Who We Are
TLP White’s focus is on creating a world from which children, teenagers, and adults can learn about cybersecurity in an organic & fun way from industry leaders. We begin by creating a vibrant and adventurous world for children, where they can follow a curious fox, who is learning to navigate the cyber world, on her adventures online as she comes across various scammers and schemers – from Phishy Pete and Scammy Sam to Ransom Randy and Botnet Bob.
Though our stories are primarily crafted for children, they’re designed to captivate readers of all ages — from teens to adults. Filled with humor, friendship, love, self-discovery, and the power of both instincts and community, our tales also offer a glimpse into the wonders of wildlife. We have always heard that we have to pick between technology and the natural world, but not here. We foster love for both natural, animals, and technology and celebrate the interconnectedness of it all. Multi-layered and rich with meaning, these stories seamlessly weave in essential social, economic, and political concepts, making them accessible and engaging for everyone, even young readers. Perfect for families, our stories provide a unique opportunity for parents and kids to bond while learning together in an enjoyable and educational way.
We hope to make Finnie the Fox a trusted companion for kids across the nation, and use the power of storytelling to redefine security standards in American households. Technology isn’t going anywhere — it’s time we fully embrace it, taking control and ensuring that we hold the power, not the tools. We should be the ones deciding how they shape our lives and what impact we want to have with them.
We go beyond just education — we make breaking into the cybersecurity industry easier than ever. Our expertly curated curriculums are developed in collaboration with top industry professionals and leading training organizations. But we don’t stop at training — we actively connect you with employers, leveraging our network to help you stand out and secure meaningful roles in the field.
We’re especially committed to supporting underserved communities. Our Pathways Program is not only free and accessible, but we also reinvest a portion of our profits to expand access to technology and close the digital divide where it’s needed most.
Let’s raise security standards in American households, and make digital security accessible to everyone.
Let’s set the gold standard!
Our Name
Are you familiar with Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA's) Traffic Light Protocol (TLP)? The Traffic Light Protocol (TLP) was created in order to facilitate greater sharing of information.
TLP:RED - Not for disclosure, restricted to participants only.
TLP:AMBER - Limited disclosure,
restricted to participants’ organizations.
TLP:GREEN - Limited disclosure, restricted to the community.
TLP:CLEAR (previously referred to as TLP:WHITE) - Recipients can spread this to the world, there is no limit on disclosure.
We believe that everyone needs to have good cyber hygiene. It's time to make cybersecurity insights from industry research TLP:White so everyone can have a safer digital life.
Meet The Team
Founder & President
Amina Bashir
Amina Bashir is a cybersecurity expert, with eight years of experience in the field. She has taught computer science courses at Hunter College, contributed to product and intel teams in leading cybersecurity firms, and is published in prestigious journals like Elsevier's International Journal of Future Generation Computer Systems and IEEE. Her expertise blends academia and practical industry experience seamlessly.
Director
Lisa Ackerman
Lisa is a carer cybersecurity leader with a background in intelligence. She is a US Air Force Veteran and has supported public and private sector roles within the US government, financial, and healthcare sectors. She is passionate about teaching cybersecurity and human resilience and supports organizations in building out threat-led comprehensive security programs.
Director
Katherine Hou
Katherine Hou has spent more than a decade "following the money" as a financial investigator and forensic accountant in criminal and civil matters. Before focusing recent efforts on financial and cryptocurrency data analysis, Katherine worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to trace funds, including cryptocurrency and digital currency, for counterterrorism, sanctions evasion, white collar crime, and cyber investigations. Her roles have included working with the FBI Hi-Tech Organized Crime Unit and Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team and at the Special Counsel's Office led by Robert S. Mueller III that was ordered to investigate Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election and related matters.
Prior to the FBI, Katherine worked in Forensic Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) conducting investigations for civil matters including intellectual property, government contracts, loss and damage calculations, contract disputes, corporate accounting investigations, and IT General Controls. In her spare time, Katherine enjoys multidisciplinary crafting from fiber arts to woodworking, and she is passionate about experiential education and inspiring curiosity.
Director
Sean Kowalski
Sean Kowalski is a cybersecurity expert with 10 years of experience in cyber threat intelligence and cyber-crime. Sean has worked for several renowned private and public sector organizations.
He joined TLP White in 2023 and is passionate about serving empowering Native communities and cybersecurity education. His passion comes from his heritage, which is connected to the Plains Miwok, Wompunes and Yokut tribes in California and the Guarame people out of Mexico.
On his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, enjoys sports, and weightlifting.
Director
Roman Y. Sannikov
Roman Y. Sannikov has over thirty years of experience in threat intelligence in both the public and private sectors.
After spending over 20 years as a contractor with the FBI, he’s for major cyber security and cyber threat intelligence providers, holding director level positions at several of them. Currently, he runs his own consulting firm focused on helping organizations create threat intelligence teams and products.
Over the years, Roman has investigated dark web forums, foreign state actors, and disinformation networks, and his work has been profiled in articles in outlets like New York Times, Wired, Rolling Stone, Reuters, Politico, and on several podcasts. Roman’s focus is on making technology and cyberspace safer and more accessible for everyone.
Roman is proud to be on the board of several non-profits and is passionate about protecting human rights and the environment.
