Aspiring Professional Mentorship Program
Growing Together
Mentorship aids in career success. Our program was developed to upskill and uplevel women as they prepare for advancement at all levels of their cybersecurity career.
Aspiring Professional Mentorship Program
Guiding Tomorrow’s Cybersecurity Talent Today
The WiCyS Aspiring Professional Mentorship Program connects undergraduate WiCyS student members with experienced mentors across the cybersecurity industry. This 4-month group-based mentorship experience helps students build core career readiness skills while engaging in a supportive, empowering community.
Based on NACE Career Readiness Competencies, the curriculum equips aspiring professionals with the skills, tools, and mentorship needed to confidently enter the workforce and thrive.
We will be accepting 300 undergraduate mentees and 100 mentors of all levels. Application acceptance will be based upon date of submission and mentor availability.
Calling all Mentors:
We are looking for cybersecurity professionals who want to inspire the next generation of talent. The Aspiring Professional Mentorship Program connects undergraduate WiCyS student members with mentors in a small-group setting to support their growth as they prepare to enter the workforce.
Mentors must have at least one year of full-time experience in the professional workforce and should be passionate about supporting students and promoting diversity in cybersecurity. In this group mentorship model, you will meet virtually with a small group of 3 to 5 mentees once per month for 90 minutes over a 4-month period. WiCyS provides a structured curriculum and discussion prompts for each meeting.
Mentors from all sectors and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Your insights and encouragement can have a lasting impact on emerging cyber talent. Mentors will receive a WiCyS digital badge to recognize their contribution to the community.
Expectations of Mentors:
Commit to the 4-month Aspiring Professional Mentorship Program. Estimated time commitment is approximately 3–4 hours per month (scheduling, meeting preparation, group mentoring session, and follow-up). Engage with the materials and resources provided by WiCyS, meet virtually with your assigned mentee group once a month (90 minutes), and submit session feedback surveys through the Together platform.
Mentor Benefits:
- Private Slack group for connection with other mentors
- CPE credits (ISC2 and GIAC)
- Opportunity to build leadership and facilitation skills
- Opportunity to attend one resume review session
- Kick-off webinar to prepare you for group mentorship success
- Access to WiCyS tools, resources, and monthly topic guides
- Recognition as a contributor to the WiCyS mission of advancing women and diversity in cybersecurity
Calling all Mentees:
Are you ready to invest in your future? The WiCyS Aspiring Professional Mentorship Program is open to all WiCyS Student Members at the undergraduate level, including international students.
Being part of a meaningful mentoring relationship can help you build essential professional skills, gain clarity on your career path, and grow your confidence as you prepare to enter the cybersecurity workforce.
Expectations of Mentees:
Commit to the 4-month mentor/mentee program. Meet with your assigned mentor in a small group setting (3–5 mentees) for a minimum of once per month (90 minutes). Engage with materials and resources provided by your mentor and WiCyS, and participate in periodic surveys and program evaluation efforts.
Note: Mentee placement is based on mentor availability, including time zone and scheduling compatibility. While we aim to match all eligible applicants, placement is not guaranteed.
Mentee Benefits:
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Career readiness support for launching your cybersecurity journey
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Meaningful relationship-building with a cybersecurity professional
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Access to a structured curriculum aligned with career readiness competencies
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Peer learning through group mentorship
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A WiCyS digital badge to celebrate your participation and growth
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Kick-off webinar to prepare you for a successful mentoring experience
Aspiring Professional Mentorship Curriculum:
- Foundations of Career Readiness
- Communication and Teamwork
- Leadership and Professionalism
- Critical Thinking and Career Launch
Ricardo Lafosse
Chief Information Security Officer at The Kraft Heinz Company
“One of cybersecurity’s biggest challenges is the skills gap for most organizations. As cybersecurity leaders we MUST push for diversity and engrain these viewpoints into the fabric of our programs. Hiring people from diverse backgrounds improves our program because it provides a different viewpoint and way of thinking that we may not have considered before. WiCys is the platform to help connect and embrace diverse viewpoints in a collaborative, supportive, and friendly environment. WiCys amplifies the voice and passion of a diverse community and extends opportunities for career elevation and thought leadership. Being a mentor provides me the opportunity to share my experiences, guidance, and support but I also always walk away learning something new! As a CISO, I strongly support the mission and the passion the members exhibit and am honored to be amongst these amazingly talented individuals! We are stronger together!”
Posie Aagaard
MSIT/Cyber student at the University of Texas at San Antonio
“The WiCyS mentorship program has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. Our mentor and mentees quickly established a comfortable rapport, and I am really enjoying learning from the group. It’s encouraging to hear others’ perspectives and experiences. Biggest takeaway: We are not alone!”
Sarah Bartsch
Cybersecurity Analyst, Evolve Security Academy
“As a WiCyS Mentee, I had the opportunity to learn from cybersecurity professionals practicing in the field as cybersecurity professors and data scientists. We shared our interests in IoT, machine learning, threat intelligence, incident response, and critical infrastructure. Most of all, I learned that by using our innate superpowers as women we can add great value to any role we choose to pursue in Cybersecurity and ultimately, make an impactful difference in Cybersecurity.“
Mira Plante
WiCyS mentee, WiCyS member, Freshman Computer Science/Cyber Security Student
“Through the WiCyS Mentee/Mentor Program, I gained connections with professionals and peers, networking skills, and valuable insight on being a woman in Cyber Security. My experiences in this program helped me with a local career fair and a virtual conference so far, and I know the advice I got from my mentor will continue to help me in the future as well.“
Sheetal Kanade
Engineering Manager - Security, Workday
“A huge thank you to WiCyS mentorship program for this opportunity to mentor a wonderfully warm, inspiring and energetic group of amazing women. Our cohort mantra is to keep it fun but thoughtful, opinionated but non-judgmental and simple but enriching! I am loving every bit of my cohort engagement, connecting and sharing our experiences, discussing some well thought out topics provided by the program framework, and simply supporting and being there for each other through regular meetings and group and one-on-one chats.“
Liz Jaluague
Cybersecurity Analyst, Deloitte
“Mentorship has been instrumental in both my personal and professional development. Learning about the experiences of people in different parts of the world has also broadened my understanding of the cybersecurity industry. Serving as a mentor and giving back to the community has been a rewarding experience.“