Celebrating International Women's Day 2026.

Happy International Women's Day! In honor of International Women's Day and March being Women's History Month, we collected some thoughts and quotes from women in our industry to share. Women make up about 22-24% of the cybersecurity workforce. You can read more about that in ISC2's Cyber Workforce Study 2025 here. In addition, women only make up 26% of the workforce in STEM according to the AAUW, and men still outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. 

The theme of 2026's International Women's Day is Give to Gain which "emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it's intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise." How will you Give to Gain? Will it be through your time, mentoring, or resources or a combination of them? We invite you to join us in reading these inspiring words from women in our industry as we all work toward giving abundantly.

At N2K CyberWire, we’re proud of the work we do to amplify the voices of women in our industry and support women in STEM. A recent audience survey shows that nearly one-third of our responding audience is female, a significant increase from just a few years ago. Today, we are sharing an interview on our T-Minus Deep Space show with Imagine Engine’s Kalia Padilla about investing in optical space technologies and going global in honor of International Women's Day. As always, we endeavor to highlight the work of women in the industry throughout the year. We hope you enjoy today's content.

Melissa Bischoping, Sr. Director of Security & Product Design Research, Tanium

“Cybersecurity has made progress on diversity, but culture, not policy, is still the real barrier. It’s not enough to bring more women into tech; we have to support and retain the talent already here. Too many are still held back by bias, outdated expectations around caregiving, and environments that reward constant availability. 

At the same time, AI presents a genuine opportunity. Used well, it can reduce burnout and help level the playing field, especially for career changers and women returning to the workforce. I didn’t enter tech until I was 30, for example, and innovations like AI are accelerating my learning and building my confidence.  

Globally, women make up more than 40 percent of the workforce, but less than 30 percent of senior leaders, and in STEM, that figure drops to around 14 percent. There’s no silver bullet for increasing representation in security. Rather, it requires a concerted effort throughout the organization with consistent support from the top tiers of leadership. The advantage for women will come from the organizations that invest in their people as much as technology, using AI to strengthen the leadership pipeline, not shrink it. That's how we ensure women and girls who enter science, technology and cybersecurity are supported to stay, grow and lead.” 

Jade Brown, Threat Researcher, Bitdefender

"Women’s participation in cybersecurity matters. Many women are already positioned in analytical functions, using aptitudes that trained cyber technicians and architects don't have. Fields like philosophy, psychology, communications, international relations and more remain timely and relevant, giving professionals from these areas a unique way of adapting, analyzing, and disseminating information. These subjects are not “soft”, unscientific skills. They’re tactical competencies that drive analysis decisions in council meetings, computer labs, and war rooms.

The cybersecurity employment narrative is evolving. More women are on cybersecurity panels and leading workshops now compared to a decade ago. It's also worth noting that more career changers are represented in software engineering, security research, intelligence analysis, and computer forensics specialties. Still, there’s a lack of representation in leadership roles. 

For women considering a cybersecurity career now, my advice is this: own your transferable skills. If your background is not traditionally technical, that does not disqualify you. Define what you bring to the table. Add the technical angle that connects it and carve your path forward."

Lucie Cardiet, Cyberthreat Research Manager, Vectra AI

“In a space that shifts with every new threat, technical depth is not optional, but foundational. Yet cybersecurity remains disproportionately male, not because talent is scarce, but because opportunity has been. When a field built on anticipating blind spots overlooks entire groups of talent, it creates its own gaps. 

This industry does not stand still, and neither can we; building technical fluency early, understanding how attackers actually operate, and tracking how techniques evolve over time is what strengthens real-world defense. Do not wait for permission to develop expertise. Curiosity compounds over time, and when women are encouraged to deepen that expertise and not have to worry about their sense of belonging, they not only strengthen their own voice but make it easier for the next woman to enter the room with confidence. 

On International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate achievement by staying curious, building technical strength, and caring deeply about the craft that keeps us all safer.”

