Cybersecurity makes for a complex yet thrilling professional career that is rewarding in every sense. Women looking to explore an exciting pathway in this field would find it an engaging blend of creativity and technical skills.
Though, despite offering tremendous scope in terms of career progression, cybersecurity still has a long way to go in terms of women in the workforce. According to Cybercrime Magazine, women comprise 25 percent of the current workforce, a disappointing figure given the high demand for skilled workers. (Cybercrime Magazine, 2023)
Gender disparity is a challenge in the cybersecurity market, which, according to SME Today, is expected to reach a value of £340 billion in 2030. The 2024 news report asserts various reasons for this- ranging from pay disparity to lack of female role models and recruitment challenges. (SME Today, 2024)
Cybersecurity is intricate to the current work landscape and, inadvertently, requires women workers who are equipped with essential training and skill sets to meet the necessary job challenges. Current women leaders in cybersecurity are working tirelessly to break this glass ceiling and pave a brilliant career ahead. Here is how you can be a part of this celebrated list.
How are women making a difference?
You would be pleasantly surprised to know that cybersecurity, a statistically male-dominated field, is filled with women holding leadership positions. According to Steve Morgan, Editor-in-Chief of Cybercrime Magazine, many international cybersecurity companies are owned by women. This includes Alcyconie, a France-based company that specializes in crisis prevention and cyber crisis management, Baycloud Systems, Oxford, U.K., co-founded by Valerie O’Neill, and Ammolite Analytx, Canada, which was founded by Cara Wolf. (Cybercrime Magazine, 2024)
Alcyconie has a 50% workforce of women, and its leader, Stephanie Ledoux, attributes her intellectual curiosity to her success, along with essential skills, talent, and determination; Ledoux emphasizes staying continuously updated on current changes. She also works tirelessly to raise the voice of women in cyber print and social media, as well as organizing and participating in various conferences aimed at enhancing the visibility of female workforce members in this field.
Other women leaders are also working tirelessly to pave the way for a softer approach for the current and future workforce. This means that empowered with the right educational education, female aspirants can make remarkable careers in cybersecurity.
Important career tips from women leaders in cybersecurity
If you are looking to make a name in the field of cybersecurity, then here are some words of wisdom from the women trailblazers of cybersecurity.
- Don’t let being a minority deter you.
Poppy Gustafsson, the CEO of Darkface, runs a gender-diverse firm and has often talked about the underrepresentation of females in this field. Her stoic, no-nonsense attitude has helped her make it big in this sector, and she advises women to explore this field. In the end, as she puts it, it’s about creating phenomenal security systems and products along with challenging the status quo. Gustafsson also focuses on the importance of skill-building and thinking out of the box to grow as a successful security expert. (The Standard, 2018)
- Make full use of your creativity
Kirsten Davies, Chief Information Security Officer for Unilever, has been a trailblazer and recognized thought leader. She has spearheaded a large-scale transformation in innovating and optimizing security processes and is considered one of the most influential names in cybersecurity. Kristen has strongly advocated the inclusion of women in this industry and attributes her own creative streak, along with her curiosity for technology, as the foundation for her success. She encourages women to develop skills like creative thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and a pro-technology mindset. (Cybercrime Magazine, 2020)
Essential advice for a career in cybersecurity: Cybersecurity is a fast-growing industry that is filled with excellent opportunities and endless possibilities. Given that cybersecurity is a global issue, there is an increasing need for diversity in this sector for effective solutions, opinions, and innovation. This makes women in the workforce an important catalyst who can bring a lot to the table, provided they have the right skill set. Below are some important pointers and suggestions that can go a long way in this field.
- Make use of mentorship and support.
Challenges are part of every sector and are not unique or limited to cybersecurity. The good news is that you also have access to mentors and support during your educational and professional journey. Network and associate with people who can counsel you and give you useful advice on overcoming any challenges that you are encountering.
President’s Scholarship for Women in Cybersecurity is one such initiative by EC-Council University that aims to promote women in cybersecurity education and the workforce. The women-oriented program offers tuition assistance to undergraduates and graduate aspirants who are keen to enter this industry. Interested students can check out our advanced cybersecurity degree programs and scholarship opportunities to take their careers to new heights.
- Every career graph is different.
Don’t get intimidated by anyone else’s journey, as you will be going through various curves. You will get the chance to pivot your own professional journey and learn that cybersecurity offers different opportunities, each situated to your personal caliber.
Lastly, if you are willing to take the risk and have the necessary determination, then cybersecurity can be a very rewarding career that will allow you to push boundaries and develop exceptional expertise.
References:
- Cybercrime Magazine. (2023, September 27). Women To Hold 30 Percent Of Cybersecurity Jobs Globally By 2025: https://cybersecurityventures.com/women-in-cybersecurity-report-2023/
- SME Today. (2024, August 1). Breaking Barriers: Bridging the Cybersecurity Gender Skill Gap: https://www.smetoday.co.uk/hr-recruitment/breaking-barriers-bridging-the-cybersecurity-gender-skill-gap/
- Cybercrime Magazine. (2024, April 29). List of Women Owned Cybersecurity Companies In The U.S. And internationally: https://cybersecurityventures.com/list-of-women-owned-cybersecurity-companies-in-the-u-s-and-internationally/
- The Standard. (2018, August 13). Darktrace’s CEO Poppy Gustafsson on what it’s like leading one of the U.K.’s top A.I. start-ups: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tech/darktrace-ceo-poppy-gustafsson-women-in-tech-a3891601.html
- Cybercrime Magazine. (2020, March 11). From iTunes To Cybersecurity, A CISO’s Voice Is Heard ‘Round the World: https://cybersecurityventures.com/from-itunes-to-cybersecurity-a-cisos-voice-is-heard-round-the-world/
