International Women's Day. Overcoming barriers - a marathon with hurdles

By Tony Morbin for SC Media
Monday, March 9, 2020

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Closing the gender gap in cyber-security could boost the UK economy by £12.6 billion - so why is it not happening? And how do women overcome these barriers and succeed in cyber-security?

How do women overcome these barriers and succeed in cyber-security? Ekaterina Khrustaleva, COO of web security company ImmuniWeb suggests: "It's really important to be sufficiently motivated and relentlessly driven to learn, work hard and deliver. Those who don’t dare implement their novel ideas or enterprising plans, usually don’t succeed. It is likewise crucial not to be afraid to make a mistake, all of the greatest entrepreneurs and global leaders made some mistakes on their way to success. Today, the cyber-security industry is incrementally open and women-friendly, and the main barrier and obstacle I frequently observe is lack of self-confidence.”

When it comes to specific advice for female entrepreneurs to succeed in the tech sector Khrustaleva advises: "Continuous education is essential to remain competitive, and is required to deliver something valuable to your colleagues, clients and partners. Thus I try to spend at least four hours a week reading cyber-security books and professional magazines, in addition to various online classes and courses. Reasonable persistence in what you do will certainly help, many female leaders give up on their first attempt, and eventually miss amazing opportunities. Try harder, keep your spirit open and positive, make new connections and share your success with others – these simple steps will enable your bright future in cybersecurity."

Private sector initiatives include the launch of the Women In Cyber Academy, commencing April 2020 in Central Bristol, a collaboration between TechTalent Academy’s ‘Women In Cyber Academy’ and Immersive Labs. Read Full Article