Kendra Cooley, Senior Director of Information Security and IT, Doppel

"International Women’s Day serves as a reminder that while we’ve made significant progress in representation across the tech industry, there’s still work to do, especially in increasing women in senior leadership. In cybersecurity, female-founded communities and support networks are growing rapidly, and there is real momentum in the talent and energy women are bringing into the field. Visibility in leadership is critical because it can spark inspiration among the rising generation of professionals, showing them what’s possible and helping them imagine themselves in those roles.

As more women continue to build in the space, it’s important to remember that there’s no single mold for success. The field will always need people with diverse views and skill sets. Technical ability matters, but so does curiosity, communication, and problem-solving. Strong leadership isn’t about always having the right answer, because as the industry evolves, perspectives will change. For example, cybersecurity used to be all about the technology. Now, we see that the real impact of defense comes from helping leaders understand risk, guiding teams through incidents, and ensuring security supports the business rather than slowing it down. 

I encourage aspiring leaders not to wait until they feel ready to step into bigger conversations. Being clear about your ideas, your impact, and what you bring to the table is part of leadership. This industry is fast-paced, and everyone is constantly learning, so stay curious, ask questions, and build relationships – you never know where it could lead you."

Brittany Harrell, Head of Information Security, Nabla

“As AI accelerates healthcare innovation, the role of security leaders is evolving from gatekeepers to strategic enablers. Healthcare is deeply personal, and many women bring perspectives shaped by caregiving roles, patient advocacy, and lived experiences navigating the system. That lens becomes especially important when AI systems are trained on sensitive data and begin influencing care delivery – because behind every dataset is a patient.

With that in mind, security leaders can’t afford to operate as the department of ‘no.’ We’re trained to be risk-aware, and in healthcare those stakes are even higher because patient and provider data is on the line. But AI isn’t something we can turn away from; it’s here. Our responsibility is to lean into it and to sit alongside product and marketing teams during demos, understand the use cases, examine how models are trained, and evaluate what it means for sensitive data. When you bring teams along for that journey, security becomes a shared responsibility, and proactive risk management becomes a pillar of responsible healthcare innovation.”

Lorri Janssen-Anessi, Director of External Cyber Assessments, BlueVoyant

"I find myself reflecting on how profoundly cybersecurity is changing, and how women in this field are uniquely positioned to lead in this moment. The threat landscape is no longer solely driven by human attackers working over weeks or months, it is increasingly shaped by automation, AI-enabled reconnaissance, and constant scanning at machine speed. There is a decisive transition from reactive to proactive defense, and security forward resilience. In the midst of this evolution, the role of women in cybersecurity is becoming more critical, not less. Women continue to shape strategy, influence risk decisions, and lead the shift to innovative and proactive thinking.

So many of my female colleagues came into cyber through unconventional paths that include the military, intelligence, engineering, policy, or governance. That diversity in experience is an advantage in a field that now demands systems thinking and cross-disciplinary leadership. As this field evolves, the ability to connect technical insight with strategic context is essential. 

For me, International Women’s Day is a moment to recognize that the evolution of cybersecurity and the rise of women in cyber leadership are happening in parallel. We are mentoring the next generation, modernizing security practices, and helping organizations understand the real risk. The future of cybersecurity will not be defined by tools or technology, but by the people who are shaping it. It is important that women continue to have a seat at that table." 

Diana Jouard, Group Product Manager, Ping Identity

“In cybersecurity, women not only bring diverse perspectives that strengthen how we protect digital trust, but they also help expand what’s possible in a field that’s still overwhelmingly male-dominated. I’ve seen firsthand how curiosity, resilience, and inclusive collaboration drive better solutions, and I’m proud that as women step into leadership, we’re not just shaping technology, we’re shaping a more equitable and innovative future for the industry.

My advice to women considering a career in cybersecurity is to stay curious and never stop learning. Emerging areas like decentralized identity demand a strong mix of technical knowledge and human-centered skills, while AI and the future of AI agents will need serious security rigor to manage properly – so making investment in a strong core foundation essential. And don’t shy away from the projects that feel challenging – those are often the moments where real growth happens, and confidence is built.”

