When Natalie Tucker first arrived at UNC Greensboro, she thought her future might be in healthcare. Instead, what started with a single elective in the Bryan School of Business and Economics turned into a career protecting one of the world’s most recognizable brands from cyber threats.
As a Cyber Threat Intelligence Specialist for The Walt Disney Company, Tucker helps protect the company’s global operations from data breaches in a constantly changing digital world.
Looking back, she credits her early experiences at UNCG and mentorship within the Bryan School with the discovery of a career path that constantly challenges her to tell stories through data.
From a military family, Tucker arrived in North Carolina as a middle schooler, landing in Fayetteville. Her family members overwhelmingly chose careers in the medical field, so Tucker enrolled at UNCG assuming she would do the same. As she progressed through college, however, she realized her interests were shifting.
“I started exploring other options,” she says. “I needed an elective, so I took a business analytics class. I found myself drawn more to technology and business.”
That realization led her to the BSBE’s Information Systems and Supply Chain Management program. A business analytics course taught by Dr. Hamid Nemati proved especially influential. “That class really introduced me to working with data and understanding how businesses use information,” Tucker says.
What fascinated Tucker was not simply collecting data but transforming it into meaningful insights. “I like being able to paint a picture for people who need that context,” she says.
Tucker’s academic experience at UNCG reinforced her aptitude for practical analysis with hands-on projects and applications centered on actual business problems.
With the Bryan School’s guidance, she gained valuable professional experience outside of the classroom through an internship with IQVIA, a global data science company serving the healthcare industry. As a research analyst, she worked in business intelligence and analytics.
As she continued to bridge the gap between theory and practice, Tucker gained confidence in her career direction. “I think that’s what college is for,” she says. “Having access to all those experiences really solidified my career decision and helped me know where I wanted to go next.”
After graduating from UNCG in 2020, Tucker went on to earn a master’s degree in Information Science from North Carolina Central University.
Her professional journey soon led her to Disney, where she accepted an internship in Digital Audience Insights with ABC News. In that role, she analyzed audience engagement data and helped inform decisions about digital content and advertising performance.
When that position opened the door to opportunities in cybersecurity, Tucker admitted she hadn’t initially considered a career in that field. However, as she gained experience monitoring the technology systems that support Disney attractions, she realized the work combined her strengths in analytics, investigation, and problem-solving.
“I was grateful to land in that space,” Tucker says. In January 2024, she transitioned into her current role as a Cyber Threat Intelligence Specialist.
Today, Tucker helps identify and evaluate cyber threats that could affect Disney and its portfolio of brands, including ABC and Hulu. Two days on the job rarely look the same.
“We’re constantly monitoring for new and emerging threats,” she says. “Much of the role involves research, staying on top of trends, and ensuring we have the necessary information to protect the organization.”
Just as important as analyzing data is interpreting it. Tucker regularly transforms complex technical information into reports and recommendations that help other teams make informed decisions.
Her ability to connect data to actionable insights, she says, is a product of her academic background. “When you’re pulling information from multiple sources to create a bigger picture… that’s a skill I developed early on at UNCG and use every day,” she says.
As her career journey continues to unfold, Tucker remains connected to UNCG through mentorship, networking, and conversations with students interested in technology and analytics careers. She encourages current students to take advantage of every opportunity available to them, from certifications and internships to campus activities and networking events.
“At UNCG, I was able to find something I was really passionate about. You may think you’re interested in one thing and end up completely changing it up. Have those experiences and immerse yourself.”
Story by AMBCopyPhotography provided by Natalie Tucker
