Women To Watch In Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields in technology, with global spending increasing by 12% - 15% year-over-year. There is also a talent gap in this sector, with an estimated global workforce shortfall of 3.5 million people stunting the growth of this industry.

Women only make up 24% of Cybersecurity professionals. However, they are responsible for some of the most critical work in this field, from founding security companies to setting corporate and government policy, spearheading DEI initiatives, and representing themselves and their companies on Boards and global security organizations.

Celebrating the women making an impact in Cybersecurity can demonstrate to diverse women everywhere that they have a path to leadership and success in this exciting and expanding field. In so doing, we can move towards better equity and inspire even more incredible women like these to excel in the field while empowering Cybersecurity with the diverse talent it needs to succeed.

Impact at a National Level

Mary Ann Davidson, Chief Security Officer at Oracle Corporation

Mary’s career has seen her advising the U.S. government on Cybersecurity issues in several capacities. She was a member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th President and has served on the Defense Science Board. She has also given expert testimony on Cybersecurity to the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Technology and the US House of Representatives (Energy and Commerce Committee, Armed Services Committee, and Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology).

She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Information Technology Sharing and Analysis Center and the International Board of the Information Systems Security Association. She has been named one of Information Security’s top 5 “Women of Vision,” won the Federal Computer Week 100 Award, and was named to the ISSA Hall of Fame.

Champion of Inclusion in Tech

Dr. Mona Lisa Pinkney, CISSP, CISM, CISA, PMP, Senior Site Leader, Atlanta Technology Center, Global Technology, North America Technology, Nike

Dr. Pinkney has 25 years of experience in the Cybersecurity and Technology fields. In her current role at Nike, she has helped to build the Global Atlanta Technology Center, working to define the vision and strategy of the project for the organization. She is also the co-founder of Nike’s Black Employees in Technology Network, which works to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion through mentorship and sponsorship of underrepresented groups.

She is currently a member of the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). Previously she worked as the Cyber Security Senior Program Leader of Compliance and Architecture at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Government and Corporate Policy Maker

Anitha Ibrahim, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Public Policy - Data Protection & Cybersecurity, Amazon Web Services

In her role at Amazon, Anitha is in charge of determining AWS cybersecurity public policy. Before that, she spent 11 years as Senior Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, prosecuting computer-facilitated criminal activity and advising on electronic evidence issues. Areas of inquiry include the Stored Communications Act (SCA), the Wiretap Act, the Pen Register/Trap and Trace Statute, and the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (CLOUD Act).

Cybersecurity Founder

Gal Helemski, Co-Founder & CTO/CPO, PlainID

Gal is an acclaimed leader in the industry, with over 20 years of experience developing innovative solutions to cybersecurity problems. The Co-Founder and CTO/CPO of PlainID, she is responsible for strategy, product development, and evangelism for the company, which has positioned itself as a leader in Identity Access Management and providing businesses and teams with simple and intuitive means to control their authorization processes. She was also named one of the “Top 25 Women Leaders in Cybersecurity of 2021” by The Software Report.

Fortune 250 CISO

Marnie (Huss) Wilking, Global Head of Security & Technology Risk Management (CISO), Wayfair

A fortune 250 CISO with expertise in Information Security and multi-discipline Risk Management Programs, Marnie has spent the last 18 years building and leading Cybersecurity and Enterprise Risk Management programs in Financial Services, Healthcare Tech, and E-Commerce. Currently, she is the Global Head of Security & Technology Risk Management (CISO) at Wayfair, one of the world's largest home goods retailers.

Marnie demonstrates her leadership through her participation as a member of the Board of Directors for several important organizations, including the Cybercrime Support Network, the Retail & Hospitality ISAC, Virsec Systems, Robert Half, and Living Security. She is also a strategic Advisor and Investor for SVCI - Silicon Valley CISO Investments. She has been on the CISOs Connect™ list of the Top 100 CISOs twice, and she volunteers as a CISO Forum Advisory Council member.

Connecting People and Cybersecurity

Iretioluwa Akerele, Founder, Cybarik

Iretioluwa is the founder of Cybarik, a cybersecurity firm that is bridging the gap between cybersecurity skills and people by helping companies to be more secure while training people to improve their cybersecurity knowledge and skills. She is also the founder of Cyblack, an organization that supports African Cybersecurity students in Europe, and an Advisory Board Member for the Cybersafe Foundation. In March 2022, she won the Young CISO of the year award.

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The Cybersecurity field is growing and needs more diverse women. Celebrating the accomplishments of those who already work in the industry can inspire others who may never have considered that career path while validating the hard work of those who have done so much. Empowerment at every level - hiring, compensation, recognition - is the key to shifting the needle on diversity while infusing Cybersecurity with much-needed talent from people who will have diverse new perspectives.