Als vrouw in de IT bevinden we ons vaak in de minderheid, maar gelukkig heeft Microsoft een fantastisch initiatief gelanceerd om daar verandering in te brengen! Onlangs werd ik geïnterviewd door Ilse Parra over mijn werk, achtergrond en carrière bij Pink Elephant. Ik hoop dat dit anderen kan inspireren die twijfelen om de overstap naar de IT te maken, zelfs als ze geen achtergrond of kennis in dit vakgebied hebben.
In samenwerking met Dutch Women In Tech, andere security partners en succesvolle vrouwen in de IT worden er acht verschillende sessies georganiseerd om vrouwen zonder IT-achtergrond of -kennis te inspireren en ondersteunen. Inschrijven voor de sessies kan via deze link: Women in Cybersecurity.
Lees het volledige artikel hieronder! Deze is geschreven uit naam van Ilse.
As a Mexican woman living in The Netherlands, I have always been passionate about the topic of women’s representation in the IT industry. While I was an university student, I gained exposure to my mother’s company. She started a business to sell and implement a Mexican ERP brand, her company had a remarkable representation of women in various roles, from sales to support and hospitality. Little did I realize at the time that the strong presence of women in my mom’s company was influenced by its female founder. Soon this contrast from the general IT landscape and it left a lasting impression on me. Once I graduated and joined the IT/Cloud world in 2015, I quickly noticed a significant gender gap in the field.
The Gender Gap in IT in Mexico
According to the “National Survey on Occupation and Employment” conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) in Mexico in 2020, women accounted for approximately 29% of the professionals working in the IT and telecommunications sector. However, when it comes to management and leadership roles, the number decreases significantly. At that moment working for the industry, made me feel out of place and unheard. I had to adopt a more assertive demeanor, constantly prove myself, and compete fiercely to secure a seat at the table, and even then, opportunities were not always coming.
My experience in The Netherlands
Upon my arrival in The Netherlands, my excitement grew as I began my first job at Microsoft. It was heartening to see a significant number of women in various roles, including management positions, In every meeting I always admire Jooske de Groot, the way she speaks at multitudes and her way of leading the SMB business gave me a motivation to continue working on myself and my career, finally a woman in the front show me that this can happen one day to me and other women. However, when I started interacting with the industry, the number of women dropped drastically. This observation became even more apparent when I transitioned from working in Azure to the field of Cybersecurity three years later.
The Gender Gap in Cybersecurity
Recognizing this gender gap as a pressing issue, the Dutch Cyber Security Council, an advisory body to the Dutch government, is actively engaged in promoting diversity and inclusion within the cybersecurity domain.
During a Partner event at Microsoft stage, I met Dani Brandsema. It was an inspiring moment for me to witness a young woman confidently taking charge of the stage to share her expertise on cybersecurity to an audience of 50 customers. Dani brilliantly incorporated the human factor into this complex topic, highlighting its relevance and impact. Moved by her story, I felt the need to share it as an inspiration and now I am happy to share Dani’s journey with you. Dani, a passionate advocate for cybersecurity adoption and women’s empowerment, shared her experiences, challenges, and aspirations in this interview.
Can you tell us about your background and how you became interested in cybersecurity?
Im Dani Brandsema and work at Pink elephant as solution specialist in Adoption, I started to work here in the middle of 2020 during corona virus lockdown. I studied Hospitality Management and always liked working by servicing people to make their days better, I graduated in May 2020 and started to work in a Hotel, but since Hospitality was one of the industries that had experienced the major impact during COVID, they let me go. From there I started to look for different opportunities and landed in an IT role advised by my parents, which is something completely different than my background.
How did you started in IT?
I started as an intern, there I could experience different roles and possibilities, after this role I became a Project Manager and realized that I really liked working with the people side of the technology and their employees, at that point I decided to invest further in the adoption element of technology and get closer to the human side of the business.
What is your role now and how does it look a day by day?
I’m now the Solution Leader of Adoption, something that I really like about the role is that I can understand the user challenges while adopting new technologies, adoption is a very broad topic from workplaces and also cybersecurity.
How do you see the cybersecurity fitting in the adoption?
It’s fascinating to witness the growing importance of cybersecurity as a prominent topic that receives substantial attention. While technology plays a crucial role in mitigating risks, it’s equally important to address the human element of adoption. Technology takes out 80-90% of all the risks but still 10% is the human interpretation, that’s why adoption is important.
How did you felt during the transition from Hospitality to IT and Cybersecurity?
Initially, the transition felt like a significant change. I had notions of a male-dominated industry where individuals spent most of their time in front of computers with minimal interaction with people. However, once I immersed myself in the role and the industry, I realized that it was different from my perception. The best solutions are driven, implemented, and translated by people. Drawing from my expertise in hospitality, which revolves around understanding people, my goal remains the same—to enhance their day and overall experience.
Dani what is your perspective on the gender gap in cybersecurity?
Initially, I believed in the stereotype that cybersecurity and IT were predominantly for men. However, now I believe that a balance between women and men is crucial within a company. Women bring a unique perspective, particularly in the human side of the business, which can create a perfect equilibrium in an industry that evolves rapidly.
Dani shared me that when she decided to pursue a career in IT, despite lacking a background in the field, Pink Elephant’s flexible program and support enabled her to obtain multiple certifications and acquire the necessary skills. She found guidance and support from colleagues, but she particularly mentioned a female mentor who coached her throughout her journey. Women empowering other women—a powerful combination!
At the end of the interview, Dani emphasized the need for allies and support from everyone to achieve this balance. That’s why I must also acknowledge Pink Elephant, Dani’s employer and a Microsoft Partner. As their Security Channel Sales Manager since a year, I had the opportunity to work with experienced women in the company, these women lead the innovation, change and adoption of their solutions, with a focus on the customer. For instance Marieke van der Werf the Partner Strategist, and their sales team Angela Haveman and Danielle Mallon have innovated the adoption of customer programs with the Cybersecurity Assessments, Workshops and Customer Journey that accelerated the urgency of landing security solutions at customers.
Taking actions – The cybersecurity program for women
In collaboration with Femke de Bruin, Dutch Women In Tech, our expert Security Partners like Wortell, Pink Elephant, Cloud Life, Dutch Technology eXperts, Frieser & Schuckmann and inspired by successful women in the field like Julie van Loef, Emily van Putten and Ellen van Meurs, we are offering a series of eight sessions designed to empower women with no background or experience in IT.
In the sessions we will cover the following:
- Introduction to the world of cybersecurity – from the basic concepts to the current global challenges customers are facing
- Insights from other women in the Industry and their roles
- Microsoft Security fundamentals leading to the SC900 certification
- Support in building resumes and LinkedIn profiles,
- She in IT session with the goal to empower women to move forward
Sessions will run from August 21st to early November, with both in-person and virtual attendance options available. If you or someone you know is ready to take the next step in their career, this program is tailored for Women that want to start a career in IT, but hesitates due a lack of background in IT or Cybersecurity.
Subscribe for the sessions here: Women in Cybersecurity
Dani Brandsema 