And make the technology world a welcoming place for other women: “Take care of one another,” she said. “Support one another. Be an ally and a coach whenever possible.”

Read more about cybersecurity at Booz Allen.

Today, OEM’s representing more than 99 percent of light-duty vehicles in North America share data with the Auto-ISAC. “And no longer is any meeting silent,” Heckler said.

Learn more about Alexandra Heckler and cybersecurity at Booz Allen.

People in traditional information technology roles understand system, application, and process for functional areas such as architecture but may not be as versed in the security or risk dialogues that need to go with it, she said. Or on the other hand, an expert in cyber requirements, mitigations, and best practices may not be as familiar with the IT environment and technology.

Making the cyber world a more inclusive place

When she’s not driving security and privacy initiatives in the healthcare sector, Wadhwa is working to bring more women into technology and cyber careers.

She’s a mentor for Girls in Tech and the Executive Women’s Forum Lift program, which helps forum members define their career goals, find encouragement and support, and navigate the challenges of work/life integration. She’s also involved with Women in Tech, the Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu, and the northern Virginia chapter of (ISC)2, which represents more than 140,000 cybersecurity and information security professionals worldwide.

“With inclusion comes empowerment, and that means being empowered to affect impact, and be in a position to change the world around you,” she said.

Read more about cybersecurity at Booz Allen.

Advice for today’s women in cyber

Olsen also wears the hats of career manager, job leader, and mentor—as well as the informal title of “software czar” for Booz Allen’s El Segundo, California office. Here’s her advice for women looking to get involved in cybersecurity:

• Identify a few areas of interest, then take the time to explore and develop knowledge and skills in these areas
• Define the value and “brand” you want to be known for, and be prepared to communicate this to others
• Don’t be discouraged by gender discrimination or the negative aspects of “tech culture”

“With more women in the field, we can change those perceptions and improve the culture,” she said.

Read more about Sarah Olsen and cybersecurity at Booz Allen.

Cyber is an evolving—and rewarding—journey

In the ever-changing industry, cyber practitioners must work with clients struggling to define their approach to cybersecurity and risk management. “You’ll need to learn and evolve alongside the client,” Mady said.

She noted the invaluable insights that come from answering questions, developing implementation plans, writing technical documentation, training end users, and more.

For women interested in a cyber career, Mady encouraged them to look into certification programs, training programs, and policy case studies as introductions to the field.

“The industry needs people who are willing to put forth the effort and initiative and be willing to sit and figure things out,” she said.

Learn more about cybersecurity and women at Booz Allen.

Having started a dance school, I mentor other women in dance and technology. Being a role model for them is something I cherish. One of my students mentioned that seeing me work in technology and still teach dance gave her a vision of what she could be. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to show people that more women can work in cyber and continue to pursue art.

How would you describe your role at Booz Allen?

When I joined Booz Allen after graduating college, it felt odd to be on a team where I was the only person not to have an IT or information systems-oriented background. With my engineering thinking, I took on a role of understanding key concepts, but not necessarily being the implementor. Since I had a holistic understanding of what was going on and who was responsible for what, I worked with requirements and building architectures. It was just a little more natural to me to see all the moving parts and how they fit together.

From there I realized that I have a knack for managing and organizing teams. I enjoyed my work in project and program management so much that I pursued a master’s degree in it.

You don’t have to be a technical SME to work in cybersecurity. You can communicate risks, manage cyber projects, or even help grow business. If we’re able to convey a basic understanding of cybersecurity to the general population, it translates into more opportunities for more individuals to work in the field.

Learn more about Booz Allen’s key women in cyber and tech here.

An ongoing challenge of awareness

“Your job as an executive is to surround yourself with the best available talent, and if you’re excluding half the population you’re not doing that,” Miller said.

He stressed the importance of not only recruiting with diversity in mind but creating an organization where every person’s skills are coveted and valued, everyone’s thoughts are heard, and everyone can thrive.

