Uniting Women in Cyber 2025: Connecting, Learning, and Leading the Future of Cybersecurity
Uniting Women in Cyber 2025: Connecting, Learning, and Leading the Future of Cybersecurity
By Jeannette Blake, Cybersecurity Association
The Uniting Women in Cyber (UWIC) conference brings together some of the brightest minds, most inspiring leaders, and emerging talent from across the cybersecurity ecosystem. Hosted by The Cyber Guild, this year’s event convened an extraordinary network of experts to tackle today’s most urgent global challenges, explore emerging technologies, and develop strategies to grow and strengthen the cybersecurity workforce.
From the opening panel of The Global Challenge, it was clear UWIC is more than just a conference, it’s a catalyst. Debbie Sallis, Executive Director of The Cyber Guild, kicked off the day with her trademark energy, leading attendees in a lively, bunny-hop-style icebreaker. Participants paired up to find common ground, tally shared interests, and post their results on the Whova app (“whoa-va”), setting the tone for a day centered on connection and collaboration.
The Global Challenge
The Opening Power Panel offered a wide-angle view of the cybersecurity landscape, examining how shifting geopolitics, rapid digitization, and complex regulatory demands are reshaping security priorities around the world. One message echoed throughout: cross-border, cross-sector collaboration is essential.
Hart Rossman, VP of Security for AWS Sales, Marketing, and Global Services, captured the urgency:
“If you're not at the forefront of leveraging AI to transform the way you do cyber, it is a tremendous loss for the community and the communities we serve.”
The Workforce of Tomorrow
In the session What’s Next for the Cybersecurity Workforce?, leaders tackled one of the field’s biggest challenges: the growing gap between demand and talent. The discussion emphasized the need to:
- Expand access for nontraditional candidates
- Create meaningful pathways for women and underrepresented professionals
- Foster leadership development across the talent pipeline
UWIC continues to activate, advance, and advocate for the future of the field. It’s more than an event — it’s a movement to ensure cybersecurity remains a driving force in the resilience, safety, and sustainable success of our organizations, economies, and communities.
Influencing the Next Generation
A highlight of the event was Caitlin Sarian (@cybersecuritygirl), who’s built a following of 1.3 million on Instagram by making cybersecurity more accessible and inclusive. Her three pillars for creating content on IG and TikTok are:
- Getting more women into STEM
- Encouraging more people to pursue careers in cybersecurity
- Educating the public on how to stay safe online
To explore the full agenda, view event photos, and hear what attendees had to say about this year’s UWIC, visit The Cyber Guild’s website.
