30+ Inspirational Women in Cyber Security Industry

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About a quarter of the cybersecurity workforce is comprised of women. While this is an increase from 11% in 2017, there are still significant barriers for women who wish to enter or advance within the vast global security industry. Female cybersecurity leaders may face a pay gap of about 20% compared to men. When asked about their income in 2021, 29% of men and 17% of women stated they made between $50,000 and $99,999.

As we can see in the current sector reports, male professionals have long dominated the field of cybersecurity, but recent years have witnessed a significant shift in the industry’s landscape. As organizations recognize the importance of diversity and inclusivity, efforts are being made to increase the representation of women in cybersecurity leadership positions. In this article, we will explore the progress in this regard and provide statistics that shed light on the current state of women in cybersecurity leadership. It’s encouraging to see so many amazing women in cybersecurity leading toward a more diverse and welcoming security field.

This article highlights the achievements of remarkable women in cybersecurity, showcasing their unique perspectives, diverse backgrounds, and exceptional skills. Their success stories inspire aspiring professionals and demonstrate the significant impact women can have in this dynamic field.

Some inspirational women in the cybersecurity industry

These women are breaking barriers and inspiring future generations of female professionals to pursue careers in cybersecurity. Please look below at some of today’s most renowned cybersecurity thought leaders to understand how they’re transforming the business as we know it.

1. Chani Simms

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Company: Meta Defence Labs Ltd.
Position: Managing Director Meta Defence Labs + Virtual CISO | SHe CISO Exec. Founder | TEDx Speaker | NCSC Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials

Information security and data protection strategies can benefit significantly from the counsel of Chani Simms, a C-suite advisor and leader in cybersecurity. While finishing her computer science degree, she worked as an IBM engineer specializing in I.T. infrastructure, systems management, virtualization, and data centers.

As one of the women who changed the cyber world, she advanced her career to the point where she could focus on I.T. and security exclusively; she now serves as a virtual CISO, data protection officer, Cyber Essentials Assessor, and IASME governance auditor for small and medium-sized enterprises. She founded SHe CISO Exec., a global training and mentoring platform for information security industry experts, after leading security firm Meta Defence Labs.

2. Nicole Eagan

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Company: Darktrace
Position: Chief Strategy & A.I. Officer at Darktrace

Since leaving her position as chief marketing officer of H.P. Autonomy in 2012, Nicole Eagan has made a name for herself in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, earning her the title “A.I. Leader of the Year” in 2020. Since then, she’s made progress positioning her current company, Darktrace, as an international leader in cyber defense in her capacity as chief strategy & A.I. officer for the firm.

Darktrace’s 600% year-over-year growth can be directly attributed to Nicole’s direction of the company’s innovative approach to revolutionary A.I. technology, which has helped develop one of the most successful solutions to global cybersecurity concerns. Darktrace, led by Nicole, has defended smart cities like Las Vegas from state-sponsored threat actors, who targeted the city’s water reclamation system and industrial IoT sensors.

3. Kirsten Davies

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Company: Unilever
Position: Chief Information Security Officer at Unilever + Board Member / Executive Advisor / Security, Technology, and Digital Transformation

Kirsten Davies has been recognized as a true thought leader in cybersecurity transformation thanks to her global approach to information security, data privacy, and enterprise risk gained via her experiences working and living on four continents. She is one of the inspirational women in the cybersecurity industry; her innovative approach to cybersecurity has helped Hewlett Packard Enterprise achieve firsts, like establishing Africa’s first end-to-end security department and signing the first-ever Cyber Security Master Agreement with the German Workers Council. Having lived and worked on four continents, she is recognized as a thought leader in the transformation process, including refining enterprise-wide ways of working, re-envisioning and establishing organizational cadence and culture, designing and delivering dynamic talent development paths, and innovating and optimizing security processes and risk-mitigating controls.

4. Kate Maxwell

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Company: Microsoft
Position: Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Worldwide Defense & Intelligence | Keynote Speaker | Board Member | Top 100 Women in Tech

With a computer science and systems engineering background, Kate Maxwell spent 16 years in the aerospace industry at defense contractor Raytheon Technologies before joining Microsoft’s Worldwide Defense & Intelligence (D&I) team.

She realized the corporate contractor environment wasn’t a good fit for her as her expertise expanded, and she eventually landed a role at Microsoft working on digital transformation because of her enthusiasm for bringing disruptive, inventive technological concepts to reality.

