Career advice from women in cybersecurity for International Women’s Day

Never stop learning—Identify what you enjoy doing at work and build on that. Better yet, identify what has a need and work to build and expand that. Be someone who can get things done. 

Invest in relationships—If you make the promise to yourself to never stop learning, meeting people will naturally occur. Invest in these relationships as they can easily develop into strong professional relationships that can last throughout your career. 

Be your best advocate—Make sure to be your own cheerleader! Promote the wonderful work you do, share your voice and create a brand for yourself. Don’t be your own best kept secret. 

Strive for the ‘challenge’—Experiencing challenges both personally and professionally is when transformation happens. Look for the challenges, push yourself to learn and grow so that you can continue to build the best version of yourself. And be confident in your knowledge and skills. 

Invest in yourself—It is never too late to invest in yourself. Whether it be time, energy, money, or any resource to help fill your tank—do it.

Embrace the unknown—Yep, it’s scary! But it’s also incredibly exciting. Embrace the uncertainty and see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Who knows, you might discover a hidden talent or passion along the way. 

Confidence is key—When you believe in yourself, others believe in you too. It’s that unwavering self-assurance that propels you forward, even when faced with challenges or doubts. It’s not about being perfect or having all the answers. It’s about embracing your strengths, acknowledging your worth, and having the courage to take risks. Believe in yourself, and watch as the world opens its doors to endless possibilities. 

Grow from your mistakes—Getting into cybersecurity is not an easy task. Breaking into and staying in this field requires hard work, persistence, and determination. Roadblocks will occur, but what matters most is that you identify your mistakes and grow from them. Always remember, if it was easy…everyone would be doing it. 

Make connections—Every person you meet is a potential door to a new opportunity. Work hard, make connections, and build good bridges now—because you never know how they may contribute to the bigger picture. 

Foster a culture of innovation—Prioritize fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration within your team by encouraging open communication, idea sharing, and cross-functional cooperation to drive creativity and problem solving.

Inspire and motivate your team as a leader—Focus on developing strong leadership skills to inspire and motivate your team toward achieving ambitious goals while providing mentorship and support for their professional growth. Remember, success as a director lies not only in technical proficiency, but also cultivating a cohesive and empowered community. 

Say yes—Richard Branson once said, “if somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes—then learn how to do it later.” 

Surround yourself with people you can learn from—if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room!

Prioritize balance and energy—Make balance a requirement. Your tank should not be empty at the end of the workday. You should still have the energy, motivation, and desire to participate in the things that bring you personal joy. Your peace and mental health should never be sacrificed. 

Focus on your goals—Don’t focus on the little things. Focus on what leads you to your ultimate goal. When you find that things are beginning to interfere with your ability to focus on that ultimate goal, make a plan to either be flexible, resolve and keep going, leave, or all of the above. 

‘No’ doesn’t have to be definitive—Every ‘no’ is an opportunity to try again and again, because each ‘no’ offers a new perspective for learning and growth. No matter how many ‘nos’ you encounter in your career, embracing them leads to improvement. It’s only when you stop trying that a ‘no’ becomes definitive.

Shoot your shot—You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Women are less likely to apply for a role if there is a single skill on the job listing that they don’t fit, even if they have all of the other skills. As a result, we see more men in leadership roles because women doubt themselves and don’t take the shot. Don’t let a single skill that you can easily learn prevent you from applying to a role that you would otherwise be perfect for.