Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Women of Color Making Their Mark in Cyber

As we gear up for the upcoming holiday season, we find ourselves reflecting on the importance of safeguarding our digital world. In the spirit of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we want to take a moment to celebrate the invaluable efforts of our NPower alumni who have ventured into this field.

Recent data from the International Cyber Security Association (ISCA) reveals a sobering statistic: 59% of cybersecurity teams worldwide are currently understaffed. This shortage of skilled professionals poses a significant challenge to the industry, prompting a collective effort to find innovative solutions. The World Economic Forum has identified one such solution: Diverse Recruitment. Recognizing the potential of tapping into a broader talent pool, the cybersecurity sector is actively seeking individuals from diverse backgrounds to help bridge the workforce gap.

Since 2015, NPower has been at the forefront of addressing this challenge by offering comprehensive cybersecurity training classes. These courses empower students to acquire industry-recognized certifications, such as CompTIA Security+, setting them on a path to success in the dynamic field of cybersecurity. We’re delighted to share that our organization has seen an 800% increase in female participation in our cybersecurity program. 

It is our hope that our continued efforts to train young adults and veterans in Cybersecurity roles will inversely fill this talent gap and pave the way for a truly diverse tech workforce.

Diversity Directive Insight: Shift in Equitable Culture

Women of color are 16% more likely to report that they have left or considered leaving a company because of its culture.

In our continuing series on Command Shift’s Diversity Directive, we are focusing on a Shift Towards Equitable Culture, developed to empower employers in cultivating an environment that promotes belonging and helps to increase retention and advancement for diverse employees. Research says that women of color in technology experience considerable challenges once they are hired, including inadequate mentorship and support, salary inequities, and being overlooked for promotions and other advancements, to name a few.

As tech employers increase their commitments to recruiting women of color, a larger question looms: What is the experience of women once they are hired into these roles? Accenture found that more inclusive workplaces were characterized by bold and diverse leadership, policies designed to level the playing field, and an empowering environment that treated its employees with respect, while providing them with autonomy.

Our mission is to not only increase the representation of women of color in tech but to also ensure they can pass an entry level job and have a long-term, thriving career. Discover the different ways your organization can take to foster retention and advancement for its women of color by reading The Diversity Directive linked here. 

Command Shift on the Road

• MetLife TTX Conference ROBERT VAUGHN , Chief Innovation Officer at NPower, participated in an innovative panel discussion at MetLife’s TTX Conference in which peers from Cognizant, the University of NC, and MetLife joined him. During their discussion, the group outlined how changes to our current STEM education system will Empower and enable the next generation of STEM talent. 

• Lightcast Connect Conference Candice L. Dixon , Executive Director of Command Shift, presented a case study of NPower ’s partnership with research partner Lightcast to showcase data and solutions that have advance the organization’s efforts to benefit women of color, employers, and the tech industry overall. 

• Project Up Summit Later this month, Candice was thrilled to attend Comcast NBCUniversal ’s ‘Project UP Summit’, where she convened with nonprofit leaders and Comcast executives to celebrate the collective work towards advancing digital equity

NPower Alumni Spotlight

Kathrine Ceballos, Senior Cyber Threat Automation Engineer, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

New Jersey Tech Fundamentals Fall 2017

New York Cybersecurity Spring 2018

After graduating from college, Katherine Ceballos moved back home to start her career. During her job search, she came across NPower. Although uncertain about what tech could offer her, she recognized that acquiring tech skills was necessary for her future growth. With a pre-existing interest in cybersecurity, she decided to apply for NPower 's Cyber Security program. Immersing herself in the classes, she excelled, and upon graduation, secured an internship at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York with the National Incident Response Team.

Today, Kathrine is employed at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as a Senior Cyber Threat Automation Engineer. Over her five years with the Federal Reserve Bank, she has received three promotions, significantly increasing her income.

NPower Gala Highlight

This month, NPower held its annual gala on October 17th, where Jane Fraser , CEO of Citi , and Michel Khalaf, President & CEO of MetLife , were honored for their dedication to opening doors for young adults and veterans. NPower extends gratitude to Command Shift members and NPower Gala Sponsors Citi , MetLife , Accenture , Guardian Life , Broadridge , Amazon Web Services (AWS) , and World Wide Technology for their attendance and support in advancing the organization's mission to reshape the future of technology.

NPower graduate and Command Shift Alumni Council Member, Yinette F. , delivered an energizing speech highlighting the business case for inclusion. Watch Full Speech!

NPower in the News

NPower CEO ☀️Bertina Ceccarelli shared her perspectives in a recent Forbes byline on why AI-powered systems alone can’t recruit a diverse workforce. Rather, advanced and next-gen tech, including AI, won’t be able to replace the human touch -- the personal insights, compassion and empathy it takes to recruit talent from non-traditional backgrounds. Rather, AI recruitment systems today prioritize candidates with college degrees versus assessing a more holistic review of skills, education, EQ and other important factors necessary for career success.