Women in Cyber: Breaking Barriers at GISEC 2025

Women are changing the face of cybersecurity. By 2025, they will make up 30% of the global cybersecurity workforce. GISEC Global 2024 will showcase this transformation as 20,000 visitors from 130 countries gather to witness achievements in the field.

The UAE leads by example. Women make up 60% of the federal workforce and hold 30% of leadership roles. The event’s Inspire conference will feature industry experts like Alina Tan, who ranks among the Top 30 Women in Security in ASEAN. Judy Ngure, co-author of “African Women in Security,” will also share her insights.

GISEC 2024 helps break barriers for women in cybersecurity. The event tackles challenges head-on and creates opportunities through leadership tracks and mentorship programs. Technical advances and policy updates show how diversity makes problem-solving better and builds a stronger cybersecurity sector.

GISEC 2025: Spotlight on Women Pioneers

“GISEC gave me great opportunity to connect. It is a huge exhibition, so many people, all of us are working together to address this global cybersecurity challenge that we face, more interestingly we are on the same team.” — David Koh, Commissioner of Cybersecurity and Chief Executive, Cyber Security Agency, Singapore (CSA)

GISEC 2025 champions female talent in cybersecurity through its dedicated Inspire stage that celebrates women’s achievements in the field. Female leaders and changemakers come together on this platform to reshape the scene with their breakthroughs, leadership, and advocacy.

Keynote speakers breaking new ground

The summit features trailblazing women who have broken through glass ceilings in cybersecurity’s traditionally male-dominated space. Alina Tan, a seasoned security architect, stands out with her groundbreaking work in automotive cybersecurity. Judy Ngure leads Bug Bounty Box as founder and CEO, bringing her vulnerability management expertise while promoting diversity initiatives throughout Africa.

Caitlin Sarian, known as “Cybersecurity Girl,” represents the next wave of digital defenders. She brings a decade of consulting experience from firms like EY and TikTok’s Global Cybersecurity Advocacy team. Sarian challenges traditional cybersecurity training methods by promoting ground applications and critical thinking.

Success stories from the Middle East

Women’s advancement in cybersecurity shows remarkable progress across the Middle East. Nine visionary women founded Women in Cyber Security Middle East (WiCSME) in 2018, which now boasts nearly 3,000 members across 23 countries. This volunteer-driven organization creates a safe environment for professional growth while connecting and supporting women.

Irene Corpuz, WiCSME’s Co-Founder, believes gender diversity goes beyond meeting quotas. She sees it as a strategic necessity to build strong cybersecurity defenses. Her GISEC presentations highlight how diverse views fuel breakthroughs and strengthen security strategies against emerging threats.

Global representation at the summit

GISEC 2025’s international character mirrors cybersecurity’s worldwide reach. Prominent speakers from different regions share their expertise and views. Notable experts include Danni Brooke, Investigation & Intelligence expert from the UK; Pei Ling LEE, Head of Cyber Strategy & Outreach Unit at INTERPOL Singapore; and Celia Mantshiyane, Group CISO at FNB Bank South Africa.

This global presence reinforces a crucial point: cybersecurity thrives on diversity. Different approaches and views enhance problem-solving abilities. The number of women in cybersecurity has doubled in the last decade to 25%, showing both progress and room for growth.

GISEC 2025 shapes the future of digital security through networking events, mentorship programs, and strategic collaborations. Women emerge not just as participants but as pioneers leading the way forward.

Challenges Women Face in Cybersecurity Today

Women still don’t have full opportunities to participate and advance in the cybersecurity industry, even though the field continues to grow. The barriers exist at many levels, from education and recruitment to career advancement and leadership roles.

Underrepresentation in technical roles

The gender gap in cybersecurity remains stark. Women make up just 25% of the global cybersecurity workforce, though experts project this number to reach 30% by 2025. Leadership roles show an even bigger gap, with women holding only 17% of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) positions at Fortune 500 companies. Women of color face even tougher challenges and remain severely underrepresented across the technology sector.

Workplace biases and stereotypes

Gender-based assumptions create major roadblocks. Research shows 55% of women see cybersecurity as an intimidating industry, and many avoid careers in this field. Women who enter cybersecurity experience exclusion twice as often as their male colleagues. Their performance gets judged differently too—people often label a woman’s assertiveness as aggression. The common “hacker image” stereotype pushes away talented women from the field.

Balancing career growth with personal life

Cybersecurity roles come with unique demands. Cyber threats never sleep, so professionals must stay ready around the clock. This creates extra pressure for women who handle most caregiving duties at home. About 37% of female STEM graduates think cybersecurity makes work-life balance difficult. Many qualified women avoid or leave the field because of this challenge.

All the same, we can see positive changes happening. Companies now realize they must take an all-encompassing approach to tackle these barriers. This includes flexible work schedules, childcare support, and addressing unconscious bias. To cite an instance, companies that mention diversity initiatives in job descriptions attract more women (26.6%) compared to those that don’t (22.3%).

