Cost to join: Annual individual membership, $1,250.
FirstBoard.io bills itself as a “curated collective of female tech founders, CXOs, and operating leaders working together to increase female representation on company boards” in a variety of industries, including cybersecurity, cloud, enterprise software, artificial intelligence, robotics, and internet of things.
Founded in 2020 by Rita Scroggin, an executive search partner, this organization aims to boost the representation of female technology leaders on the private and public boards of startups to post-IPO companies to help them perform better and enhance shareholder value.
In addition, FirstBoard.io advocates for gender-balanced boards and works to connect qualified, experienced leaders with organizations that understand the benefits of having women on their boards.
“As an executive of an organization on the bleeding edge of cloud-native security, I’m always searching for opportunities to connect with other female leaders in the space,” says Karen Walker, CFO at cloud cybersecurity company Sysdig. “I recently joined Firstboard.io, a curated collective of accomplished female executives who have experience in technology, operations, and company scaling and are ready to be placed on boards. Many of the Firstboard.io members have worked in cybersecurity, and some are CTOs, CIOs, and CISOs.”
Cost to join: FirstBoard.io doesn’t charge a membership fee. Rather, FirstBoard.io only recruits board-ready members and expects them to actively contribute to the organization’s mission in various ways from day one.
WOMCY, or Latam Women in Cybersecurity, was established in 2019 as a non-profit organization by cybersecurity professional Leticia Gammill. The goal of the organization is “to minimize the knowledge gap and increase the talent pool in cybersecurity.”
“I started WOMCY because there was a lack of suitable [non-governmental organizations] in Latin America dedicated to empowering women in cybersecurity,” Gammill says. “Faced with the challenge of finding an appropriate organization [where I could] volunteer my time and cybersecurity expertise in 2019, I took the initiative to create WOMCY and address this gap.”
The organization’s primary objective is to empower women to enter the cybersecurity field across Latin America, promoting diversity and inclusivity to close the cybersecurity gap, she says. Operating through three key programs — education, corporate, and talent — WOMCY provides training, networking opportunities, and career development to its members. WOMCY currently has 1,575 members from 25 countries, 95% in Latin America.
“For the last four years, WOMCY is also the organization responsible for creating and executing Top Women in Cybersecurity, Latin America, awarding the top 25 cybersecurity professionals in the region,” Gammill says. “This prestigious award has helped elevate and recognize prominent women in cybersecurity who have advanced the industry and shaped the path for future generations of professionals among other vital contributions.”
Cost to join: Students, free with a minimum donation of at least $1; CyberMaster, $25 annually; CyberNinja, $50 annually. Each level offers different member benefits.
Founded in 2019 by Tennisha Martin, who is also the group’s executive director, BlackGirlsHack is a training-focused organization created to help increase diversity in cybersecurity. The organization aims to help close the gap between what’s taught in educational institutions and what’s necessary for careers in cybersecurity.
The organization represents the industry as it wants it to be by being inclusive and reflective of its community. The vision of BlackGirlsHack is to create a diverse and inclusive cyber industry where Black women are represented in technical, leadership, and executive roles. However, despite its name members don’t have to be Black or women to join.
“We provide hands-on training, training programs, mentoring, resume review, study groups, and opportunities to attend conferences,” Martin says. “BGH Foundation (our legal name), which includes BlackMenHack and We Got Next Cyber (9th through 12th grade students). is working to help increase representation in the pipeline to employment in cybersecurity. We also have a conference called SquadCon each year to highlight the research and work of underrepresented communities within cybersecurity.”
Cost to join: $49 annually for a full membership.
Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) was founded in 2013 by Ambareen Siraj through a National Science Foundation grant awarded to Tennessee Tech University.
A nonprofit organization, WiCyS aims to recruit, retain, and advance women in the cybersecurity field. The association provides networking opportunities, mentorship programs, and resources for professional development to support and empower women in the industry.
Since 2012, WiCyS has grown to become a global community with chapters in several countries. WiCyS also hosts an annual conference for women in cybersecurity to connect, learn, and share their experiences. The organization strives to increase diversity and inclusion in the cybersecurity field and promote equal opportunities for everyone.
“I have been a mentor for WiCyS throughout my time in tech because I think it’s extremely important that women are represented in the field,” says BlackGirlsHack’s Martin. “I have been a member in the past and am a supporter of this organization.”
Netscout’s Brigg is also a member of WiCyS.
“This organization focuses on recruiting and retaining women in cybersecurity careers to build a robust, diverse workforce,” she says. “I regularly participate in local events, webinars, mentorship, and networking programs, which allows me to network with seasoned veterans of the industry and those eager to start their careers.”
Cost to join: $20-$95 annually.
Chief was founded in 2019 by Lindsay Kaplan and Carolyn Childers to connect and support women executives. The organization welcomes leaders who identify as women, transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming. Chief’s leadership vets applicants for executive seniority to ensure its members can get support from true peers.
Chief’s network of senior executive women represents 10,000 companies. Seventy-seven percent of Fortune 100 companies have an executive in Chief, and 40% of Chief members are in their companies’ C-suites. Chief was recognized as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies in 2023.
“Chief is the private network that executive women rely on to maximize their leadership impact through access to a vetted executive community and valuable insights,” says Avani Desai, CEO of cybersecurity compliance firm Schellman. “I enjoy and take pride in being a member of Chief because of the value and connections it offers women, including expansive opportunities to network with other driven, intelligent, and motivated women. [Chief has] commitments to diversity and inclusion and are redefining what power should look like in corporate America.”
Cost to join: Annual fees range from $5,800 to $10,900, depending on the level an individual selects.
Started in 2014 by Jacqui Loustau, the Australia Women in Security Network (AWSN) is a not-for-profit association and network of people whose goal is to educate women and girls living in Australia on security and increase the number of women in the security community.
“I started the informal group in 2014, when I came back to Australia after 14 years working in cybersecurity in Europe,” says Loustau, who is also the group’s executive director. “I walked into my first security event and was shocked to be the only woman in the room.”
After realizing that there was only one other woman at the event, Loustau decided it was time to gather women together for informal breakfasts/lunches to connect them to one another and build a strong support network.
Currently, the AWSN has 2,817 members across Australia, with chapters in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Tasmania, and soon the Sunshine Coast.
“We have put more 1300 professionals through AWSN programs in the last three years,” Loustau says. “We have programs targeted at every stage of our members’ career journeys, including mentoring, leadership, technical skills and more.”
Cost to join: Individual security professionals, $66.
The Breaking Barriers Women in Cybersecurity (BBWIC) Foundation began as a Lean-In Circle that was founded in January 2021 by Aastha Sahni to bring together women aspiring to enter the field of cybersecurity. The circle aimed to facilitate networking, plan educational sessions, organize training, and strategize leadership development.
“Within six months, the circle experienced an overwhelming response, leading to a doubling of its membership,” Sahni says. “Recognizing the potential impact, I took the initiative to formally register us as an official non-profit organization under the Canadian Not-For-Profit Act in October 2021. Our community, now global, spans members from various parts of the world.”
The community has evolved into a supportive network for new immigrants to the US and Canada as well as a trusted circle for women worldwide.
“Our overarching objective is to promote leadership development and raise awareness among women and students about abundant opportunities for upskilling, conferences, job interviews, visa processes, scholarships, and career growth,” Sahni says. “We provide a safe space for sharing challenges, with a focus on overall personality development.”
Cost to join: Free.