5. Lauren Knausenberger

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Company: SAIC
Position: Chief Innovation Officer

As CIO of the Department of Air Force, which includes the Air Force and Space Force, Lauren Knausenberger leads a 20,000-person team of I.T. experts working to advance the cybersecurity landscape of the Department of Defense.

Though she only joined the Air Force in 2017, Lauren has already become a key innovator in the service’s I.T. sector. Lauren has been a strong proponent of utilizing cutting-edge technology to replace an antiquated I.T. infrastructure and better serve U.S. warfighters due to mounting pressure from airmen and women for the Air Force to resolve widespread I.T. concerns.

Due to the ever-changing nature of cyberattacks, Lauren has spearheaded the Air Force’s efforts to replace antiquated I.T. regulations with a more modern IT-as-a-service approach. She led projects in 2021 to enhance the Defense Department’s cloud strategy and make the transition to a fully zero-trust paradigm, and she worked to extend the Air Force’s Platform One and Cloud.

6. Sheila Jordan

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Company: Honeywell
Position: Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Technology Officer at Honeywell

Sheila Jordan is an accomplished I.T. executive who has earned her name by guiding the implementation of various global I.T. strategies and transformations at different companies. As a firm believer in the potential of digital transformation to reorganize businesses, she has assisted many organizations in getting the most out of their technology investments and introducing data-driven digital experiences from start to finish, thereby improving the quality of their customers’ experiences.

The breadth of Sheila’s digital transformation expertise has resulted in her being sought after for several positions. She was Cisco’s previous senior vice president and oversaw the company’s move toward a more user-friendly interface for consumers. Before leaving her position as CIO at global cybersecurity pioneer Symantec, she guided the company’s I.T. vision and strategy and helped keep Symantec at the forefront of technological developments. Sheila is currently the chief digital technology officer of Honeywell, where she oversees the company’s strategy for digital transformation.

7. Lakshmi Hanspal

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Company: Amazon Devices & Services
Position: Global Chief Security Officer at Amazon Devices & Services; Champion of Digital Trust; Board Director; Award-Winning Executive

In digital and cybersecurity, Lakshmi Hanspal is a visionary who has long advocated for the complete maturation of security leaders. She has worked her way up through the ranks thanks to her expertise in information security, risk management, and privacy and her ability to get the buy-in of C-suite executives for crucial security initiatives.

Lakshmi serves on the boards of directors for eight cloud firms and advises several Silicon Valley startups due to her dedication to protecting digital transformation and promoting socially responsible business practices. She did become a member of the board of directors at Spectrum Labs, an organization whose mission is to use artificial intelligence to create communities online that are welcoming to all users and conducive to meaningful interaction among them. Today, she is the CSO of Amazon Devices & Services, and her work encompasses all aspects of Trust, including trusted products, platforms, and operating environments.

8. Nasrin Rezai

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Company: Verizon
Position: SVP, Chief Information Security Officer at Verizon

Nasrin Rezai is a leader in the field of cybersecurity and a technology visionary. She is fearless in the face of the ever-changing security threats faced by business leaders, and her dedication to shifting our perspective on cybersecurity has allowed her to build solutions for giant organizations and advocate for a more robust security culture.

She has served in several jobs thanks to her expertise in global technology risk management and in being about a cultural shift toward a more risk-conscious mindset. She is presently serving as Verizon’s CISO, where she directs the company’s information security strategy to safeguard Verizon’s clients and infrastructure.

9. Natasha Sayce-Zelem

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Company: Amazon
Position: Global Head of Partner Engineering, Prime Video at Amazon

Natasha Sayce-Zelem started as a freelance music photographer but is now Amazon’s global head of partner engineering.

Natasha was the chief of technology at broadcast media firm Sky before joining Amazon and is one of the inspirational women in the cybersecurity industry. She oversaw the digital trading division and used machine learning and conversational user interface technology to create data-driven consumer journeys there.

To inspire more women to pursue careers in science and technology, she launched Empowering Women with Tech in 2016. She has made it one of her missions to show women that a job in I.T. can be just as creative as any other in the STEM fields.

10. Poornima DeBolle

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Company: Menlo Security Inc.
Position: Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Menlo Security Inc. + Official Member – Forbes Technology Council

Poornima DeBolle is a pioneer in the isolation market and the chief product officer at Menlo Security. This company puts the safety of its consumers first without sacrificing the quality of their experience. She is highly skilled in various areas, including network security architecture, engineering and technical group management, product definition, and company and product evaluations for mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships. She is well-known for advising security professionals about which use cases need more attention to ensure the success of modern enterprises without compromising productivity.

