Women in CyberSecurity 2017.
The annual Women in CyberSecurity Conference (WiCyS) met in Tucson, Arizona this year on March 31st and April 1st. The 2017 edition of WiCyS is the fourth; the project began with a grant from the National Science Foundation in 2013 as a collaborative project between Tennessee Tech, the University of Memphis, and Jackson State Community College.
WiCyS is devoted to bringing together women at all stages of cybersecurity careers to share their experience and knowledge, and to provide mutual support through networking and mentoring. The program describes its goals as follows:
"Through the WiCyS community and activities we expect to raise awareness about the importance and nature of cybersecurity career. We hope to generate interest among students to consider cybersecurity as a viable and promising career option. Any individual or organization interested in supporting recruiting and retention efforts for women in cybersecurity is encouraged to participate. Beyond the annual conference, WiCyS is a community of engagement, encouragement and support for women in cybersecurity."
Since its inception, WiCyS has attracted a growing number of partners from across the cybersecurity sector. This year they included Strategic Partners Facebook, Cisco Systems, and Fidelity Investments; Diamond Sponsoring Partners (again) Facebook, Cisco Systems, and Fidelity Investments, joined by IBM, Raytheon, Palo Alto Networks, Carnegie Mellon University, CyberSecJobs.com, the University of Arizona, Target, UT Dallas, CyberTraining 365, ACM SIGSAC, Bank of America, Aetna, Intel, and SEI CERT. Platinum Sponsoring Partners were Indiana University and the Center for Security Informatics, Adobe, Capitol Technology University, and Protiviti. Gold Sponsoring Partners were Rochester Institute of Technology, Mississippi State University, Endgame, Google, State Farm, Honeywell, Stroz Friedberg, Northrop Grumman, the University of Washington Bothel, and Naval Sea Systems Command. The Silver Sponsoring Partners included Columbus State University, Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College, the National CyberWatch Center, Harris Corporation, the Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group, CRA-W, AT&T, and CyberWatch West Whatcom Community College. Bronze Sponsoring Partners this year included the Department of Homeland Security, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Coalfire, Towson University, the SANS Institute, CISSE, eBay, Defense Point Security, MIT's Lincoln Laboratory, Kroll, Marine Corps Systems Command, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Southern New Hampshire University, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Institute for Defense Analyses.
And the CyberWire is pleased to have been the conference's Media Sponsoring Partner. Our coverage was made possible through the generous support of IBM, Cylance, and CyberSecJobs.
Keynote Videos
If Pigs Could Fly: Creating a Career in Privacy and Cybersecurity.
Michelle Finneran Dennedy, V. P. and Chief Privacy Officer Cisco, is passionate about privacy and data protection. She works closely with families, executives, innovators, and dreamers in businesses and organizations to help them understand complex privacy issues and unlock the value of data. In her keynote, she discussed the unique opportunities that exist for women leaders, and her own personal career journey in this exciting new field. (Friday, March 31st, 2017)
A Cyber Career Path Can Be as Unique as You!
Linda R. Medler, Director of Cyber, Raytheon Missile Systems Advanced Missile Systems, and Diane Miller, Director of InfoSec Operations and Identity Management, Northrop Grumman, shared information about their work and their own professional journeys that led to fascinating and rewarding encounters along unique career paths. Like theirs, your own story can be as unique as you. (Friday, March 31st, 2017)
Growing up to Have an Impact on National CyberSecurity
Annie I. Antón, Professor and Chair of the School of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology took up the challenges of cybersecurity at the national level, especially addressing the students in the audience. (Friday, March 31st, 2017)
Make Your Own Luck: Key Strategies for a Building Your Career
Wendi Whitmore, Global Lead, IBM covered lessons learned throughout her fifteen years in cyber security. She discussed common obstacles faced, the importance of taking calculated risks, and choosing experiences that accelerate your career and fuel personal growth. (Friday, March 31st, 2017)
In the Director’s Chair: Perspective on Career and Leadership
Mari DeGrazia, Director, Incident Response at Kroll ,and Jeannette M. Rosario, Director, Global Security at Aetna. They shared their career experiences as leaders in industry. (Saturday, April 1st, 2017)
Podcast Interviews
Women in Cybersecurity 2017: A CyberWire Special Edition
The 2017 Women in Cybersecurity conference was held in Tucson Arizona, and the CyberWire was on hand to cover the event. We spoke with a variety of cyber security professionals, at different stages of their careers. We covered some of their career journeys and professional insights on our daily podcast, and in this special edition learn why a women in cybersecurity conference is more important than ever, what they wish they knew when they were starting out, as well as some advice for the men in the industry.
The CyberWire Daily Podcast for 04.03.17
From the annual Women in Cybersecurity Conference, US Naval Academy Midshipmen Svetla Walsh and Deja Baker share their volunteer work organizing a local coding event.
Listen here (timestamp: 4:27)
The CyberWire Daily Podcast for 04.04.17
Our coverage of the Women in Cybersecurity Conference continues, featuring a conversation with Endgame malware researcher Amanda Rousseau.
Listen here (timestamp: 5:09)
The CyberWire Daily Podcast for 04.05.17
Cisco’s Chief Privacy Officer Michelle Dennedy joins us from the Women in Cybersecurity Conference.
Listen here (timestamp: 4:59)
The CyberWire Daily Podcast for 04.06.17
IBM’s Wendi Whitmore joins us from the 2017 Women in Cybersecurity Conference.
Listen here (timestamp: 4:40)
The CyberWire Daily Podcast for 04.07.17
Endgame’s Andrea Little Limbago shares her story from the Women in Cybersecurity Conference.
Listen here (timestamp: 12:50)
The CyberWire Daily Podcast for 04.10.17
Kathleen Smith from cybersecjobs.com and clearedjobs.net joins us from the Women in Cybersecurity Conference.
Listen here (timestamp: 5:20)