Celebrating Women in Cybersecurity: A Trailblazer’s Journey to Inspire Inclusion and Innovation

In a digital landscape constantly evolving under the weight of innovation and threats alike, the role of cybersecurity professionals has never been more critical. Yet, among these defenders of the digital world, women remain underrepresented – a gap the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards seeks to narrow each year. Organized by Eskenzi PR and supported by IT Security Guru, the 2024 edition of the awards recognized 20 standout women driving real change in the industry. Sponsored by major players like BT, Mimecast, and Varonis, and backed by community partners such as WiCyS UK & Ireland and Women in Tech and Cybersecurity Hub (WiTCH), this celebration of excellence shines a much-needed spotlight on trailblazers in the cyber sector.

One of these outstanding professionals is a startup co-founder and CEO whose candid reflections offer a compelling blend of business grit, human insight, and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity. Her story is more than just professional success—it’s a narrative of resilience, vision, and the power of authentic leadership in tech.

Inside the Journey: A Powerful Voice in Cybersecurity

As a co-founder and CEO of a global cybersecurity startup, her role spans strategy, operations, finance, marketing, legal, and direct client engagement. She balances a multi-faceted workload, ensuring her company delivers value and real defense capabilities for its clients.
She didn’t start her career in cybersecurity intentionally. After years in customer-facing roles, she transitioned into the field by building out a post-sales and customer excellence team in a startup. This move reconnected her with her roots in Intelligence from her military service.
Working in cybersecurity brings a sense of purpose for her, knowing the work directly protects businesses and people from digital threats.
She speaks honestly about the challenges women face in tech, especially at leadership levels where bias often becomes more subtle yet more entrenched.
The key to overcoming these challenges has been focusing on results, building a strong support network, and aligning with people who value expertise over assumptions.
Her advocacy for diversity is intentional and personal. She mentors, advises, and actively works to ensure people from all backgrounds have access to fair opportunities—without falling into the trap of quota-based hiring.
Her philosophy is grounded in integrity: hiring for potential, mentoring for growth, and removing barriers rather than artificially measuring inclusion.
She draws inspiration from a broad spectrum of people—not necessarily from famous figures, but from those who show resilience, empathy, and creativity in everyday situations.
Even negative experiences have been sources of growth for her, teaching her what not to become and how to forge a better, more inclusive leadership path.

What Undercode Say:

This candid reflection paints the picture of a leader who has earned her stripes not by fitting into the tech mold, but by redefining it. In a world where CEOs often speak in buzzwords and boardroom jargon, her voice is refreshingly authentic. She offers insight not just into her own journey, but into the structural shifts cybersecurity needs to make to truly embrace diversity and innovation.

Startups, particularly in cybersecurity, are demanding environments. The founder’s experience of wearing multiple hats—from strategy to sales to emotional support for her team—is emblematic of startup culture, but also of a deeper entrepreneurial truth: that leadership is personal. Her balance of long-term vision with daily execution shows a level of intentionality that’s crucial for a young company aiming to make a real-world impact.

Her entry into cybersecurity wasn’t scripted—she pivoted from customer-facing roles to cyber leadership, reinforcing a lesson that’s becoming increasingly clear in tech: diverse experiences make stronger leaders. What’s even more notable is how her military background in Intelligence adds a strategic lens to her decision-making, emphasizing that technical roles aren’t only about tools—they’re about understanding, predicting, and managing human behavior.

Bias in the tech world

What resonates most is her rejection of performative diversity. She’s not looking to fulfill quotas—she’s building equitable systems. By mentoring and supporting others from underrepresented backgrounds, she’s creating a pipeline of talent that’s not just diverse, but deeply capable.

Her approach to inspiration also deserves mention. She doesn’t idolize—she learns. Every person, every experience, good or bad, becomes a teacher. That adaptability and humility are rare and often the mark of great leadership.

In a sector where technical brilliance is expected, but emotional intelligence is often undervalued, she brings both. And that’s what sets her apart—not just as one of the Top 20 most inspiring women in cyber, but as a future-defining force in the industry.

Fact Checker Results:

The Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards are organized annually by Eskenzi PR with support from media and industry partners.
The 2024 awards were backed by sponsors such as BT, Mimecast, and KnowBe4.