I was honored to be asked to host a “Women in Cyber” panel for the conference organizers, IQPC, at the 2017 Cyber Defense and Network Security (CDANS) conference in the United Kingdom. My distinguished fellow panelists included Jacqui Chard of the U.K.’s new National Cyber Security Centre; Sherrill Nicely, the CISO of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency; and LTC Wendi O. Brown, PMP, (NATO) Coalition Exercise Planner, U.S. European Command.
I was struck early in our preparations by a few common themes: first, all of us had “evolved into” cybersecurity from a plethora of other disciplines and backgrounds, and second, we are all equally passionate about the field of cyber.
As part of my preparation for this panel, I decided to spend some time with my female colleagues at Palo Alto Networks to learn their perspectives, from what led them to their current roles, to role models who had helped them throughout their careers, to other words of wisdom they would share with our CDANS audience. I also produced videos of each of our conversations with them, from our Senior Director of Security Operations to a Senior Software Architect and our regional CSO for Japan. The following are some highlights from these video conversations:
My research for the panel tells me that, while women are exceeding men in advanced technical degrees, more women are leaving the technical field (1). There are myriad reasons for this that we discussed during the panel. But the key takeaways were to encourage all potential cybersecurity professionals – regardless of where they are in the world, their gender or their degrees. Specifically:
When I finished the preparations, I reflected upon the many blessings of my own career and called my father. I thanked him for his encouragement of me to follow my own professional interests and do whatever I desired in my career. Serving in law enforcement for 31 years, he had hoped I would consider the national law enforcement agencies he suggested as prospective employers, and saw no limitation preventing me as a woman from entering that field. But ultimately for him, it was important to help me find whatever I would enjoy. We can all encourage the next generation of cybersecurity practitioners – and not be limited by where we think we may find them or by what their resumes may say.
Speaking of career encouragement, if you are a veteran, you may have a calling to continue to “serve” in cyber. We’d love to have you as a member of the team. Cyber is an honorable calling – and regardless of how any of us got here, I wish you profound success in your careers and the hope that, regardless of where you are or go in your career, that you lift and encourage others as you rise.
To learn more about our other activities at CDANS 2017 this year, please visit:
If you are in the U.S. government, come to Federal Ignite 2017 to learn more about what we’re doing for you and your peers to make fast threat prevention through automation a reality.
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