S1 Ep 31 - Breaking the Binary: Why Cybersecurity Needs Gender Balance for Better Innovation
Fri Jun 13 2025
In this episode of the Elevate Women in Tech podcast, host Kellie Kwarteng engages with cybersecurity professionals Lisa Ventura MBE FCIIS (founder of Cybersecurity Unity), Richard Wilson (Group Head of Information Security at Spirax Group), and Amelia Hewitt (founder of Hewett Partnerships Limited and Cybaid) to explore the critical importance of genderDiversity in cybersecurity.
Key Topics Covered:
The Business Case for Diversity: Statistics show cybersecurity teams with above-average gender diversity are 35% more likely to identify novel attack vectors and 21% more effective at detecting security incidents before significant damage occurs. Recruitment Challenges: With women making up just 22% of the UK cybersecurity workforce and only 19% of FTSE 100 CISOs, the panel discusses the substantial skills gap in the industry and explores how to attract diverse talent through skill-based hiring rather than focusing solely on traditional qualifications.
Early Education Misconceptions: Amelia shares how career perceptions form as early as age seven, emphasising the need to introduce cybersecurity concepts in primary education and challenge stereotypes about required skills for the profession.AI and Diverse Teams: The panel examines how diverse teams create more resilient security solutions by challenging assumptions, avoiding groupthink, and spotting blind spots in systems - particularly vital when developing AI security measures.Retention Strategies: The conversation highlights the importance of retention through inclusive policies like caregiver allowances, flexible working arrangements, and benefits that support all employees' needs, not just parents.Featured Insights:
The myth that cybersecurity requires a strong technical background prevents many talented individuals from applyingAI bias in recruitment tools may be filtering out qualified candidates from underrepresented groupsThe cybersecurity threat landscape is evolving, requiring diverse perspectives to anticipate and counter new attack vectorsCreating truly inclusive workplaces requires understanding what different employees actually want, not making assumptions
Why Listen:
This episode delivers practical advice for organisations seeking to address the cybersecurity skills gap by attracting and retaining diverse talent. For individuals considering a career in cybersecurity, the panel offers encouragement to look beyond traditional pathways and recognise the value of varied skills and perspectives in the industry.
Listen now to discover how gender diversity creates stronger cybersecurity teams and what actions you can take to break the binary in your organisation.
Keywords:
Gender equity, cybersecurity, diversity, recruitment, retention, women in tech, skills, talent attraction, neurodiversity, AI in cybersecurity, career pathways, inclusive workplace, skills gap
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In this episode of the Elevate Women in Tech podcast, host Kellie Kwarteng engages with cybersecurity professionals Lisa Ventura MBE FCIIS (founder of Cybersecurity Unity), Richard Wilson (Group Head of Information Security at Spirax Group), and Amelia Hewitt (founder of Hewett Partnerships Limited and Cybaid) to explore the critical importance of genderDiversity in cybersecurity. Key Topics Covered: The Business Case for Diversity: Statistics show cybersecurity teams with above-average gender diversity are 35% more likely to identify novel attack vectors and 21% more effective at detecting security incidents before significant damage occurs. Recruitment Challenges: With women making up just 22% of the UK cybersecurity workforce and only 19% of FTSE 100 CISOs, the panel discusses the substantial skills gap in the industry and explores how to attract diverse talent through skill-based hiring rather than focusing solely on traditional qualifications. Early Education Misconceptions: Amelia shares how career perceptions form as early as age seven, emphasising the need to introduce cybersecurity concepts in primary education and challenge stereotypes about required skills for the profession.AI and Diverse Teams: The panel examines how diverse teams create more resilient security solutions by challenging assumptions, avoiding groupthink, and spotting blind spots in systems - particularly vital when developing AI security measures.Retention Strategies: The conversation highlights the importance of retention through inclusive policies like caregiver allowances, flexible working arrangements, and benefits that support all employees' needs, not just parents.Featured Insights: The myth that cybersecurity requires a strong technical background prevents many talented individuals from applyingAI bias in recruitment tools may be filtering out qualified candidates from underrepresented groupsThe cybersecurity threat landscape is evolving, requiring diverse perspectives to anticipate and counter new attack vectorsCreating truly inclusive workplaces requires understanding what different employees actually want, not making assumptions Why Listen: This episode delivers practical advice for organisations seeking to address the cybersecurity skills gap by attracting and retaining diverse talent. For individuals considering a career in cybersecurity, the panel offers encouragement to look beyond traditional pathways and recognise the value of varied skills and perspectives in the industry. Listen now to discover how gender diversity creates stronger cybersecurity teams and what actions you can take to break the binary in your organisation. Keywords: Gender equity, cybersecurity, diversity, recruitment, retention, women in tech, skills, talent attraction, neurodiversity, AI in cybersecurity, career pathways, inclusive workplace, skills gap