Celebrating International Women in Cyber Day 2025

At Eskenzi PR & Marketing, we are extremely proud to champion and uplift women in cybersecurity – all year round. Each year, we hold our own ‘Most Inspiring Women In Cyber’ awards that celebrate key figureheads in the industry. Therefore, when a day like International Women in Cyber Day comes around, this year celebrated on the 1st September, it gives us a perfect reason to share the words of some of the incredible women who keep the world of cybersecurity spinning. 

Anna Collard, SVP of Content Strategy and Evangelist at KnowBe4, highlights how creativity, team diversity, and a focus on meaningful outcomes strengthen the world of cybersecurity.   

“As someone who never quite fit into a single mould, I’ve found strength in being a multi-disciplined ‘amateur’, dabbling across art, mental health, yoga, podcasts, cartoons and – of course – cybersecurity. It’s the fusion of varied interests that fuels creativity in this exciting field. 

Launching a cybersecurity training product by sketching cartoons on a beach, getting feedback from peers before building it and finally turning that into a real learning tool taught me the power of true connection from the very beginning. After all, understanding users is what guides relevance and impact, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. 

 I have also learned that diversity, from hiring across backgrounds, and ruthlessly avoiding distractions like vanity metrics, helps build stronger, more meaningful connections. When you get this balance right, you’ll see a natural and progressive improvement in cyber and organisational resiliency, as people are ultimately the best line of defence against cyberthreats. 

Pooja Garg, Senior Director Security Consulting at Black Duck, comments that although the presence of Women in Cybersecurity has grown significantly, systemic barriers still remain.

“Over the years, we have witnessed remarkable progress in women joining different roles across the cybersecurity industry at various levels. Women are taking on significant challenges and pioneering new roles, defining pathways for others to follow. There are many more women in leadership positions than there were a few decades ago, which is very encouraging. Data from International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) tells a compelling story of growth. In 2013, women constituted just 10% of the global cybersecurity workforce. By 2019, that number had doubled to 20%, and by 2022, women held 25% of cybersecurity jobs globally. Current estimates suggest that women accounted for 22% of global security teams on average, compared to 17% in 2023, showing continued momentum despite fluctuations.

In cybersecurity, specifically, women have made substantial contributions across diverse areas, from ethical hacking and penetration testing to defining critical processes in governance, compliance, and audit functions, among others. Their expertise spans technical domains, such as threat intelligence and incident response, as well as strategic areas including risk management and security architecture.

However, we are not quite there yet. The industry remains challenged by persistent bias and barriers that can fuel self-doubt among women professionals. More concerning are the systemic challenges that persist. Pay disparities and retention challenges compound the representation gap.

As women in cybersecurity, we must pursue a dual approach that emphasises both individual growth and collective support:

• Individual Excellence: We need to strive for continuous professional development, actively taking on challenging projects that stretch our capabilities, and confidently bringing our expertise to the table. The constantly evolving landscape of technology and emerging threat vectors presents numerous opportunities for both hands-on technical roles and strategic non-technical positions.
• Collective Support: Supporting other women in the industry through mentoring relationships, inclusive management practices, and active participation in programmes designed to advance women in cybersecurity is equally crucial.

Cybersecurity offers an incredibly diverse range of career paths. Whether your interests lie in technical areas, such as malware analysis, cloud security, or IoT security, or in business-focused domains, including compliance, risk assessment, or security programme management, there are pathways aligned with various interests and backgrounds. The field’s constant evolution means new specialisations emerge regularly. This dynamic nature creates fresh opportunities for professionals to carve out expertise in emerging areas.

I encourage women to actively explore opportunities that align with their interests and professional backgrounds. Expand your network by connecting with other cybersecurity professionals, participating in industry conferences and workshops, and learn from others’ journeys through mentorship and professional associations. Most importantly, do not let imposter syndrome undermine your confidence. Your expertise, perspective, and problem-solving abilities are essential assets to the cybersecurity community. The industry needs diverse voices and approaches to address the complex security challenges facing organisations worldwide effectively. By supporting each other and confidently pursuing our professional goals, we can accelerate progress toward a more inclusive and robust cybersecurity workforce.”

Eryn Linnell, Marketing Campaign Manager at Bridewell, acknowledges the significant progress made in supporting Women in cybersecurity while shedding light on important societal challenges.  

 “Over the past few years, we’ve seen real progress in supporting women in cyber. Many organisations are making more of a conscious effort to recruit a diverse range of people, and more women are now stepping into senior and leadership roles. Large-scale awareness campaigns have also helped to raise the visibility of women in cyber, ensuring the message reaches a much wider audience.

 That said, barriers remain in the sector. Industry events are still often male-dominated, which can make networking challenging for women entering the field. Expanding the number of women-focused networking opportunities would go a long way in helping balance that out. Equally, there’s a need for more structured training and mentoring programmes designed specifically for women, initiatives that are vital for nurturing the next generation of leaders in cyber.

 For women starting out, my advice would be to find a mentor or ally early on to support your growth and provide guidance. It’s also worth exploring non-traditional entry points into the industry including roles in marketing, HR, or finance can be excellent stepping stones into a cyber career, beyond the more traditional consulting path.

 Ultimately, diversity isn’t just a “nice to have”, it’s critical to the future of cybersecurity. Teams that are diverse bring wider perspectives, stronger resilience, and more innovative solutions. Beyond that, the way we communicate and market cyber also benefits greatly from a variety of voices.”

All these esteemed women are an inspiration to everyone in the industry. The impact they’ve made on the industry is beyond measure. Nevertheless, they remain aware that the world of cyber still needs to address its systemic barriers, so that we can continue amplifying the voices of inspiring women in cybersecurity.

— by Cyprian Kucaj, Account Executive