Modernae Woman: Sara Demeria, Cyber Intelligence Director at GE
By Carson Quinn
If you meet Sara Demeria at a cocktail party, she’ll nonchalantly tell you what she does for a living: She’s GE‘s cyber intelligence director. If you’re like most people, you’ll probably respond with, “Like Carrie Matheson in Homeland?” or “Chole on 24?” She’ll shrug and say, “True-ish. Although I lead a team of analysts who work to help protect GE from cyber threats, both criminals and nation-state.” After graduating from the University of Virginia with an international relations degree and a Middle Eastern focus, she started her career as a counter-terrorism analyst for the FBI, where she received government intelligence analysis training. After four years there, she moved on to GE, where Demeria, who is married and has a 2-year-old daughter, keeps her company — and the rest of us — safer with better information sharing throughout cyber space.
Explain a little more about your work in cyber intelligence.
Importance-wise, intel is a real security differentiator. It pushes you from only a reactive posture to a proactive posture. For business, this means we can protect against those who would steal our money, assets or intellectual property before they are at risk, as opposed to during a cyber attack — or worse — after one. It also helps our executives to make smart cyber decisions, which in today’s business world is totally necessary and unavoidable.
What is your typical day like?
I manage a team of about 20 security professionals, all working to protect GE through cyber security. My day is usually filled with a lot of meetings, collaboration sessions, solutioning and trouble-shooting. We’re also focused on how we best position GE in an ever-evolving cyber landscape, so I also meet with GE executives to help them navigate the issues and become more proactive where possible. I also set strategy for my team, work with members to continue building their careers and engage with our partners across GE. I’m incredibly lucky; I have an amazing team working for me, and they impress me every day. I also happen to like them as people, so it makes work pretty great. No day is ever the same, and the challenges we face continue to evolve, so I’m never bored!
What was your childhood like?
I’m a “military brat,” so we moved around a little bit. But other than that, we did regular childhood things: It was full of bike riding and beach trips, visits to grandparents and school field trips. My dad was gone a lot as a Navy helicopter pilot, so when he was home we went on adventures together. We both love history, so I’ve seen every museum and battlefield on the East Coast and most of Europe. My parents divorced when I was in middle school, so my brother and I would spend our vacations with my dad in Germany and then Bahrain. We were really lucky to see so much of the world at such a young age, and it definitely shaped my view of life.
How do you think your parents shaped the woman you are today?
They were always really supportive of my brother and me, in that they never qualified what we could do with our lives. We never heard, “Oh, for a girl, you’re good at that,” or, “Boys don’t do that.” The idea was that we could do whatever we put our minds to — or were willing to work hard for — no matter what. That being said, they also made sure we understood that you’re never going to be the very best at everything and failure is OK, as long as you tried your best. Sometimes your best just doesn’t cut it.
What drives you?
I think that idea that I should always do my best, instilled in me by my parents, coupled with just a general curious personality. I like finishing things, checking off the list and going the extra mile. That being said, if I’m bored or feeling unfilled, my motivation totally tanks, and I almost self-sabotage. The saying, “The warrior without a war fights itself” pretty much sums it up.
How do you juggle work and your personal life?
Once my daughter was born, I realized that some of those balls you juggle are glass and some are rubber. So I just can’t let myself get too worked up over the less important ones. In terms of work, I’ve set hours for myself, and I draw the line at accepting meetings outside of those times so that I can always do daycare drop-off and be home for dinner. I do travel a bit, so I’ve made sure that it’s a certain amount of time each month that makes me still feel connected — FaceTime helps! My husband and I try to do a date night every other week, and I have book club (wine club is a more accurate name for it) and girl’s nights with my friends regularly. It’s not easy, there are so many outside pressures, but I can tell when I feel out of balance, and I make myself take the time.
Do you believe women can have it all?
No! I actually hate this idea because I truly believe that men also don’t have it all. Do they have it easier in the workplace? Hell, yes. But are they missing out on some really amazing experiences at home? Yes, they are. So why do we assume they think they have it all? I think we’ve set all of society up for feeling like big, lame failures by perpetrating this idea that anyone should set their goal at “It all.” 100 percent of everything? That math doesn’t add up! For me, I strive for balance: A feeling that I did what I could with the time I could at work and at home. I have good days and bad days, both at work and at home, but I think that’s pretty normal, and I try really hard not to beat myself up about it.
What do you do to relax?
I love to read, so that is my go-to for relaxation. I also love the beach or the pool, so once it’s summer, I do my reading there on the weekends as much as I possibly can. When I’m not reading, I like to drink wine with my girlfriends and indulge in mani-pedis. And when no one is around, I binge-watch pretty much every cop drama on TV. My husband ridicules my love of NCIS.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Act like you belong — from my dad. Also known as, “Fake it ’til you make it!” And most recently, Amy Poehler said in her book, “Great people do things before they are ready.” Essentially, you can’t make things happen when you are ready. It’s guaranteed they will happen before you want them to, and you can either take a chance or miss out. Always take the chance!
What would you tell other women who want to do what you do?
Don’t be discouraged. The tech space can be tough because there aren’t a lot of women in it. But companies know that’s a problem, and they are working on it. I think we as women just need to be a little extra fearless and move into the space.
This article originally appeared on Modernae.com a pop culture-free lifestyle publication for 21st women.