How GISEC 2025 is Fostering Inclusion

“GISEC was an invaluable opportunity to network with cybersecurity leaders, researchers, technology providers, engage in exciting discussions, and identify potential collaboration opportunities toward enhancing cybersecurity risk management.” — Ahmed Al Saleh, OT Cybersecurity Lead, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia

GISEC 2025 takes direct steps to close the gender gap with programs that lift women in the cybersecurity industry. The organizers have built a complete framework that tackles several aspects of inclusion and ensures lasting effects beyond the conference.

Dedicated women’s leadership tracks

The INSPIRE stage stands at the core of GISEC 2025’s inclusion efforts. This global gathering brings female leaders and changemakers to share their stories and insights. The platform connects prominent women from the cybersecurity world to discuss challenges and opportunities that shape their careers.

The INSPIRE platform champions “women leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts in the cybersecurity realm”. These specialized tracks create a supportive space where knowledge-sharing drives professional growth. The sessions highlight female pioneers who actively change the digital security world.

Mentorship programs and networking opportunities

Long-term change needs ongoing support structures at GISEC 2025. Dedicated mentorship labs let experienced professionals guide new talent. These programs show that “mentorship and development are essential to ensure women receive the senior support they need”.

Morning breakfast gatherings in the CISO lounge are a great way to get networking opportunities where connections happen naturally. These casual settings lead to productive relationships. Participants often “meet in person a lot of #womenincybersecurity”.

Mentorship works with minimal time investment but creates substantial benefits. Mentors typically need only “1-2 hours a month” to make a real difference for mentees in the field.

Recognition through awards and visibility

GISEC 2025 showcases women’s achievements through targeted recognition programs. The event proves that “awards ceremonies, media campaigns, and conferences can stir conversations around female success and entrepreneurship in the industry”. The 2025 Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards saw record submissions, which shows growing industry support for women’s contributions.

These visibility initiatives create lasting effects. Award recipients see these honors as “both an honor and a call to action for continued innovation and leadership in this space”. Celebrating female achievement inspires the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and creates a positive cycle of representation and inclusion.

Regional Impact: Middle East’s Cybersecurity Landscape

The Middle East leads the way in advancing women’s roles in cybersecurity. Regional governments and corporations now understand that gender diversity creates breakthroughs and better national security.

UAE’s progressive policies for women in tech

Women make up 60% of UAE’s federal workforce and hold 30% of leadership positions. This success comes from well-planned policy breakthroughs. The Dubai Women Establishment launched several programs to boost women’s economic contributions. Their “Women on Boards” initiative made UAE the first Middle Eastern nation to require female board members in corporate leadership.

On top of that, the UAE Cybersecurity Council works with the General Women’s Union to run specialized programs. These programs help women excel in cybersecurity governance and diplomacy. Female professionals learn to become trainers and leaders in national cybersecurity frameworks.

Success stories from government initiatives

Nine founding partners created Women in Cybersecurity Middle East (WiCSME) in 2018, which reshaped the scene. The organization builds a supportive community for women in cybersecurity. It promotes connections and career growth. Female representation has doubled in the last decade, reaching 25% globally.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 shows real progress. Women’s workforce participation jumped from 17.4% in 2017 to 34.5% in 2023. The Kingdom’s tech sector has 28% female participation, which beats Europe’s 19% average.

Corporate commitments to diversity

The private sector makes meaningful contributions too. Google’s Generation Google Scholarship gives 7,000 EUR to female computer science students. Microsoft’s Women Think Next creates networking opportunities for senior-level female professionals.

Ericsson shows its steadfast dedication through the Gen-E Graduate Engineer Program. The program welcomed 100 local Saudi graduates with half being women. These programs reflect what cybersecurity experts always say: “diversity is not just a metric; it’s the foundation of innovation and resilience”.

Women are changing the digital world of cybersecurity. Their numbers keep growing, thanks to meaningful initiatives at GISEC 2025 and forward-thinking policies across the Middle East. UAE’s federal workforce shows the real value of gender diversity in cybersecurity defenses, with women holding 30% of leadership positions.

GISEC 2025 leads this transformation through its INSPIRE stage, well-laid-out mentorship programs, and recognition initiatives. These programs create waves across the industry. More women now head over to cybersecurity careers, which helps break down old stereotypes.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia’s achievements showcase how targeted policies and company commitments make real change happen. Women in Cybersecurity Middle East (WiCSME) has created strong communities that help professionals grow and innovate.

Without doubt, cybersecurity gets better with different views and approaches. We have a long way to go, but we can build on this progress. Government initiatives, corporate programs, and platforms like GISEC 2025 keep breaking down barriers. Women now have clear paths to excel in digital security roles. These changes point to a future where gender diversity becomes the life-blood of reliable cybersecurity strategies.