Women in Cyber Day: Celebrating the Strength of Diversity - Cyber Magazine

Article Cyber Security Women in Cyber Day: Celebrating the Strength of Diversity By Maya Derrick September 01, 2025 5 mins SHARE International Women in Cyber Day 2025 Discover the impact of women in cyber leadership and why embracing diversity is critical to meeting evolving challenges like AI and complex compliance The technology industry, particularly in cybersecurity, remains predominantly male, with women occupying just 22% of positions as outlined by the ISC² Cybersecurity Workforce Study. Encouragingly, this same study reveals that 55% of women in cybersecurity are in managerial roles or higher. Women in Cyber Day, hosted annually on 1 September, is dedicated to celebrating the contributions of women to the cybersecurity arena. Why we celebrate Women in Cyber Day Diversity in teams is a catalyst for innovation and robust security solutions. Women in Cyber Day underscores the necessity of gender diversity within cybersecurity, facilitating fair progression opportunities and nurturing future female leaders through mentorship and visibility. The event was founded in 2019 in Vancouver, Canada driven by Lisa Kearney, CEO of Women CyberSecurity Society (WCS2), to commend the achievements of women and promote gender diversity in cybersecurity. Lisa says Women in Cyber Day “shines a spotlight on the vital contributions and acknowledges the achievements of women in cybersecurity”. Lisa Kearney, CEO of the Women CyberSecurity Society (WCS2) She adds that it “also serves as a reminder that diversity is not just about equity – it’s necessary for innovation and effective problem-solving”. Women in Cyber Day 2025 The event amplifies women's voices by celebrating their achievements, encouraging mentorship and advocating for inclusive organisational policies. Isabel Castillo is Lead Information Security Engineer at Lastwall, a leader in identity security and quantum resilience that works alongside the US Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit and the Government of Canada.  Isabel Castillo, Lead Information Security Engineer at Lastwall She shares: “A study performed by the University of Illinois, NYU and Princeton University showed that by age 6, girls are more likely to think boys can be “brilliant” and are “really, really smart” – a stereotype that continues to be fuelled by media, compliments and marketing. You don’t have to look further than animation geared toward children: the predominant message emphasises girls’ looks and boys’ capabilities.  “What this means in terms of cybersecurity is that unless we change that message from a young age, we will continue to see a gender discrepancy in talent pipelines, during meetings, in leadership positions and at the board level.  “To see meaningful change, we must begin sending the message to girls that they are incredibly intelligent, smart and equally capable of performing complex tasks. And this must start early – the education system can benefit from highlighting women’s accomplishments in all fields and introducing kid-friendly engineering toys from a young age.” She hopes that the field will become inclusive for all genders and is using the platform of Women in Cyber Day to propel this message. She adds: “I firmly believe that once the message for kids is broadened to include all possibilities – and we consistently give girls these types of encouraging affirmations – we will see more women rise to board positions.”This sentiment is echoed by colleague Ruth Okofu, InfoSec Operations Engineer at Lastwall. Lastwall “In my career leading teams through tough security and compliance programmes, I’ve seen how often women are underestimated or overlooked in cybersecurity,” she shares. “Early on, there were very few women in the room when critical risk decisions were made. “That lack of visibility can hold us back, even when the expertise is there. But I’ve also seen the difference when women are trusted to lead.  “They deliver results and bring new perspectives that strengthen how teams approach problems. “Progress is happening as more women step into leadership roles and mentor others, but we need to go further.  “Organisations must take real action such as creating fair promotion paths, sponsoring women into decision-making roles and ensuring their voices are visible at conferences, in research and within leadership seats.  “Cybersecurity is about resilience. Resilience comes from diversity.  “Empowering women isn’t just inclusion – it’s a strategy for a stronger, more secure industry.”The industry’s transformation also demands an evolution in mindset.  Elyse Gunn, CISO at Nasuni Elyse Gunn, CISO at Nasuni, reminds us that “cybersecurity has always been about challenging assumptions – and that’s something women in tech know a lot about”. She says: “The most successful security programs today aren’t just protecting systems, they’re enabling innovation. They’re moving from ‘Why would we do this?’ to ‘Why wouldn’t we?’  “That mindset shift is exactly what the industry needs right now, especially as we face new risks from AI and increasingly complex compliance demands.  “The future of cybersecurity will be shaped by bold, collaborative thinking – and diverse voices are essential to getting it right.” Cheryl McGrath, Canadian Area Vice President and General Manager at Optiv, stresses that diversity of thought drives better decisions and outcomes.  Cheryl McGrath, Canadian Area Vice President and General Manager at Optiv She has made it a priority in her career to advance belonging and inclusion — not only as a cultural pillar but as a strategic strength. She shares her approach: “I coach with a strong emphasis on diversity of thought, helping my team challenge assumptions and bring richer perspectives to client and partner engagements.  “For me, it's important to share and afford the same opportunities to my colleagues as I've been given during my career as a woman in cyber.” COMPANY PORTALS Nasuni TAGS cyber tech cybersecurity security defence Company Portals Nasuni Read Now RELATED CONTENT Google & Wiz: The Age of Cloud-to-Cloud Security at AI Speed Cyber Security NETSCOUT: Understanding Political Hacktivism & Cybercrime Hacking & Malware DXC: How to Modernise and Secure Public Sector Organisations Cyber Security How Does the Trusted Tech Alliance Bolster Cyber Resilience? Cyber Security