Jenny Lam, Lead Cyber Resilience Advisor, Immersive

“One of the most persistent challenges I see in cybersecurity isn’t technical—it’s confidence. I work with highly capable professionals who still question whether they’re ‘technical enough.’ That doubt is particularly common for women in our industry. 

When women remain underrepresented in technical and leadership roles, it’s easy to internalize the sense that you constantly need to prove you belong. The high regard we have for technical mastery should be celebrated without detracting from the value of professional skills that underpin and progress our industry. Cybersecurity isn’t solely about technical depth. It requires strategy, communication, judgment, resilience, and the ability to manage challenges under pressure. No one is born with these skills; they are honed and developed just like any other. 

This International Women’s Day, let’s stop asking women to behave a certain way to succeed and provide the space for them to own their expertise. This means the space to practise, make decisions, see their impact, to celebrate wins and reflect on improvements. Confidence grows through experience and proving your own capabilities to no one but yourself. When we create that environment, the entire industry becomes stronger.”

Hilda Perez, President and Founder, Brinqa

 “Since co-founding Brinqa 17 years ago, the biggest lesson I have been taught is that talent is the hardest asset to build and the easiest to lose. In the early days of starting a business, every hire shapes not only the product but the culture and long-term trajectory of the organization. In the cybersecurity industry particularly, an industry-wide challenge has been made clear: cybersecurity is not struggling to bring women into the field nearly as much as it is struggling to keep them.

 Women represent roughly 22% of the security workforce, and only 7% of them are in senior roles. The drop off happens mid-career, just as experience should be launching women into leadership roles, not shutting them out. From a business perspective, that is more than a representation gap. It is a loss of expertise at a time when the industry can least afford it.

 The strongest security organizations understand that capability grows with time, trust, and opportunity. Retaining experienced talent through clear career paths, mentorship and flexibility is not about optics. It is about building stronger and more resilient teams, with the products to match. Cybersecurity does not lack capable women, it needs to do a better job ensuring they stay long enough to lead.”

Angela Spease, CEO, ISSE Services

"I didn’t grow up planning to work in cybersecurity. My path evolved as I stepped into leadership within our company and saw firsthand how critical security is to national defense and to the organizations that support it. What keeps me here is the mission. Cybersecurity isn’t just technical work — it’s about protecting people, preserving trust, and strengthening the systems our country relies on. Once I understood that impact, it became more than a career path; it became purposeful work.

As a woman in a defense-focused industry, there have been moments when I’ve had to establish credibility quickly and clearly. I learned early that preparation, professionalism and persistence matters. Over time, results speak louder than assumptions. As a leader who wants to promote diversity, the answer isn’t complicated: create access, mentor intentionally, and hold high standards for everyone. The defense community needs diverse perspectives because complex threats demand broad thinking — and strong leadership makes room for both."

Mary Yang, Fractional CMO, Neon Cyber

"On International Women's Day, I find myself reflecting on my journey in cybersecurity—from the technical rigor of MITRE to the high-pressure environment of cyber startups. My career has taught me that strategic growth is impossible without a culture that prioritizes professional excellence over exclusionary stunts.

Innovation is born from the ability to spot patterns and play out 'what if' scenarios that others miss, but this requires high-performing teams that have cognitive diversity.

And to entice diverse, high-performers to join the field or to stay in it, we must build environments where women can leverage their natural curiosity to solve complex challenges without requiring them to navigate unprofessional industry norms. This means moving past the era of “Hacker Summer Camp” relics—like the topless-optional pool parties that are still happening today—and toward spaces that foster genuine collaboration.

Trust, which is so critical in cyber, gets built by working together to deliver authentic, research-driven value and outcomes. I hope anyone who’s in a position of power in this industry takes the chance to reject outdated thinking around “networking events” that would embarrass or enrage your mother or your partner and to focus instead on how to create a safe space for imagination, innovation, and experimentation.

Let’s commit to being the architects of a professional community where we measure success not just by the win, but by the integrity of the environment we’ve built for the next generation of cyber professionals."