Empowering women in security: The impact of mentorship

In our Women Leading Security series, Snyk CMO Jonaki Egenolf spoke with influential leaders about challenges and opportunities in the journey toward a more inclusive cybersecurity industry.

One important takeaway from these conversations is that mentorship and allyship are top catalysts for career development. From finding advocates who championed their potential to building supportive networks, these leaders agreed that human connection and collaboration are essential to closing the gender gap in security. 

Here, we dive into their stories and explore how mentorship can pave the way for a more diverse and empowered cybersecurity community. 

Realizing your full potential through mentorship 

It is an ongoing effort to break down barriers and encourage more women to enter the cybersecurity field. The good news is that it’s becoming increasingly common for women to take non-traditional paths or join the industry from non-technical backgrounds. 

Mentorship can play a huge role in opening the door to a career in cybersecurity for those who may feel intimidated or that they’re not qualified. Donna L. Ross, CISO at Radian Group, started in marketing at a small nonprofit where a senior security leader recognized her skills and encouraged her ambitions. “When Bill first approached me, I didn’t know anything about security. I wondered: how does this make sense? Fortunately, he saw something in me that I did not see in myself.”

“My advice to folks today would be if you have a leader that sees something in you, listen to them. They may know something you do not. Take that leap.” – Donna L. Ross 

A supportive voice can also instill confidence in one’s skills and ability to advocate for career growth opportunities like promotions and raises. Though women typically receive higher performance ratings than men, they are 14% less likely to be promoted than their male colleagues. According to Erika Carrara, CISO and VP of Enterprise Reliability at The Greenbrier Companies, a mentor can teach women how to champion their work and present themselves as essential to their organization. 

“A mentor helps you see the ideal, future version of yourself and inspires you to start acting like that person. It’s not ‘fake it till you make it’ because you really are capable of achieving greatness. You are that person,” said Carrara. 

Beyond technical guidance 

Several of the leaders pointed out that, while mentors can help improve technical skills and organizational knowledge, they also impart wisdom on sharpening soft skills and thinking like an executive. 

Alyssa Robinson, CISO at HubSpot, believes mentors should lead with empathy and show women how to lift each other up. “There's a lot to be said for being able to think like someone else, put yourself in their shoes, consider their motivations, and understand what they might be thinking,” she said. “That’s an important aspect of cybersecurity that might not be thought about as often.” 

Similarly, Maggie Amato, BISO at Salesforce, highlights that mentors need to empower women to grow in ways that resonate personally. That’s why she makes an effort to understand and support her team members' unique career goals and create an environment where everyone feels comfortable pursuing their own path — inside or outside the office.

“There’s a logical fallacy of hasty generalization — that everyone wants to be a CISO or has the same career aspirations. Instead, you should meet people where they are and help connect them with the right resources to grow, even if that means outgrowing you.” – Maggie Amato 

Championing diversity and mentorship in cybersecurity 

By sharing personal journeys and insights from leaders across various organizations, we aim to inspire professionals at every level to support diversity and help break down barriers for women entering the security field.

Together, we can work to close the gender gap in cybersecurity and create a community where everyone feels supported to find their purpose. After checking out the full Women Leading Security series, follow Snyk and share our #WomenLeadingSecurity posts on LinkedIn and X to boost donations to Girls Who Code.