DeBolle has extensive experience in cloud security, security management, and security analytics from his time as a product management executive at Juniper Networks. When Juniper bought Altor Networks, where she was V.P. of product management and business development, she moved over to the upstart. Her experience includes product management and engineering roles, in addition to her role as Head of Business Development at Check Point before she joined Altor. DeBolle’s first job out of college was with Technically Elite, where she worked as a Firmware Engineer. She has been accepted into the Forbes Technology Council as a full member. DeBolle received his Bachelor of Engineering from Bangalore University and his Master of Science in Computer Science from Arizona State University.

11. Jadee Hanson

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Company: Code42
Position: Chief Information Security Officer At Code42
At Code42, the market leader in insider risk management, Jadee Hanson oversees all aspects of risk and compliance, security operations, incident response, and the insider threat program in her dual role as CISO and CIO.

Hanson has been recognized as a Women in Security: PowerPlayer by S.C. Magazine and a Black Unicorn – Top 10 Women in Cybersecurity and Top 10 CISO by Cyber Defense Magazine in 2021 and 2020, respectively. In addition to being a co-author of the book Inside Jobs: Why Insider Risk Is the Biggest Cyber Threat You Can’t Ignore, she is frequently featured as an expert in cybersecurity news articles.

12. Summer Craze Fowler

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Company: Motional
Position: Senior Vice President, Cyber Security & IT

Summer works for Morioal as a Senior Vice President, Cyber Security & I.T. She has extensive knowledge in cyber crisis management and business continuity.

Summer Craze Fowler is a seasoned C-Suite executive with over 20 years of experience in cyber security and risk management. She is adept at developing technical strategies and leading teams to achieve aggressive goals while also in hyper-growth mode.

13. Jordan Rae Kelly

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Company: FTI Consulting
Position: Senior Managing Director and Americas Cyber Security Leader at FTI

At FTI Consulting, where she is the Head of Cybersecurity for the Americas, Jordan Rae Kelly is a Senior Managing Director. Kelly has handled cyber policy development and incident response coordination for over 15 years. She advises clients on various topics regarding breaches, insider threats, intellectual property, crisis communications, vendor management, compliance, regulation, risk management, and forensic investigations.

14. Marnie Wilking

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Company: Booking.com
Position: Chief Information Security Officer

Founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch startup to one of the world’s leading digital travel companies. When it comes to improving risk outcomes and enabling businesses to incorporate risk management while still maintaining speed and agility, Wilking’s unique set of skills and experience is hard to beat. She has directed information security and multi-discipline risk management programs for more than 15 years across multiple industries and is one of the inspirational women in the cybersecurity industry.

15. Elena Poincet

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Company: TEHTRIS
Position: Founder

In 2010, Elena Poincet and Laurent Oudot founded TEHTRIS. Before that, Poincet worked as an expert in the management and leadership of specialized teams for the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. Poincet learned to take charge, take action, and find purpose in service via this ordeal. She oversees TEHTRIS’s overall mission, strategy, and operations, emphasizing countering cyber sabotage and espionage. Poincet and Oudot drew on their expertise in many forms of attack (hacking, strategic intelligence, information technology warfare, etc.) while developing their recommendations. A precursor to the modern field of Endpoint Detection and Response, TEHTRIS was one of the first publishing houses to publish in this area in 2013. (EDR). Because of their foresight, TEHTRIS is now Europe’s only XDR (eXtended Detection and Response) platform editor.

16. Gal Helemski

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Company: PlainID’s
Position: CTO & CP0 and Co-Founder

At PlainID, Gal Helemski is a co-founder and the chief of innovation and product. Tel Aviv-based cybersecurity provider PlainID offers an authorization platform based on business policies. Helemski co-founded PlainID in 2015, a company that provides straightforward answers to authorization management and paves the way for more centralized command and control of digital assets.

Helemski, a well-known cybersecurity expert, directs innovation and product development for PlainID and is one of the inspirational women in the cybersecurity industry. She’s worked in the field for 14 years, during which time she’s defined solutions for clients, developed project specifications, and written technical documentation. She has also shared her knowledge of the identity and access management field by giving talks and conducting workshops.

