support each other along the way.

“I felt inspired hearing everyone's personal and career goals through their vision boards. I'm thankful for the honest and heartfelt sharings at the end, which instilled a sense of community and camaraderie.” - Kelly Pau, Project Manager, Technical Engagements, Virginia, U.S.

More Than Just a Board—A Community

This event wasn’t just about setting goals; it was about lifting each other and creating space for inspiration. Women@ is more than just a monthly meeting—it’s a place where we grow together, celebrate wins (big and small), and champion each other’s success.

Building community and empowerment is fundamental to the HackerOne culture, and the Women@ employee resource group (ERG) exemplifies this commitment. Women@ brings together a vibrant and diverse community of over 100 women and allies from various departments, backgrounds, and career levels. This group is united by a shared dedication to growth, inclusion, and mutual support.

When Jobert and Michiel started their penetration testing consultancy, they ran into a frustrating reality. Convincing companies to trust two 18-year-olds without professional credentials or experience wasn’t easy. Despite their six years of hacking expertise, their youth and status as university students left potential clients skeptical. Rather than let doubt stop them, they came up with a clever plan.

They came up with an unconventional idea to stand out. If they couldn’t find a security vulnerability in a company’s system within 30 minutes, they promised to buy the company a cake of their choice. The offer piqued the curiosity of potential clients, many of whom were confident their systems were secure. Jobert and Michiel saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate their expertise hands-on.

They found, time and again, that no system is completely flawless. Over the year and a half they ran this promotion, they never had to buy a single cake. This was a testament that vulnerabilities can exist even in the most carefully designed systems. The experience not only proved their skills but also helped them build trust with clients, leading to contracts that shaped their careers as penetration testers.

“Together we creatively overcame a limitation, which eventually led to the foundation of HackerOne.” - Jobert Abma, HackerOne Co-Founder, Distinguished Engineer, California, U.S.

This story isn't just a clever marketing move; it captures the culture at HackerOne. At our core, we’re all about creating solutions, showing our value through what we do, and building trust little by little. Like Jobert and Michiel's “cake challenge,” we aim to turn doubts into confidence and tackle every challenge with flair.

The “cake story” also highlights an enduring value of HackerOne – our belief that hacking is about more than breaking systems; it’s about building trust. From those early days of penetration testing to our global bug bounty platform today, we continue to champion transparency, creativity, and the pursuit of excellence.

“Vulnerabilities are inevitable. What matters is how you uncover and address them to build trust and stronger defenses.” - Michiel Prins, HackerOne Co-founder & Senior Director, Product Management, California, U.S.

Next time you spot a slice of cake at the office—or hear someone chatting about sweet perks—think about those two Dutch hackers who turned desserts into a stepping stone for success. It’s a legacy we’re proud of, and we carry that spirit with us every day as we work towards making the internet safer for everyone.

At HackerOne, we tackle hacking challenges with a mix of creativity and determination. This mindset goes back to our roots, which started when our two co-founders, Jobert Abma and Michiel Prins, devised a pretty unconventional plan involving cake and a lot of talent.

When Saskia joined the tech world, she didn’t follow the conventional path of computer science degrees or coding boot camps. Instead, her journey was shaped by skills she honed in customer service, a deep sense of empathy, and a persistent belief in the power of adaptability. 

“I started my career in customer service, working in retail and then a call center in Ireland. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me the importance of empathetic de-escalation and creating world-class customer experiences.”

When Saskia joined HackerOne in 2020 as an Employee Success Coordinator, she couldn’t have predicted how the pandemic would reshape her career. With the office closing and recruiting temporarily paused, she faced a pivotal moment.

“I leaned into my strengths, as a seasoned support aficionado, and set my sights on a team with a unique, yet powerful mission that needed more support - HackerOne Mediation.”

Turning Soft Skills into Hard Results

One of the most valuable lessons Saskia learned was that the skills she brought from her non-tech background were not only applicable but transformative in her new career.

“No matter where you are in an organization, empathy, open-mindedness, and collaboration are essential. When teams work together, we create solutions that truly benefit our customers and hackers. That’s how we #win-as-a-team.”

Her passion for learning and tenacity also played key roles in her growth. She believes that asking questions and remaining adaptable is crucial in an industry defined by constant change.

“Education is a lifelong journey, and there’s no such thing as a stupid question. If you don’t know—ask, so you will know.”

Advice for Career Changers

For those hesitant to transition into a career in tech without a traditional background, Saskia has simple but impactful advice: be curious, adaptable, and willing to take risks.

“I read a quote once that said, ‘A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.’ You’ll never know unless you try. Take that leap, whether it’s a new career path or a bold process change. You might fail—or you might find it’s the best decision you ever made.”

Saskia’s story shows that there’s no single path into the tech world—it’s about creating your own. Success comes from showing up with your unique strengths, staying curious, and embracing change, even when it feels uncertain. Her journey highlights the value of taking risks and staying true to yourself every step of the way.

Hack My Career is a special edition in which we share HackerOne employees’ career journeys and how they arrived at their current roles. We talked to Saskia Braucher, Manager, Mediation, about her unique path and asked her to share insights into her career.