When we discuss the topic of diversity in cybersecurity, we tend to hear from senior leaders who explain the challenges they face recruiting and retaining diverse talent, and the efforts they are making to beat those challenges. This is a useful discussion, but it’s one-sided. In a continuously evolving industry, these senior leaders likely entered the profession from a completely different social and career environment to the one we are experiencing today. They would have faced different circumstances, and first hand experiences of entering the market – after a decade or two – lose relevance.
If we’re going to encourage diverse talent to enter the cybersecurity workforce, it’s a good idea to gather the perspective of those who have recently joined the industry. We should ask people who successfully joined the cybersecurity sector over the last five years about their experiences.