17. Leigh Marshall Dow

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Company: BLACKCLOAK
Position: Marketing Vice President, BLACKCLOAK

Leigh has recently moved to BLACKCLOAK where I can focus more deeply on cybersecurity and she is the company’s Vice President of Marketing. BlackCloak is a trailblazer in the field of Digital Executive Protection. Their comprehensive services encompass online privacy protection, personal device security, home network security, and incident response. They specialize in safeguarding corporate leaders, high-profile individuals, and their families from cyber threats and privacy breaches.By offering top-notch digital security and privacy solutions, BlackCloak plays a vital role in defending against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. Their expertise and dedication contribute to enhancing personal privacy and security for individuals and organizations alike.

Dow has over 20 years of experience in marketing, branding, and public relations, including 14 years in the Fortune 100. Early in her career, Dow worked in government affairs for both the press office of the Governor of Florida and for then-U.S. Senator Bob Graham. She previously was director of global service delivery design at Honeywell. Before that, she oversaw the $1 billion Aerospace internet sales channel and online marketing as eCommerce Director. She got her start in the computer industry with Intel, managing immigration and Department of State programs for government affairs before moving on to public relations and marketing.

18. Michelle Drolet

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Company: Towerwall
Position: President & CEO

Towerwall, led by Michelle Drolet, is a cybersecurity, cloud, and virtual CISO services organization serving clients like Foundation Medicine, Boston College, and Middlesex Savings Bank. Drolet has more than 24 years of experience in the fields of network and cybersecurity and is responsible for all elements of Towerwall’s operations. She is one of the inspirational women in the cybersecurity industry. She has used her expertise to establish Towerwall as a frontrunner among providers of cybersecurity services and solutions. Drolet has a solid reputation in the industry thanks to his frequent articles in national publications such as Forbes Council and IDG CSOonline.

19. Gily Netzer

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Company: Perimeter 81
Position: Vice President of Marketing

Perimeter 81 is a robust, easy-to-use, converged networking and network security platform that connects all users, in the office or remote, to all resources located on-prem or cloud. It is a cloud-native service with advanced capabilities such as Zero Trust remote access, Internet access control, malware protection, and a firewall. It enables any business to build a secure corporate network over a private global backbone, without hardware, and within minutes. Netzer is a marketing guru who has helped numerous cybersecurity firms grow. With over 20 years of experience in international B2B cybersecurity, she is a passionate, imaginative, and results-driven marketing strategist and seasoned leader. She has been instrumental in driving 50%+ of the business and continuous growth yearly through her work in building teams across geographies, establishing new technological categories, forming a marketing machine, and maintaining market leadership and connections.

20. Paige Barry

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Company: DefenseStorm
Position: Customer Solutions Vice President

DefenseStorm brought Paige Barry on board in 2019 to head up the teams responsible for deploying, supporting, and improving the company’s offerings. Financial institutions can achieve cyber safety and soundness through legislation and their policies with the help of DefenseStorm, which integrates and automates cybersecurity and cyber compliance designed for banking in real-time. Having served the financial industry’s technological needs for over 20 years, Barry is an essential and trustworthy executive at DefenseStorm, where he serves as Vice President of Customer Solutions.

21. Nicole Dove

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Company: Riot Games & Harvard University
Position: Podcast Producer & Lecturer
Nicole Dove, a distinguished leader in the field of information security, boasts an impressive 18-year career spanning cybersecurity, audit, global operations, and relationship management. In her role as the Head of Security for the Games Division at Riot Games, she oversees a team of BISOs dedicated to crafting and implementing cybersecurity strategies aligned with business priorities.

Nicole employs a pragmatic and well-balanced method in advancing risk and security programs. Drawing on her diverse background in investment banking, media, offshoring, audit, and management consulting, she facilitates innovation, mitigates risk, enhances operational efficiencies, and elevates client experience.

22. Mary Ann Davidson

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Company: Oracle
Position: Chief Security Officer

Davidson’s engagement in computer security traces back to 1993 when she assumed the role of product marketing manager in Oracle’s secure systems business unit. Over the years, she has contributed significantly, serving on the Defense Science Board and as a member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency. She has provided testimony on cybersecurity matters before various committees in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate Committee.

In terms of education, Davidson holds a BSME from the University of Virginia and earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she has a background as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps and was honored with the Navy Achievement Medal during her service.

23. Dr. Mona Lisa Pinkney

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Company: NIKE Global Technology
Position: Sr Director, Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, Compliance, Engagement and Geos

Dr. Mona Lisa Pinkney is Nike’s Senior Director of Governance, Risk, Compliance, Engagement & Geographies in Global Technology. With over 25 years of Cybersecurity experience in Fortune 500 companies, she holds certifications including CISSP, CISA, CISM, and PMP. A dedicated advocate for diversity, she provides mentorship and sponsorship, founding Black Women in STEM 2.0 and leading the Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Oregon Affiliate.

