Cybersecurity on women's history month.
Collected by The CyberWire staff
As a media organization, the CyberWire is the recipient of ideas for stories and interview pitches each day, all year long. In March, things are a bit different. We still receive those story ideas, but since March is Women's History Month and when International Women's Day is celebrated, many of those pitches share thoughts and quotes from women who are leaders in our industry. We thought we would collect those words and share them with you all together in this article. We invite you to read those and offer a taste of what is there in this excerpt:
The theme of 2022's International Women's Day is #BreakTheBias – “Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias. Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.”
"Put simply, diverse talent brings new perspectives and innovation. Talented, driven women – as well as employees of different ages, nationalities and domains – create an impactful environment by challenging norms, building competencies and championing excellence. As we celebrate International Women’s Day in 2022 and the progress we have made, we need to remember there is still work to be done in the world of cybersecurity and tech. We must be more dedicated than ever to inspiring, encouraging and influencing women.” – Camellia Chan, CEO & founder of X-PHY, a Flexxon brand.
“For women who are looking to start a career in tech, my biggest piece of advice is to figure out what you enjoy the most. In technology there are so many opportunities and roles to choose from – focus on satisfying your curiosity and do what makes you happy. Once you figure out what’s most interesting and fun for you, you can start looking at the qualifications required for that role and develop the skills you need. You can also start networking and get involved with groups like Shecurity or ISACA’s women in tech network. Never underestimate the power of a strong, supportive network." – Maria Thompson Saeb, Senior Program Manager Governance, Risk, and Compliance @ Illumio.
You can read more inspiring words from women in cybersecurity in the full article.
The blossoming of technology.
By Eliana White, The CyberWire
I went to visit the famous cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin in DC for their peak bloom last Monday and they were beautiful as always! Most locals just see them as a tourist trap and the cause of unbearable traffic, but I’ve always loved going to visit them every year. I usually have a friend or family member that ends up tagging along, but this time I wound up going solo. I found a relatively quieter spot along the Tidal Basin with the perfect view of the National Monument and had lunch. While searching for a good spot, I noticed a woman talking into her phone, seemingly on FaceTime or video chatting. I realized that she was giving a webinar of some sort, discussing the history and cool facts about the cherry blossoms. I thought it was so cool that people were able to see and experience them without having to physically be there.
This outing made me really appreciate this “new world” that we’re living in, especially post-pandemic (ish). After I finished the lunch I brought, I turned on my phone’s hotspot and opened up my laptop to get back online and finish up my work for the day; something that I probably wouldn’t be doing if this were about 5 or 6 years ago and something that was virtually impossible 10 to 15 years ago. The best part was that I wasn’t the only one there typing away at my laptop sitting under the lovely pink cherry blossom trees.
As a millennial born in the 90s and therefore the last generation to be born before the dawn of social media and smartphones, it always amazes me how far technology has come. It almost feels like a sibling that I grew up with. Going from giant modems and monitors and hearing the dial-up sound when you’d pick up the corded phone because someone was using the internet, to now being able to slip my laptop into my backpack and connect to the internet with just a few taps on a screen. Evolution indeed.
Upon joining the cybersecurity industry.
By Liz Irvin, The CyberWire
Hello, my name is Liz and I am the newest member of the CyberWire team! This is my first time ever being in a "cyber" position and it was definitely intimidating at first, being so young and so new to the cyber field. I think growing up, whenever I heard the word cybersecurity, I always thought that meant to just make sure your personal tech was protected. I remember when I was in college I once got scammed, being a teenager I was of course freaking out and so the first thing I did was to call the number that was on my computer telling me that they will fix everything. Looking back of course I now know that was not the right decision. I called the number on the screen in sheer panic and in giving this man on the other end of the call all the info he needed to take over my laptop, he soon grew impatient with my wifi being as slow as it was (thank goodness for the slow campus connection). He eventually grew so impatient he hung up on me and was unsuccessful in gathering my information. It was truly the first time cybersecurity was at the forefront of my mind.
I remember growing up thinking back on what cyber was and is now, I always thought it was a male-dominated field and when I was younger I never quite understood what that meant. Moving forward to the 21st century and understanding what a male-dominated field is now, I see changes. It's not quite a one-sided fight anymore. More and more women are coming into the field and honestly as I spend more time here and learn more about the industry, I'm learning these women are absolutely killing it in the field. It's so inspiring to see women taking over and shining a light on this industry and I for one cannot wait to learn more from these role models in our field.
Heard around the studio.
By The CyberWire staff
Our team is growing at the CyberWire. In recent months, the women contingent has doubled! Welcome to Eliana White and Liz Irvin! We are now four and looking forward to adding to our numbers as the CyberWire team continues to grow. As women's history month comes to a close, we thought we'd share some our favorite quotes with you by women who inspire us, and invite you to share yours with us via Twitter. Tweet us your favorite quotes @thecyberwire and use the hashtags #womenincyber and #inspiration.
Jen Eiben, Senior Producer
I always gravitate to Dr. Maya Angelou when looking for a guiding light. The life she lived, the obstacles she overcame, and how she shared the experiences she had, move me to live a better life. My favorite quote is: “I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.” – Maya Angelou
Gina Johnson, Advertising and Sales Operations
From our first Career Notes guest, Tracy Maleeff: "Ask more people to dance." That has resonated with me for so many reasons, mostly because to me, it was a call for people to seek out not just those you would expect to have the qualifications you are looking for, but also those you wouldn't, because you will always find talent in the most unexpected people.
Eliana White, Senior Digital Media Marketing Manager
"Once you can express yourself, you can tell the world what you want from it. All the changes in the world, for good or evil, were first brought about by words." – Jackie Kennedy
Liz Irvin, Associate Producer
One of my all time favorite quotes from a women who I think is an absolute icon..."When they go low, we go high" – Michelle Obama
