A Guide to Growth- Women in Cybersecurity

Hello again Cyber family! Today we are talking about women in cybersecurity, some challenges they face and how we can facilitate growth! I had the opportunity to interview some really amazing women who are current leaders in the cybersecurity space, from CEOs to mentors, each comes from a diverse skillset and background. Some of them have been in the information technology field their entire careers and others jumped over from a non related field like nursing, marketing, business management and more. The one thing they all share is the passion to do better not only for themselves but in uplifting other women as well!

Let's explore the real life experience and advice of Women in Cybersecurity!

It's no secret, women make up a smaller percentage than men in technical roles, have on average received lower pay for the same jobs and have faced challenges in reaching leadership positions. Women are approximately 24% of the active cybersecurity work force at the time of this article but fear not! We are growing in numbers and leading strong, positive, and welcoming environments. How you ask? By motivating and driving the conversation towards inclusive work environments.

Women's leadership style

Leadership styles can vary wildly from person to person, however it can be observed that statistically speaking, women have a different leadership style than men. A study conducted by the KPMG observes 5 different leadership styles: authentic, democratic, laissez-faire, transactional and transformational. During this study it was found that 49% of women in executive roles identified with authentic leadership style while their male counterparts identified with the transactional leadership style. (KPMG study (2019, September 13). Authentic leadership style is defined by a leader that focuses on transparent ethical relationships while encouraging information sharing and team building. When asked about women's leadership styles, Jackie Fernandes, CEO of Transparency Inc, echoed the study's finding by saying "We build our team on relationships, connection, and community."

Is it more difficult, as a woman to break into cybersecurity?

Though numbers are on the rise for women in cybersecurity roles, studies show that women do face more challenges when entering the cybersecurity field. There are multiple factors that seem to play into the uphill battle of the employment gap, from lack of representation, workplace culture, degree, and overall employment to name a few. Luckily the more we learn about business, and workplace culture the more companies are realizing that a diverse workforce, means more successful performance. McKinsey research shows that "Companies with more than 30 percent women executives were more likely to outperform companies where this percentage ranged from 10 to 30"(Dixon-Fyle, S., Dolan, K., Hunt, V., & Prince, S. (2022, April 6).

From our interviews we can also say the feeling was mutual and yes, in general women have a tougher time entering these fields and the cybersecurity industry is " ...still very much a boys club"- Tylier Russ. Mentor and Talent Acquisition Specialist at NCC Group

How can women build confidence to enter, or advance in the tech field?

We know there are challenges as women entering the cybersecurity field, but luckily we have mentors and coaches to guide us along our way! Here are the top 5 I heard consistently in the interviews.

Tip1: Educate yourself. Be well rounded in developing information and get targeted knowledge for your specific area of study/interest. This will help you build confidence and set you apart from competitors.

Tip 2: Develop thick skin. Don't let things that truly do not effect you (like biased, uneducated opinions) or your career get you down! "I've had to develop confidence and resiliency to fight these battles, not let them get to me, and keep less supportive opponents in check."-Megan Kuttiamkonath, Sr. Industry Specialist, InfoSec at Amazon

Tip 3: Network and keep the positive conversation going! The best way to build a solid network is to keep talking! Positive relationships where we can support one another, teach and learn are invaluable. "...speak with women and people who are influential and making impacts in their communities. We must inspire others to do better." Tylier Russ. Mentor and Talent Acquisition Specialist at NCC Group

Tip 4: Don't Quit! As with anything worth working towards, there will be challenges and hurdles to overcome. If you get knocked down don't stay down. "Many failures knocked me down but my passion wrapped me up and rushed me to the heights." Madhumetha - Cybersecurity trainer at SkillsDA

Tip 5: Push yourself out of your comfort zone: Keep pushing and exploring areas of interest. Don't settle because you're scared of failure, you didn't come this far to only come this far. "Over the course of my career I had to learn to take risks and be pushed out of my comfort zone." Justine Agaloos- Cyber transport with the United States Air Force

As women, how can we support each other?

This one is HUGE! It's going to take a village in these efforts to advance into the cybersecurity, so how can we support each other?

Couching and mentoring. Women in leadership positions can help newcomers to the industry by not

only providing guidance and

educate but also in building confidence through community. "Mentorship and coaching all which I've been doing for men and women for over 20 years" Jackie Fernandes, CEO of Transparency Inc,

Shape your environment for positive growth. As leaders, it's important to remember you set the tone of your environment, and thus the environment for our employees and peers. Focus on positive uplifting and inclusive environments. "Advocacy, development, encouragement, and support. Advocate for your women, develop their skills, encourage them to use their skills and kill imposter syndrome, and support them when they need backing." Megan Kuttiamkonath, Sr. Industry Specialist, InfoSec at Amazon

Get involved in the community and have open discussions. There are a ton of amazing communities out there that support women in the cybersecurity field. As a leader, or a mentee it's a great way to stay connected and ensure you keep a finger on the pulse of the current climate and issues. "Create an employee resource or gender support group to ensure a safe space for open dialogues. Get involved in events; Day of Shecurity, WiCyS, Black Girls Hack, etc" Tylier Russ. Mentor and Talent Acquisition Specialist at NCC Group

“Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth.” — Jesse Jackson

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read A Guide to Growth- Women in Cybersecurity! I know in the coming years we are going to do some amazing things and want to encourage all of you reading, whoever you may be, to step outside of your comfort zone and do something new for inclusion. Whether that means furthering your education, setting up a talk group at work, applying for that new job or becoming a mentor, DO IT, and keep doing it. The best way to make it, is through community.

Ready to explore? Below you will find linked resources to communities dedicated to supporting women in cybersecurity.

Sources

Dixon-Fyle, S., Dolan, K., Hunt, V., & Prince, S. (2022, April 6). Diversity wins: How inclusion matters. McKinsey & Company. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-wins-how-inclusion-matters

KPMG study (2019, September 13). Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.awesomeleaders.org/kpmg-study-explores-how-executive-women-adapt-their-leadership-styles/

Hymowitz, C. (2011, August 9). Women leadership styles. Forbes. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2010/05/26/women-leadership-styles/?sh=568ca3ba7ad8