24. Anitha Ibrahim

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Company: Amazon Web Services
Position:Data Protection & Cybersecurity

In her role at Amazon, Anitha is responsible for developing public policy on cybersecurity for AWS. Before joining Amazon, she spent 11 years as Senior Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, focusing on prosecuting computer-facilitated criminal activities and offering legal guidance on electronic evidence issues. Her specific areas of expertise include the Stored Communications Act (SCA), the Wiretap Act, the Pen Register/Trap and Trace Statute, and the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (CLOUD Act).

25. Marnie (Huss) Wilking

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Company:Wayfair
Position:CISO
Marnie is a seasoned CISO with 18 years of experience in Information Security and Risk Management Programs across Financial Services, Healthcare Tech, and E-Commerce. Currently, she is the Global Head of Security & Technology Risk Management (CISO) at Wayfair. Marnie is actively engaged as a board member for organizations such as the Cybercrime Support Network, Retail & Hospitality ISAC, Virsec Systems, Robert Half, and Living Security. She also serves as a strategic Advisor and Investor for SVCI – Silicon Valley CISO Investments, earning recognition on the CISOs Connect™ list of the Top 100 CISOs twice and volunteering on the CISO Forum Advisory Council.

26. Jamie Smith

 

Company: RSA Security
Position: Chief Computer Analyst and Cybersecurity Officer

Jamie Smith serves as the Chief Computer Analyst and Cybersecurity Officer at RSA Security, a company specializing in digital risk management through various capabilities like integrated risk management, threat detection and response, identity and access management, and fraud prevention. Notably, RSA Security is renowned for its RSA SecurID Access, a two-factor authentication system utilizing hardware tokens, software tokens, and one-time codes across numerous technologies. Smith oversees all cybersecurity operations at RSA, leveraging 21st-century skills such as AI intelligence, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, communication skills, and extensive computer knowledge.

Before joining RSA, Smith held the role of Information Technology Manager at ABC Technologies for three years. She holds a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science from New York University.

27. Jaya Baloo

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Company: Avast Software
Position: Chief Computer Analyst and Cybersecurity Officer

Baloo, who studied at Tufts University, has a diverse career in cybersecurity. Inspired by receiving a computer at the age of nine, her early job at a bank exposed her to cryptography challenges and its classification as a “weapon” by the USA. After roles in network services and consulting, she specialized in fraud and revenue assurance at France Telecom and worked at Verizon for nearly four years. As the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at KPN Telecom in 2012, she led during a hacking incident and chaired the Dutch Continuity Board, focusing on cybersecurity collaboration. Baloo, recognized as a top CISO, joined Avast in 2019, driven by their mission for universal cybersecurity access.

She also holds a faculty position at Singularity University, serves as a quantum ambassador for KPN, and is the Vice Chair of the Quantum Flagship Strategic Advisory Board for the EU Commission. Advocating quantum readiness, she emphasizes the inevitability of quantum computers disrupting current architectures and suggests practical measures for organizations to prepare for this shift. Baloo envisions exciting developments in quantum communication, predicting a shift to many-to-many communication within 5–10 years.

28. Saryu Nayyar

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Company: Gurucul
Position: Chief Executive Officer

Saryu Nayyar is a highly regarded cybersecurity professional, recognized globally for her expertise in information security, IAM, compliance, and risk management. A member of the Forbes Technology Council, she has earned prestigious awards, including the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women and Cyber Defense Magazine Top 10 Women in Cyber Security. As a serial entrepreneur, Nayyar co-founded Vaau, an identity and access management startup, later acquired by Sun Microsystems (now Oracle) in 2008.

Her leadership roles include positions at Oracle, Simeio, Sun Microsystems, and Disney, and she has made significant contributions to technology security and risk management at Ernst & Young. Nayyar is passionate about innovation, holding multiple patents for inventions in behavior analytics, anomaly detection, and dynamic risk scoring.

29. Aimei Wei

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Company: Stellar Cyber
Position: Founder and Chief Technology Officer

Aimei Wei is the Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Stellar Cyber, Inc., a cybersecurity software company in Santa Clara, California. Established in 2015 as Aella Data, Stellar Cyber developed Open XDR, an innovative security operations platform providing intelligent and rapid threat detection and response across the entire attack surface. Their leading security software significantly improves operational productivity by enabling analysts to promptly address threats within minutes, and the company, comprising 120 professionals, has received several industry awards, including the Gold Globee® Award for Best Cyber Security Solution & Service.

