As part of the Rams' celebration of Women's History Month this month, the organization wants to inspire Angelenos through stories of female staff changing the game on and off the field.
We continue this year's series with Information Security Specialist Eniko Somogyi.
Eniko Somogyi's path to a S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) career began with a bold move to Los Angeles from her native Hungary. She was originally set on a path toward working in law enforcement before unexpected life changes redirected her.
"I immigrated to Los Angeles from Hungary in my early 20s, entirely on my own, without speaking any English and without my family," Somogyi said. "It was a daunting experience, but I was determined to build a better life since I grew up during the Communist area. Although, working seven days a week, I was committed to furthering my education. I completed my college education, earned my AA degree in Criminal Justice at Los Angeles City College. My initial desire was to become an investigative officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. However, unexpected life changes led me to redirect my career path toward the field of IT. I reached out to a family friend in the tech industry, who suggested to pursue a computer major requiring investigative skill. Three years later, I graduated from the American InterContinental University with a B.S. in Computer Forensics."
Somogyi's ability to successfully blend both backgrounds helped land her a career in the sports and entertainment industry and a job with the Rams. She joined the organization in 2017 as a Help Desk Support specialist and, just a year ago, advanced to the role of Information Security Analyst.
"My new role is crucial in safeguarding the organization's digital assets and ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of sensitive information," Somogyi explained. "Educating staff on information security procedures to foster a security-conscious culture within the organization. Continuously monitoring for security breaches and responding to incidents, including conducting thorough post-event analyses."
For Somogyi, the best part of her job is what she says makes the best IT technicians.
"As you probably know, the best IT technicians (are) approachable, friendly, and likable," she said. "I try to be all-in-one, so whether it's offering support, solving any technical problems, I won't miss a good story and laugh with my cherished people during work, but knowing that I can positively impact someone's frustration with the computer is what drives me. I used to reset password for the guys over the weekend, and the appreciation I received makes every effort worthwhile."
For young women looking to pursue a similar career path, that kind of approach certainly complements the necessity of having a strong foundational knowledge in technical skills.
Also important, per Somogyi, is the ability to multitask.
"A strong foundation in technical skills is fundamental for any IT job," Somogyi said. "However, customer service, communication skills, problem-solving and critical thinking are equally essential. Technical skills can be improved through the work experience, where handling various software and hardware requests and have hands on learning experience to deploy and set up a new office environment and so on. I recommend using our secret skills: multitask! Being able to handle various tasks simultaneously."
What motivates Somogyi is her drive to continue advancing in the tech industry, focusing on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
"I'm passionate about staying at the forefront of technological innovation and contributing to the development of secure and efficient systems," she said. "My goal is to leverage my expertise to lead impactful projects and mentor the next generation of tech professionals."
While football has long been a male-dominated sport, Somogyi has seen that evolve, especially throughout her time with the Rams and with first-hand experience.
"Football has indeed been a male-dominated sport, but there have been significant changes over the years, especially with teams like the L.A. Rams leading the way in promoting diversity and inclusion," she said. "I think my game day role is a significant step towards breaking gender norms in the sport, as a C2C technician (NFL - Yellow Hat) mostly supporting the home and visitor coach booths. Some game days I covered the C2C support for the visitor team's sideline. Looking to the future, it would be interesting to see more women on the sideline, especially a coach on our coaching staff."
Fittingly, for an individual who set no limits to her goals when she first immigrated to L.A., Somogyi recommends celebrating Women's History Month by recognizing one's own accomplishments and continuing to set the bar high.
"Be proud of yourself and celebrate the achievements," Somogyi said. "Most importantly, continue to keep dreaming to the endless limits. Set the short or long term goals a little higher, because we all know no matter what year or where you born, we are all 'outliers' and have a story of success."
