Students aim to bridge diversity gap in cyber security

A group of RGU students have been reflecting on their “life-changing” experience after attending a major cyber security event in the United States.

Jennifer Richards, Esther Eze, Makanjuola Feyisayo and Taiwo Oladimeji-Tinubu were at the Women in Cyber Security (WiCyS) conference in Denver.

They are all students on RGU’s MSc Cyber Security programme and they received scholarships from WiCyS to go to the transatlantic gathering in Colorado.

WiCyS was established in 2013 with its mission to recruit, retain and advance women in the cybersecurity sector.  It aims to bring together women in cyber security from academia, research, government, and industry.

Over the course of the three-day conference a range of talks, workshops and recruitment events took place.

Makanjuola Feyisayo said that being around women from the sector she wants to break into was something of an inspiration. 

She said: “Attending this conference was a life-changing experience for me. It provided valuable opportunities to learn from others and build meaningful connections in the industry. I find it to be a source of inspiration and motivation, as I witness the achievements of other women in cyber security and how they gained confidence in their own abilities.

Jennifer Richards said: “The conference was a rich experience with keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops, career fairs, and a career village. The Women in Cybersecurity community offered several opportunities to get inspired, network, and interact with the vibrant community they have built. 

“There were sessions on everything from threat intelligence to incident response, and the speakers were all very knowledgeable. I had the chance to meet amazing women at various stages of their cybersecurity careers, and it was enlightening for me and my personal journey.”

Taiwo Oladimeji-Tinubu said she felt empowered after leaving the conference and returning to RGU.

She said: "I also the opportunity to meet, connect, and, learned from experienced and accomplished women who have made a significant impact in the field. These women gave me valuable insights and advice on navigating the cybersecurity industry, building a successful career, and overcoming gender barriers. Chatting with students from different universities in cyber security was also exciting as we exchanged valuable ideas,and interacting with them was fulfilling to me. 

“What I gained from this conference was the mindset that as a woman, I am unstoppable and can achieve greater heights in this field.”  

Esther Eze added: “Overall, the experience I took from my attendance at WiCys was like nothing I had ever experienced and I sincerely thank the organisers of the conference. As a woman in cyber security, I can honestly say that I look forward to bridging the gap for diversity in cyber security.”

Hatem Ahriz, Principal Lecturer at RGU’s School of Computing said the groups attendance at the event in America highlights the work that is going on by the University’s own WiCyS group.

He said:“It is now a year since a group of female students on our MSc Cyber Security course took the initiative of establishing a local chapter of the WiCyS organisation, as a way of helping address the under-representation of women in cyber security. As such, they have been able to organise events for raising awareness about the wealth of career opportunities available to female students.

“As a chapter, they were fortunate enough to benefit from the generous sponsorship of WiCyS to attend the latest conference in Denver. This was a fantastic opportunity to be inspired by female leader in this field and foster lasting relationships with the wider community of professionals. I am thrilled that they got to have this experience.”

WiCyS was held in Denver, Colorado, United States of America between March 16 and 18. 

Image: From left to right: Jennifer Edwards, Esther Eze, Makanjuola Feyisayo and Taiwo Oladimeji-Tinubu.