2023 Mentor/Mentee Program 

“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!”

“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!”

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“