It’s no secret that the cybersecurity sector needs more women. The industry benefits when there are more professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to problem-solve together.
Every International Women’s Day, there’s a lot of talk about what we can do to encourage more women to consider and thrive in careers in STEM. At the Catalyst, we want to do more than preach for gender equity — we want to fully embrace equity — walk the walk and lead by example.
Here are some things that help even the playing field for girls and women who are interested in pursuing cybersecurity, plus how we’re putting them into practice at the Catalyst:
1. Providing Accessible Education and Awareness:
Informing women and girls about the opportunities and the importance of cybersecurity is a crucial first step. By increasing awareness of the role that cybersecurity plays in protecting individuals and organizations, and highlighting the diverse range of career opportunities available, more women will be exposed to cybersecurity as a potential career path.
- Leading by example:
- Parents’ & Guardians’ Guide to Cybersecurity: Download our helpful tool for parents and guardians to help you navigate those conversations, moments and lessons around online safety, so that children and youth understand the importance of safety and security, as they reap the benefits of our digital world.
- CyberStart Canada: Our program provides students in grades 8-12 in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, free access to CyberStart – an immersive, gamified cybersecurity learning experience, so that more high school students are exposed to cybersecurity skills development.
2. Role Models and Mentorship:
Encouraging and promoting female role models and mentors within the cybersecurity industry can help to inspire and motivate young girls and women to pursue careers in the field. As well, by sharing their experiences and successes, female leaders in cybersecurity can provide valuable insights and guidance for those just starting out.
- Leading by example:
- Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative (ELCI): our program for women and non-binary leaders who seek to advance into executive-level positions in cybersecurity and shape the future of the Canadian cyber ecosystem. Career mentorship is a key component of the program, providing our emerging leaders with personalized support and career guidance from senior executives.
- CyberStart Canada: CyberStart learners are also given access to exclusive workshops with industry experts, webinars, and competitions. We are also fortunate to have a number of excellent experts volunteering as mentors for our learners.
3. Networking and Community Building:
Building strong networks and communities for women in cybersecurity can help to foster a sense of belonging and support and provide opportunities for learning and collaboration. Creating safe and inclusive spaces for women in cybersecurity to connect, share knowledge and experiences, and support one another can help to promote gender diversity and improve representation in the industry.
- Leading by example:
- Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative: Networking and community building is an important part of the ELCI. Our leaders get access to a supportive, high-impact professional network, as well as many opportunities to connect with their fellow cyber leaders, industry experts and program guest speakers.
- Hosting women-focused events: We’ve partnered with our corporate partners to host women-focused webinars, panel discussions, hiring events with employers and networking events to help the women in the Catalyst community support each other and connect.
- Watch our most recent panel discussion, “A Seat at the Table: The Many Paths of Women Leaders in Cybersecurity”
4. Skill-building and Training:
Providing training and skill-building opportunities for women interested in cybersecurity can help to level the playing field and reduce the gender gap in the industry. By offering specialized programs, more affordable training programs, and other accessible opportunities for skill-building and development, we can help to provide women with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in cybersecurity careers.
- Leading by Example:
- Mastercard Emerging Leaders Cyber Initiative: We provide our emerging cyber leaders with organizational digital risks and mitigation strategies, as well as leadership and professional skills training so they can become changemakers within the cyber sector.
- Catalyst Training: Since 2020, we’ve helped 580+ people become cybersecurity professionals through our accessible training programs — and 58% of our graduates self-identify as women.
- CyberStart Canada: Our immersive, gamified cybersecurity learning experience helps high school students learn cybersecurity skills, but it also lets them explore possible career options in cybersecurity in an accessible way with webinars on cyber careers and guidance from mentors.
5. Addressing Bias and Stereotypes:
Addressing gender bias and stereotypes within the industry is essential for creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for women. By actively working to challenge and eliminate gender-based stereotypes and biases, we can help to create a more equitable and diverse workforce.
Leading by example:
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- Hire more women: 65% of the Catalyst team identifies as female. As a Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) organization, we prioritize diversity in our hiring practices and within our company culture. We actively promote inclusivity by training staff on unconscious bias and ensuring equal opportunities for advancement, so that women feel empowered to grow within the organization.
- Host bias-awareness workshops: We conduct regular workshops and training sessions aimed at identifying and countering bias within our team. This helps create an environment where everyone is aware of the impact of their actions and speech, fostering a more inclusive workplace.
Creating welcoming and inclusive environments for women in cybersecurity requires a multi-faceted approach that involves ongoing initiatives to provide education, networking, and mentorship, as well as continuing to address gender bias and stereotypes.
We all need to work together to promote gender diversity and representation, both in our offices and in the cybersecurity sector so that we can help to create a more equitable and successful cybersecurity workforce.