30. Iretioluwa Akerele

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Company: Cybarik
Position: Founder

Iretioluwa is the creator of Cybarik, a cybersecurity company aimed at narrowing the divide between cybersecurity expertise and individuals. Cybarik focuses on enhancing company security while simultaneously providing training to individuals to boost their cybersecurity knowledge and skills. Additionally, Iretioluwa is the founder of Cyblack, an organization dedicated to supporting African Cybersecurity students in Europe. She serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Cybersafe Foundation. Her accomplishments include winning the Young CISO of the Year award in March 2022.

31. Baya Lonqueux

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Company: Reciproc-it
Position: CEO and Founder

Baya Lonqueux is the president and founder of Reciproc-it, an ESN specializing in information systems security. With over 15 years of experience in IT services marketing, Baya Lonqueux has successfully balanced the demands of commercial management, the ad hoc construction of profit centers, and the operational oversight of delivery teams. During her tenure as the head of the consulting branch of a key player in the information systems security sector, she developed advanced expertise in the field.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, a penchant for innovation, and a desire to engage with the ecosystem of partners, specifiers, and industrialists who have consistently trusted her, she ultimately decided to establish her own company. Baya Lonqueux is an active member of CEFCys, the women’s cybersecurity club.

Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Women in Cybersecurity Leadership

As the field of cybersecurity continues to expand, it is crucial to address the gender disparity within the industry. While progress has been made, women still face unique challenges when advancing in cybersecurity careers. In this article, we will explore the specific barriers that women encounter and propose potential solutions to foster gender equality and empower women in cybersecurity.

Lack of Representation:

One significant barrier for women in cybersecurity is the lack of representation. The industry remains predominantly male-dominated, with women being underrepresented in leadership and technical roles. This disparity can discourage aspiring women professionals and limit their access to mentorship and role models.

To overcome this barrier, promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives within organizations is essential. Establishing mentorship programs, hosting networking events, and featuring successful women leaders in cybersecurity can provide aspiring professionals the inspiration and guidance they need. Additionally, encouraging women to pursue technical education and certifications can help bridge the gender gap in technical roles.

Gender Stereotypes and Bias:
Women in cybersecurity often face biases that can hinder their career advancement. Preconceived notions that associate technology and cybersecurity with male attributes can lead to discriminatory hiring practices and limited opportunities for women professionals.

Addressing stereotypes and biases requires a collective effort from both individuals and organizations. Employers should implement blind recruitment practices, ensuring that candidates’ gender is not a factor in the hiring process. Organizations can also provide bias training to raise awareness and foster an inclusive work environment. Women professionals can challenge stereotypes by showcasing their expertise and contributions to the field, breaking down gender-based assumptions.

Work-Life Balance:

Balancing work and personal life can be particularly challenging for women in cybersecurity, as the industry often demands long hours and intense dedication. This can disproportionately affect women, who may face additional responsibilities such as caregiving or family obligations.

Creating flexible work arrangements and promoting work-life balance initiatives can help alleviate this barrier. Offering remote work options, flexible schedules, and supportive policies for parental leave can empower women to pursue cybersecurity careers while maintaining a healthy work-life integration. Additionally, fostering a culture that values work-life balance and provides resources for personal development can contribute to the overall well-being of women professionals.

Unequal Hiring Practices:

Hiring processes may unintentionally favor male candidates due to biased job descriptions, limited outreach to diverse talent pools, and unconscious biases during interviews. These practices contribute to the underrepresentation of women in the cybersecurity workforce.

Hostile Work Environments:

Women in cybersecurity often face a challenging work environment characterized by discrimination, harassment, and exclusion. These experiences can create a hostile atmosphere discouraging women from pursuing or remaining in the industry.


In summary, the cybersecurity industry has significantly promoted gender diversity and inclusion. Women have emerged as inspirational leaders, making valuable contributions and shaping the industry’s landscape. Despite the existing barriers, these 20 inspirational women in the cybersecurity industry have overcome challenges, demonstrating their expertise, innovation, and leadership. Breaking barriers and shaping the future depends on inspirational women in the cybersecurity industry. These women’s journey in cybersecurity leadership will shape the eco-system and spare a place for more talented women in this unique era.

By recognizing and celebrating these inspirational women in the cybersecurity industry, we aim to foster an inclusive and diverse cybersecurity industry that thrives on many perspectives and experiences. Their achievements serve as a testament to the growing influence of women in cybersecurity and pave the way for more opportunities and advancements in the future.

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