As a young person entering the workforce, Miller said he hadn’t always been in tune with how his female colleagues were being treated.

Today, he said, “I’m more aware than I used to be, but I’m not totally aware.”

An opportunity to lead by example

According to Miller, not only do male executives have to be aware of what’s going on around them, they also have to be open and transparent in their communications.

“If you want people to share what they’re feeling insecure about, it requires us as leaders to take some risks,” he said.

“You have to challenge yourself every day to be a change agent and do your part to make the environment the best it can be for everyone on your team.”

Watch the full conversation and learn more about the Courageous Conversations Video Series and diversity and inclusion at Booz Allen.

Often people reject the feedback they’re given because they don’t trust the person’s. intent, she said. But feedback is a gift.

“They’re telling you because they care about you,” she said. “Not because they’re trying to drag you down.”

“Early in my career, when I stumbled, you called me up and gave me some hard feedback,” Shannon told Hurley during the interview. “It made me a better leader.”.”

Watch the full conversation and learn more about the Courageous Conversation Video Series and about diversity and inclusion at Booz Allen.

You also need to be passionate about the client’s mission and have extreme empathy for the challenges and pressures they’re facing. All of our clients have very unique mission challenges, and when we bring tremendous empathy to that, it opens our eyes as problem solvers and we’re able to better address their challenges.

How can we get more women into STEM careers?

We need young girls to catch the vision. I love showing young girls and women how exciting a career in STEM could be: building relationships, contributing to solving tough challenges, the amazing growth path due to the dynamic nature of the field.

If I could wave a magic wand, I would pump resources in elementary school math and science and make it a lot more hands-on and experimental. By age 12–14, a lot of girls are either going to be inspired by challenges and believe they can academically hang with STEM, or not. It’s about exposing them to more positive role models and changing the scripts they hear.

Many of the things that have defined my happiness and my career at Booz Allen are available to any girl that would like to pursue a career in STEM. It’s exciting, I work with high caliber professionals, and no two days—or two years—are the same.

Learn more about Booz Allen’s key women in cyber and tech, here.

What advice would you give to others considering a career in cybersecurity?

You can never be ‘too late’ to start learning and mastering a new field. When I started as a Summer Games intern three years ago, I didn’t know I wanted to be in cybersecurity. But I knew about the firm’s training resources. I probably spent about 15 extra hours a week doing online trainings during my first year at the firm, I earned my UMUC cybersecurity technology graduate certificate, and I’ve participated in the Security+ and CISSP training and exams and the ACT-IAC Associates Professional Development Programs. There are seemingly endless opportunities to enhance your skill set at Booz Allen, and at no personal monetary cost.

Read more about Booz Allen’s cyber practice here.

I’m a part-time employee with two small kids. Thanks to the work-life balance Booz Allen offers, I’m able to make an impact for clients in a way that meets my family’s needs. It’s the best of both worlds.

How can employees make their workplace more secure?

Privacy and cyber principles need to be reinforced on a regular basis through reminders, newsletters, tip cards, posters, and activities. You can organize or host a team awareness event, and don’t even need to be a cyber or privacy subject matter expert to do so. There are a number of great free resources out there.

Read more about Booz Allen’s cyber practice here.

What advice do you have for others interested in a cybersecurity career?

You don’t need to have a traditional technology degree to have great success. I’ve worked with people encompassing a full range of professional backgrounds—from international affairs to graphic design. Engaging staff with a wider variety of experiences has opened the door to new talent and enabled fresh ideas derived from diverse perspectives.

Surround yourself with people who are knowledgeable and from whom you can learn. This will enable you to approach conversations without hesitation, use your voice, and share your viewpoint.

Read more about Booz Allen’s cyber practice, here.

Rebecca earned a B.S. in mathematics from University of Mary Washington and an M.S. in discrete mathematics and computing applications from Royal Holloway, University of London.