Women of FIRST SIG
Mission
Women of FIRST is a group of gender diverse security practitioners who aim to encourage the advancement and increased participation of women in all aspects of cyber security, through mentorship, knowledge sharing and networking. We are passionate about developing cybersecurity skills in women at student, graduate, and professional levels as well as those seeking to re-enter the workforce. Through this support network we strive to reduce the gender gap in the security industry.
The Women of FIRST SIG includes150+ members across 30 countries.
Goals
The Women of First SIG will work to achieve the following deliverables to support our mission statement:
- Buddy program for security conference attendance
- Knowledge sharing
- Provide forum for women to network and learn Cybersecurity skills
Meetings
- At the Annual Conference (in person)
- Monthly (virtually) – Last Thursday of each month via Zoom
Chairs
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Khushali Dalal, VulnCheck
“I consider it a privilege to co-chair Women of FIRST. I've been the only woman in the room — in classrooms, meetings, and conferences — more times than I can count, and I want to change that. Early in my career, mentors and familiar faces at events made the difference between showing up and actually belonging, and I want to build that same support system for the next generation of women in security. This community is my way of making sure no one has to navigate cybersecurity alone, and of helping retain more women in the field.”
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Parimala Swamy, VMware by Broadcom
“I’m proud to co-chair Women of FIRST because I believe representation becomes meaningful when it is backed by mentorship, opportunity, and a strong sense of community. Throughout my career in cybersecurity, I’ve seen how the right mentor or conversation can build confidence, open doors, and even change the direction of someone’s career. For me, Women of FIRST is about creating that supportive space where women can learn from one another, grow as leaders, share their experiences, and know that they belong. If we can help even one more woman find her voice, build her network, or take the next step in her cybersecurity journey, then our work as Co-Chairs is making a difference.”
Join our SIG!
