International Women in Cyber Day: Voices Shaping the Future of Security

The cybersecurity industry is often described as a perpetual arms race—defenders scrambling to keep up with attackers who are faster, stealthier, and increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. But behind the technology, there’s another force shaping the field: the women who are driving strategy, building communities, and reimagining what it means to secure the digital world.

On International Women in Cyber Day, leaders across the sector are reflecting not just on the challenges they face, but on the inspiration and innovation that keeps them pushing forward.

Ellen Boehm: Securing the Systems That Power Daily Life

Ellen Boehm, SVP of IoT Strategy & Operations at Keyfactor, says her enthusiasm for the industry comes from the fundamental role cybersecurity plays in keeping society functioning.

“The cybersecurity industry is such an exciting place to be, as we continue to drive awareness on why it’s so important to secure our systems that drive our lives, whether that’s critical infrastructure, basic services, or network connectivity,” Boehm said.

Her role gives her a front-row seat to emerging technologies—especially the rise of AI agents capable of autonomously taking actions to optimize workflows. For Boehm, this duality of innovation and responsibility is what makes her job compelling.

“What’s exciting about my job is that I get the chance to learn about new and emerging technologies that our customers are adopting, such as the use of AI agents to learn processes and autonomously take actions with the goal of saving time or money for people,” she explained. “It’s really fun to think about the possibilities that this new tech can enable, while also developing best practices on how to secure these future systems.”

Boehm also finds energy in the growing network of women in cyber. “I’m inspired when I see other women in cyber solving problems, creating solutions, talking about best practices and being role models. Organizations like WiCyS continue to grow membership and provide a community for women to network and learn more about this growing industry.”

Sandy Dunn: Building Trust in the Age of AI

For Sandy Dunn, CISO at SPLX, the job is about more than risk mitigation—it’s about leading in a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping both business and security.

“What excites me most about being CISO at SPLX is working at the intersection of AI, strategy, and people,” Dunn said. “I’m passionate about the possibilities AI brings, and our mission at SPLX is to support organizations deploying AI safely and securely. Every day I have the opportunity to shape how organizations use AI to operate with confidence and deliver greater value to their customers.”

But Dunn also recognizes the breakneck pace at which AI is being adopted—and the strain that places on security leaders.

“The pace of adoption. Businesses are deploying AI and agentic systems faster than most security teams can adapt. That gap worries me, but it also motivates me,” she explained. “It’s why I’m passionate about building frameworks, tools, and knowledge sharing communities like OWASP’s GenAI Security Project so we don’t just react, we prepare.”

Her candid reflection on the risks of AI is stark:

“What keeps me up at night is recognizing the enormous power of AI. It feels like we’ve gone from fighting with pointy sticks to fighting using nitroglycerin and dynamite. The unknown unknowns are just as concerning as the threats we already see. We know how to defend against yesterday’s attacks, but the misuse of AI, deepfakes, automated fraud, AI driven malware and synthetic social engineering opens the door to threats we can only begin to imagine.”

Even amid that uncertainty, Dunn says it’s the global security community that gives her confidence. “What helps is knowing I’m not alone. We have an incredible global community of security leaders, privacy advocates, researchers, and practitioners all shining a light on the challenges and working together to make things better. That collaboration is our real superpower.”

Celebrating Women Driving Cyber’s Next Chapter

The voices of Boehm and Dunn underscore a truth that often gets lost amid technical headlines: cybersecurity is not just about defending systems, but about building trust in a digital society. The work requires not only technical skill but resilience, collaboration, and vision.

On International Women in Cyber Day, the spotlight is on leaders who embody those traits—proving that diversity of perspective isn’t just good for inclusion, it’s critical for innovation.

As the industry grapples with AI’s promise and peril, women like Boehm and Dunn are charting a course forward: one that secures the systems underpinning daily life while ensuring the human element—community, mentorship, and shared mission—remains at the heart of cyber defense.