The most significant challenge in Cybersecurity mentorship, is finding the right female mentor. Women need examples of other successful women role models or influencers in “sustained and upward trending” leadership roles to be able to visualise themselves in one. However, the percentage of women in Cybersecurity senior leadership roles is very low.
In addition, local female representation in delivering keynotes on material and core Cybersecurity subjects at national Cybersecurity events and conferences also continues to be very low. There is a need to lift the profiles of exceptional and influential women in the sector and shine a light on them through media coverage, awards, recognition, Cybersecurity magazine features, etc. They need to be seen, supported, promoted, empowered but MOST importantly setup for success, for mentees to identify them as role models.
Another challenge is that women are inherently modest and are not found promoting themselves proactively on social media, events and conferences. Women in influential positions must increasingly promote themselves on global professional platforms like LinkedIn, so that it creates an opportunity for proteges to identify someone they admire, someone who has a professional style they want to emulate, a skill set they want to develop or a Cybersecurity field they want to succeed in. Representation is crucial!
Mentoring is a two-way street, meaning traditional mentoring approaches must evolve. When mentor does not explore the opportunities for new skills they can develop from mentees, the relationship is often not as long lasting as in the case of reverse mentoring approaches.
Access to mentorship through established programs is also a challenge. Most major mentoring initiatives require mentors and mentees to enroll for a paid annual membership. Mentorship should be a voluntary, non-profit and a self-less act of guiding, upskilling, and uplifting a mentee. The pairing of a mentor-mentee should be through established criteria such as personal interests, professional skills, geo-location and social values to deliver maximum benefit.
