Women in Cyber-security: improving the gender balance

Outcomes/Deliverables

List of practical, valuable actions that help ourselves as well as others
Agreement to check back with the group in three or six months, rather than waiting until next year

The following list of actions was agreed:

The next summit should have a number of sessions which every participant should attend
- e.g. Ethics in Security, Women in CyberSec
Reach out to schools:
- Schoolchildren came to AppSec Belfast & AppSec Israel
- The next summit could invite schools to participate?
- School programmes need to be longer term, one day or one visit isn’t sufficient to engage long term interest
- If you are going to give a talk in a school, make sure it is pitched correctly and interesting for the students
Share opportunities:
- If you are asked to speak at an event but cannot attend, nominate a woman to take your place
- Personally invite women to events you participate in
  - The Ottawa OWASP chapter increased its attendance rate from 100 to 800 using this method
Be inclusive, not exclusive
- This is not just about including more women, but about increasing general diversity
Become a Mentor/mentee
- Sponsorship works like an advocacy programme
- Consider creating a personal go-to board of directors
Humility v. Insecurity
- Understand that humility is not the same as insecurity. The ability to admit not knowing or understanding something is a strength
- Remember that other people at your meeting/conference will also feel doubt, not just you
Watch the Imposter Syndrome Ted Talk (see References)
Watch the Body Language Ted Talk (See References)