Organised by Eskenzi PR in media partnership with the IT Security Guru, the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards aim to shed light on the remarkable women in our industry. The following is a feature on one of 2022’s Top 20 women selected by an esteemed panel of judges. Presented in a Q&A format, the nominee’s answers are written in their own words with minor edits made by the editor for readability and where relevant, supplemented with additional commentary by their nominator.
This year, the awards are sponsored by Beazley, BT, KPMG and KnowBe4.
Wendy Nather, Head of Advisory CISOs, Cisco
What does your job role entail?
I guide Cisco’s security product strategy, marketing, investments, and other areas from a CISO and industry analyst perspective. I also represent Cisco externally on boards, committees, working groups, conferences, and policy discussions.
How did you get into the cybersecurity industry?
When I was working in system administration for Swiss Bank Corporation (now UBS) in Europe, I was promoted to lead cybersecurity for the EMEA investment banking division.
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced as a woman in the tech/cyber industry and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges has been the lack of acknowledgment that I have commitments outside of work to my family, parents and myself. I don’t know whether it’s simply that women take on more of that labor and so it’s not visible when there are fewer women in the industry, or whether women in middle age like myself who have more of those commitments are not seen as clearly as younger women. But whether you’re battling cancer, taking care of children with special needs, or providing end-of-life care for your parents, it’s important not only for the industry to acknowledge that this is everywhere, but also to support it, not just to focus on how many keynotes or CVEs you have under your belt.
What are your top three greatest accomplishments you have achieved during your career so far?
I’ve learned a great amount by working in very disparate roles (CISO, industry analyst, research director) in different verticals and geographic regions. I’m proud of some of the messages I’ve been able to deliver (such as talking about the Security Poverty Line, democratizing security, and mutual obligations in the cybersecurity ecosystem). Most of all, I’m grateful to have met and been able to support so many colleagues throughout the industry.
What are you doing to support other women, and/or to increase diversity, in the tech/cyber industry?
I really have no idea because I don’t keep track! I’ve worked with some great groups such as WCAPS and WiCyS as well as #ShareTheMicInCyber, but day to day I talk to people who ask me for advice or referrals. I’ve hired people into cybersecurity roles who came from unconventional backgrounds like my own, and have been thrilled to see how they’ve driven their own careers and made an impact. I try to focus more these days on passing opportunities on to my inspiring colleagues, whether they’re startup founders, practitioners looking to make a move, or students trying to figure out what their entry point will be.
What is one piece of advice you would give to girls/women looking to enter the cybersecurity industry?
I truly believe you have it harder now than I ever did. Take advantage of all the support out there, and don’t let anyone tell you what a “security professional” should look or act like. I made up my entire career as I went along, and you should be able to do that as well. We need you!
