SC WOMEN IN CYBERSECURITY

4th May 2022 | Online

SC Media's Women In Cybersecurity returned for its second year on 4th May!

Women are still significantly underrepresented within cybersecurity, with fewer women entering the sector at ground level. What’s more, females are facing a continuing struggle to reach the most senior roles. This event charted where the industry stands in terms of gender equality and how to progress towards gender balance With a global shortfall of new workers joining the cybersecurity industry, there exists enormous potential to foster, develop and support a newly diverse workforce. Women in Cybersecurity took a fresh look at one of the most critical issues facing cybersecurity today, while recognising the trailblazing women leading the charge in the industry and hearing their stories.

Women in Cybersecurity was sponsored by

ISC2

Attendees were able to:

Hear from other leaders about how to cultivate gender balance in the workplace

Learn how to leverage the cybersecurity skills shortage to increase industry diversity and inclusion ?

Discover how to promote the rewards of a cybersecurity career

The key takeaways were

  • The day’s sessions provided leaders with an understanding of how businesses can better implement strategies to improve gender balance

  • The event also provided a platform for women to learn and hone their skills so they can take the next step in their careers

Agenda

09:45 - 10:00
BST

Welcome Remarks & Explanation of Key Features of the Digital Platform from SC Media

To begin opening remarks from the chairperson and an explanation of the key features of the Digital Platform


With many thanks to Cybershark Recruitment for any mentioned survey results data.

10:00 - 10:45
BST

Women in Cyber success stories - top tips for women looking to break into the industry

This session will comprise a fireside chat with female cyber leaders. You’ll hear their unique perspective of how they ascended the industry and what it took to get there. This session will also showcase practical takeaways for women looking to enter the industry and reach new levels in their career. 


  • How did female leaders get where they are today?

  • What are the challenges they have had to overcome in their own careers?

  • What are the similarities and differences between the women’s experiences in the cybersecurity industry? 

  • What is their advice to women starting out in the industry and those looking to break the glass ceiling with a promotion?

10:50 - 11:20
BST

Break the bias - what are the barriers to entry for women in cyber?

The industry knows and understands there are issues with gender diversity in cybersecurity, in spite of a growth in job vacancies in the industry. So why if job opportunities exist do women not choose to take them? This session will discuss the barriers to entry for women looking to pursue a career in the cybersecurity industry, addressing academic barriers, hiring bias, wage disparity and flexibility issues. Asking the important question - what creates these barriers to entry for women? 


  • Where does this inherent bias sit in the industry? - how does it feed into hiring bias and the environment in the workplace?

  • What can senior leadership do to reflect this move to break the bias from the top-down?

  • How can you identify inherent bias within your own organisation and address it?

11:20 - 12:00
BST

Coffee break and Virtual Networking

12:00 - 12:30
BST

STEM education: planting the seed of interest in young women’s minds from the very beginning

Following on from the discussion on barriers to entry for young girls into the industry, this session will discuss how cybersecurity companies  have invested more into STEM education programmes to  provide practical skills and certifications which help them to break the industry. 


  • Why is this so important? 

  • What can an investment in young girl’s stem education now do for the future of gender diversity in the cybersecurity industry?

  • How can the industry do more to support STEM education on the ground-level?

  • What support is there for young women considering a career in cybersecurity?

12:35 - 13:25
BST

Tracking trail blazers: How to nurture your existing talent

This session will discuss how the industry can nurture and retain existing talent. A recent study has shown 16% of female employees are looking to change their roles – with this in mind, this session will address and discuss exactly why women are choosing to leave the industry, and conclude with how cybersecurity companies can create a model and working environment which makes their existing female talent want to stay. 


  • Setting the scene - what conditions make women want to leave the industry? 

  • Dual marginalisation: Platform and power dynamic in the workplace

  • How can the industry work with its female employees to create a model which makes them want to stay?

  • What are companies doing to nurture female talent in their recruitment and retention policies?

13:25 - 13:35
BST

CLOSING REMARKS

A closing address from the conference chairperson, briefing on all the outcomes from the day, and digesting tangible takeaways for the audience