Why You Should Nominate For The 2025 Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards

There’s less than 12 hours to get your nominations in for the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards 2025. Fortunately, the nomination form isn’t very long, so there’s still plenty of time to nominate the exceptional women in cyber who inspire you, from apprentices and students to founders, CISOs and professors. Pop the kettle on, grab a biscuit (if you’re me, it’ll be a shortbread or dark chocolate digestive) and settle down to nominate a friend/colleague/loved one or two!  In truth, we’ve already had an influx of exceptional nominees, but (if you pardon one’s greediness) there’s always room for more. We want to uncover and celebrate those at all stages of their careers, especially those who aren’t often uplifted. Personally, I’d hate to be on the judging panel. They’ve got their work cut out for them! But with 20 top women and 5 ‘ones to watch’ to be crowned on the 26th February 2025 at the iconic BT Tower, London, it’s a job that’s got to be done – and what a pleasure to read about the lives and experiences of such inspirational women.  Oh, and don’t be shy about self nominations! As a society, we’re far too bashful when it comes to blowing our own trumpets about our achievements. I invite – rather encourage – you to (virtually) bang your own drum on the nomination form. Shout your achievements far and wide!  The form, which remains open until the 22nd January at 5pm GMT, can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYSY6YZhZmIYbx-0aT__3XYzWvRXrWozlh-FbfNfvB-0FShg/viewform?usp=sf_link Still on the fence about nominating? I caught up with some of the 2024 winners to hear why you should nominate for the 2025 awards.    Lisa Ventura, Founder of Cyber Security Unity: “The Most Inspiring Women in Cyber 2025 awards provide a unique opportunity to celebrate and amplify the incredible contributions of women in a field that is shaping the future of our digital world. Winning isn’t just about personal accolades; it is also about shining a light on the diverse talent we have in the industry, it is an opportunity for the winners to be seen, heard, and celebrated in a way that can elevate careers and open doors to new opportunities. It is also a great opportunity for new and upcoming talent to be recognised, and it is a great opportunity to become part of a movement that highlights the importance of representation and inclusion in tech. Whether you are an emerging talent or an established leader, the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber awards offer a chance to inspire others, advocate for diversity, and contribute to shaping a more inclusive and equitable future for the cyber security industry.” Dr. Andrea Cullen, Co-Founder of CAPSLOCK: “The awards themselves are such a fantastic celebration and within a very energetic and supportive environment. You also join a group of inspirational women – for me it was the positivity of the awards. The celebration of achievements and the community you join.” Zinet Kemal, Cloud Security Engineer at Best Buy: “These awards offer a powerful platform to celebrate and elevate women driving change in cybersecurity. Being recognized not only boosts your credibility, builds your personal brand but also opens doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and the chance to inspire others. It’s a reminder that your work is impactful and that sharing your story can inspire and empower others to follow their own paths in this evolving industry.  I talk about this in my 1st LinkedIn learning course on Build Your brand in Cybersecurity. I can’t emphasize this enough especially for women who tend to be too humble or not to look bragging to share our achievements or put our success out there. I say you are your best self advocate so celebrate every win!” Rosie Anderson, Head of Strategic Solutions at Th4ts3cur1ty.Company: “Although some people may see awards as a bit of fluff, awards such as the Most Inspiring Women Awards are a tangible way to show cyber security is a career for everyone if you’re willing to jump in both feet first. If there are women in your network that deserve recognition – go ahead and nominate them. They may not realise how inspiring they are to others!” Hazel McPherson, CISO of Ayvens: “You never know who you will meet being part of these awards, and I have made some very good friends and allies within the industry having met them at the BT Tower in London during this award ceremony. Aside from the obvious thrill of winning the award, just being nominated shows that you are doing great things in the industry and people are noticing. Winning the award just makes it even sweeter. I smile when I see mine on my desk still, but it’s the long term connections you will make as part of this that is the real award.” Rebecca Taylor, Threat Intelligence Knowledge Manager at Secureworks: “Whether you’re nominating someone else, or self-nominating, own the opportunity and the platform you’ve been given – It’s literally a few clicks away! Lots of females are in the cyberspace working exceptionally hard, and to receive an acknowledgement such as ‘Most Inspiring Woman in Cyber’ would mean the world – It could support them in so many ways from recognition from their employer, to job promotions, to pursuing their own cyber dreams… Just because they finally feel seen acknowledged! So nominate, advocate, and get celebrating the females inspiring others in the world of cybersecurity.” Nikki Webb, Global Channel Manager at Custodian360: “Entering the awards is more than a chance to win, it’s an opportunity to reflect on your journey, celebrate your achievements, and share your story with others. These awards showcase the incredible diversity of talent in cybersecurity and highlight the unique perspectives that drive innovation and progress in our field. Being part of the awards opens doors to new connections, collaborations, and opportunities to inspire others. It’s also a powerful reminder to yourself, and others, that your contributions matter and deserve recognition.” Valeen Oseh-Ovarah, Founder and CEO of TisOva: “I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to consider entering the awards. The Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards is more than just a recognition, it’s an opportunity to join a vibrant, supportive community of women making a difference in the cyber industry. The highlight isn’t just the award itself but the incredible experience of being part of the ceremony. It’s a space where women come together to connect, learn, and share ideas about how we can collectively improve the industry. We work in a male-dominated field, and opportunities like this, where we gather, network, and celebrate our wins, are rare and invaluable. Beyond networking, the event offers the chance to hear from leading experts in the industry, gain insights into emerging trends, and reignite existing connections. And it’s all free, great food, great drinks, and a world-class venue in London. The most important part, though, is overcoming imposter syndrome. Too often, we undervalue our contributions to the industry. This award is a chance to celebrate your wins and have your efforts championed by a community that recognises the value of your work. Since winning the award, I’ve received incredible support from the organisers, which has helped amplify my voice and initiatives. So, don’t hesitate, take that step, share your story, and let this community celebrate you. I’m rooting for you!” Jasmine Eskenzi, Founder and CEO of The Zensory: “Entering these awards is an opportunity to join an incredible community of inspiring individuals. The events create a sense of connection and empowerment, and the prestige of being recognised by brands like Eskenzi PR, IT Security Guru, and Security on Screen is invaluable.”   Want to know what our incredible 2025 winners are up to now? Keep an eye on the pages of our media partners, the IT Security Guru and Security on Screen, where two exclusive stories will be published shortly. This year’s awards are sponsored by KnowBe4, BT, Bridewell, Mimecast, Varonis, Certes, Pentest-Tools. The awards are also supported by industry leading community partners WiTCH, WiCyS UK & Ireland Affiliate, InClusive InCyber and CyBlack.  Nominations close at 5pm on 22nd January 2025. Nominate here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYSY6YZhZmIYbx-0aT__3XYzWvRXrWozlh-FbfNfvB-0FShg/viewform