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In celebration of International Women's Day, we shine a spotlight on A. Pethanakshi, a 26-year-old student at Centre For Cybersecurity and the community manager for Division Zero, Singapore's largest cybersecurity community. With a membership of nearly 4,000, Pethanakshi plays a crucial role in fostering growth and engagement within the cybersecurity community. Additionally, she is an active member of Tech For She, a women-in-tech organization empowering more women to enter the tech industry through various programs, initiatives, mentorship, and more.
Community Building and Engagement
Pethanakshi's role as a community manager involves spearheading initiatives and events that promote community growth and engagement. She explains, "Being in charge of initiatives and events is how we get our community to grow and serve our members."
One of the main initiatives that Pethanakshi oversees is the organisation of regular monthly meetups. These meetups serve as a platform for knowledge sharing within the community, bringing together cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts. She explains, "We invite professionals from Singapore and visiting professionals from all over the world to speak at these events. The topics can range from digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) to purple teaming, covering a wide range of cybersecurity subjects. It's amazing to see how many people show up for these events, especially after work."
In addition to the monthly meetups, Pethanakshi and her team also organise an annual conference called SINCON. Scheduled for May this year, SINCON features speakers and workshops where attendees can learn hands-on skills related to cybersecurity.
The enthusiasm for these events is evident in the attendance numbers, with regular meetups attracting up to 80 to 100 attendees and special meetups involving CEOs from different companies drawing even larger crowds, sometimes exceeding 150 people. This response highlights the strong interest and engagement of the community in cybersecurity topics and the value they place on these events.
Addressing Gender Disparities
Pethanakshi reflects on the gender dynamics in cybersecurity, highlighting the industry's male-dominated nature. She observes, "Even though I've reported high attendance figures for the meetup, the proportion of women in attendance is disproportionately small." Despite the community's growth, she recognises the need for more female representation and participation in cybersecurity events. To address this, Division Zero is working to raise awareness about existing communities and events among women. "Some strategies include hosting women-centered events or workshops and reaching out directly to female participants through personalised outreach efforts. Additionally, we are open to suggestions and collaboration from our community members on how best to increase inclusivity and participation among women in our events."
Pethanakshi believes that featuring more female speakers and leaders in their events and initiatives is key to inspiring women to participate in cybersecurity. She emphasises the importance of representation, stating, "If we feature more females in our events and initiatives, I think it's a good way to inspire other women to feel that, 'This is a person I look up to; this is the person I want to be.'"
Programmes like the Women in Cybersecurity Sessions (WICS) provide a platform for women to discuss challenges and suggest initiatives, fostering a more inclusive community. These sessions include hangouts, workshops, a makerspace, mentorship, and a forum for talent development. They empower women by offering a supportive environment, valuable skills, mentorship, and advocacy, reflecting Pethanakshi's commitment to inclusivity in tech.
Future Aspirations
Looking ahead, Pethanakshi's goal is to empower more women to seize opportunities in cybersecurity. She recognises that women often feel the need to be fully prepared before taking on new challenges, leading to hesitation and self-doubt. She encourages women to embrace mistakes as valuable learning experiences, stating, "One of the greatest things to do is to just go and make mistakes and learn from them." Pethanakshi aims to shift the narrative from one of hesitancy to one of confidence and empowerment.
Conclusion
As we celebrate International Women's Day, let Pethanakshi's story serve as a reminder of the importance of championing diversity and inclusion in all fields. By supporting women in cybersecurity, we can unlock new perspectives, ideas, and solutions that benefit us all. Let us continue to strive for gender equality, both in cybersecurity and beyond, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
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