ECCC and Women4Cyber join forces to strive for gender diversity

The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) and the Women4Cyber (W4C) Foundation cooperated on 12 December to host an empowering webinar, drawing attention to the importance of gender diversity and inclusivity in the cybersecurity industry. Starting from a small initiative, the Women4Cyber Foundation has grown exponentially in size, now encompassing over 60,000 members and with chapters in 25 European countries. Anett Mádi-Nátor, President of Women4Cyber, shared her experiences and the process of how this Foundation went from being a small initiative into a cybersecurity unicorn.

On 12 December, the ECCC and W4C collaborated to host the webinar "Breaking Barriers: Women4Cyber's Journey to Unicorn Status and Beyond." The event aimed to empower women in cybersecurity and raise awareness about diversity in the field. Nina Olesen, Head of Sector of Skills and Human Factors in Project ECCO under ECCC, opened the session, emphasising the critical need for gender inclusivity in the European cybersecurity ecosystem and the significance of organisations like W4C. Anett Mádi-Nátor, President of W4C, then provided an overview of W4C's journey, highlighting their mission to support talented women in cybersecurity. As W4C approaches its fifth birthday in January 2024, their commitment to promoting best practices and supporting a community for women in cybersecurity remains constant.

The webinar demonstrated W4C's commitment to creating a gender-inclusive European cybersecurity industry, reaching over 60,000 members across continental Europe. W4C takes on a diverse approach that includes providing education, training, and support for job seekers, aiming to bridge the expertise gap in cybersecurity by encouraging more women to join the field.

In its journey towards achieving "unicorn status and beyond," W4C implements mentorship programmes, connecting aspiring professionals with mentors from prominent companies and offering support to women in cybersecurity throughout their careers. The Foundation’s greatest pride is the creation of national chapters, now counting 25 formal and informal chapters. This strategic initiative enables effective engagement with local communities, promoting inclusivity and driving widespread change. Anticipating growth, the Foundation looks forward to welcoming two to three new chapters in the coming year.

Lastly, the webinar dove into an analysis of age groups, genders, and races in cybersecurity, addressing crucial topics like training, education, awareness, employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership. W4C's mentorship programme emerged as a valuable tool, providing guidance to those starting their careers or making career shifts.

However, challenges persist. Mrs. Mádi-Nátor notes a “bottleneck” caused by the lack of education, training, and awareness about the existing female talent pool in European cybersecurity. W4C aims to achieve gender neutrality in the industry, aspiring to create an environment where opportunities are based on merit rather than gender.

The ECCC acknowledges these challenges and is committed to supporting initiatives like Women4Cyber and its mission in shaping a more inclusive and diverse future as the industry evolves.

To view the presentation slides from the event, click HERE.