The overarching theme of this year’s International Cyber Expo was resilience, from being resilient against rising geopolitical tensions to building organisations that are resilient to evolving cyber threats.
However, it’s hard to implement the necessary systems, tools and procedures to ensure resilience when there’s a lack of skilled professionals to help do it – and cyber has a notable skills shortage. But is there a lack of talent? Or are the parameters around the industry just too impenetrable for people of different backgrounds? In the face of a (rapidly) evolving threat landscape, diversity may just be cyber’s silver bullet.
In 2024, for the first time, International Cyber Expo’s organisers, the Nineteen Group, introduced The Diversity & Skills Stage. The agenda focused on how diversity and upskilling can support efforts to make organisations more resilient, mindful, and reduce the widening skills gap, seeking to address both the skills and burnout crisis. From discussions on how to empower women and allies in cyber (notably a panel discussion by three titans of cyber, all of whom run industry support groups for underrepresented persons: Zoe Mackenzie, President of WiCyS UK&I Affiliate; Illyana Mullins, Founder of WiTCH; and Iretioluwa Akerele, Co-Founder of CyBlack) to keynotes on how to embrace neurodiversity in cybersecurity (including one by esteemed industry neurodivergence consultant Holly Foxcroft), the programme was insightful and thought-provoking.
A networking breakfast, run as part of the popular InClusive InCyber initiative, kicked off the new stage, hosted by LT Harper. The session, a morning of networking, panel discussions and interactive elements, explored the value of risk-taking. In cybersecurity, ‘risk’ is often demonised, but when it comes to taking a leap in one’s career or standing up for a more secure world, it’s only a good thing.
Speakers on the panel included Kunjal Tanna, Co-Founder of LT Harper, Aymun Lashari, Community Manager of LT Harper, Emily Hodges, COO of Risk Ledger, Laura Thackeray, Senior Associate at RPC and Sarah Lyons, Executive Director, Head of Security Risk at CLS Group.
Speaking exclusively to SheCanCode on what risk taking means to her, Emily Hodges, COO of Risk Ledger, said: “For me, taking a leap of faith can be in any aspect of your life. A career change, house remodelling, getting married, anything can be a learning experience with the facade of a ‘risk’, but we have to take these steps to create our paths in life.”
Laura Thackeray, Senior Associate at RPC, echoed: “For someone like me, I have known risk taking longer than I have known my kids. It’s in everything and anything you do in this life. Moving countries, finding love, finding a new career, or even just stepping outside of your comfort zone. Risk taking is the one thing that will allow you to move forward.”
The takeaways from the panel discussion? Break boundaries, rejoice in risks that don’t work out, and don’t be afraid of failure. Three great pieces of advice that stemmed from the lived experiences of those with lengthy careers in cybersecurity.
Longevity is another key concern in cybersecurity. With burnout contributing to low retention rates, there’s a worry that both budding and legacy talent will leave the industry (if they haven’t already). For women, these parameters are even more difficult to fit into, often with additional personal responsibilities piled on top (reflecting broader societal pressures). Also, if cyber is a ‘boy’s club’, why would women want to join?
These were the sorts of discussion that took place during International Cyber Expo’s Grab The Mic Women in Cyber event, hosted by Assured. Panellists including Eleanor Dallaway, Co-Founder and Content Director at Assured, Laura Reilly, Head of Marketing at Cyro Cyber Ltd, Nicole Reader, Cloud Solutions Architect at Cyberfort Group, and Bharti Lim, Security Strategy Manager at Computacenter, came together to discuss can (cyber) women really have it all?
The answer? Yes, if they want it – but do they really want it? The panel advocated for choice and agency when it comes to making informed, career based decisions, with balance and wellbeing key to maintaining a long lasting career. For leaders, they stress the need to build safe spaces where employees can go when asking for help, which will, no doubt, be beneficial for all. One particularly pertinent point was that people tend to receive lots of advice in life, but you only have to take what’s authentic to you. Ditch the guilt though, immediately.
They maintained that community is key to a successful career, with support systems of peers (of all genders) essential. Community runs through the heart of the International Cyber Expo. This year’s Community Village was full of mindset shifting, inspiring non-profits, including Neurocyber and the popular Cyber House Party, who provide relief for cyber professionals in the form of music, whilst also raising thousands for the NSPCC. This area celebrated those who give back to the community, embrace and encourage diversity, and even support the next generation of tech professionals. Every Child Online, for example, is a charity that’s dedicated to equipping children with highly subsidised, refurbished tech.
The event showed the importance of coming together despite differences (rather to celebrate them). The show provided a forum for people of all backgrounds, as well as allies, to openly discuss pertinent topics that are faced by security professionals everyday. Without community, what is cybersecurity? One thing’s for certain, the world is much less secure without it.
