The world of cybersecurity can be a lonely place for women, who are outnumbered four to one by men. But events such as a help strengthen a growing community dedicated to supporting and empowering women in the field.
91制片厂 hosted the 鈥淧owerful Women in Cyber” panel which drew 72 attendees from across the U.S. and beyond. The panel, in partnership with Venture Caf茅 St. Louis and supported by PNC, was an outreach event of Maryville鈥檚 student organization, Women in Cyber Security (WiCyS).
According to a , women make up 24% of those working in the field, up from 11% in 2017. But the profession can still be an uncomfortable and even hostile place for women, many of whom earn less than their male counterparts.
Maryville senior Andrea Rodriguez, who studies Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism and is president of the Maryville’s WiCyS chapter, organized the event. For Rodriguez, being female and a person of color in majority white, male classrooms has sometimes felt isolating. But she didn鈥檛 let her discouragement take over.
鈥淐ybersecurity is something I enjoy,鈥� Rodriguez said. 鈥淲hy let anyone stop me from following my dream?鈥�
Cybersecurity is an exciting and rapidly developing field, said 鈥淧owerful Women鈥� panelist Alma Maria Rinasz, a software developer advocate in Austin. 鈥淚 learn something new every day,鈥� she said.
But it hasn鈥檛 always been easy to be a minority, according to Rinasz. One of four panelists, she stressed the importance of forming and nurturing relationships with other women in the workplace. Using the term 鈥渨ork wives,鈥� Rinasz said these connections can help women stop second-guessing themselves. 鈥淪tick to your guns,鈥� Rinasz advised, urging attendees to speak up and be specific when they see or experience racism and sexism in the workplace.
鈥淵ou need to raise the flag,鈥� Rinasz said. 鈥淸Say that] this happened in this situation with this person and it鈥檚 problematic because of A, B and C.鈥�
Panelist Sarah Baldeo, CEO of a cybersecurity advisory group in Toronto, agreed.
鈥淚f you ignore racism and sexism then you鈥檙e just enabling it as something that鈥檚 appropriate,鈥� Baldeo said. 鈥淢any people may not even realize the behaviors they鈥檙e engaging in.鈥�
And if no one鈥檚 paying attention? 鈥淚 say to them, 鈥楤e a Kamala Harris,鈥欌�� Baldeo said. 鈥淎nd when someone interrupts you, say, 鈥楨xcuse me, I鈥檓 speaking.鈥欌��
Rodriguez was delighted with the turnout for the event and hopes Maryville will hold similar gatherings in the future. Rodriguez鈥檚 own future plans include pursuing graduate studies in cybersecurity and eventually working in a hospital setting and possibly developing apps.
During her time at Maryville, Rodriguez has gained mentors and confidence through the WiCyS group, a national organization whose only Missouri chapter is at Maryville. She notes that male allies on campus have also been part of her supportive community.
Rodriguez heard from several former professors immediately after the 鈥淧owerful Women in Cyber鈥� panel, who congratulated her not only on the event but also her own journey.
鈥淎 lot of them said they鈥檝e seen me struggle,鈥� Rodriguez said. 鈥淎nd now they see how I鈥檓 helping other people who may be struggling.鈥�
Mark Your Calendar!
Additional “Powerful Women in Cyber” events include:
- Cybersecurity with 91制片厂鈥檚 Cyber Fusion Center experts to learn how to protect your startup, small business or nonprofit from security threats free of charge.
- “Powerful Women in Cyber” on Thursday, March 25 at 5 p.m. CST to connect with other women interested in or working in cybersecurity.