Organised by Eskenzi PR in media partnership with the IT Security Guru, the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards aim to shed light on the remarkable women in our industry. The following is a feature on one of 2024’s Top 20 women selected by an esteemed panel of judges. Presented in a Q&A format, the nominee’s answers are written in their own words.
In 2025, the awards were sponsored by BT, KnowBe4, Mimecast, Varonis, Bridewell, Certes, Pentest Tools and AI Dionic. Community partners included WiCyS UK & Ireland Affiliate, Women in Tech and Cybersecurity Hub (WiTCH), CyBlack and Inclusive InCyber (LT Harper).
What does your job role entail?
I entered the industry through the Barclays Global Explorer Programme as a Graduate Technology Developer, which involves three rotations of eight months each across different areas of the business. In my current rotation, I am responsible for monitoring vulnerabilities and following patching procedures to mitigate risk across services. I engage with a number of stakeholders and act as the bridge between our security teams and various business units. I work closely with business leaders to understand operational needs, assess cyber risks, promote security best practices as well as support compliance with internal policies and external regulations. I do my level best to help translate technical security requirements into practical actions that business teams can understand and implement.
I recently completed my second rotation in Corporate Digital Banking within the Platform Services Team. Throughout the last 8 months my time was spent primarily supporting the development team to maintain the APIs. I also contributed to the Central Secrets Management migration along with the new Helm configurations from the existing configuration repository.
Moreover, in my first rotation under Markets Post Trade, in the Data Lens team majority of my work aligned to improving production stability by contributing to ‘Keep The Lights On’ tasks. I also led the ‘Email Relay Onboarding’ project in AWS and enabled this feature on Production. Further to this, I organised SonarQube projects resulting in an improved rating on Engineering Excellence for Data lens as well as evaluating the Jira Workflow Adoption Scheme and migrating with zero impact. During this time, I gained invaluable hands on experience to contribute to the application whilst being exposed to cutting edge technologies. This helped increase my proficiency in areas such as AWS. Their expertise and guidance allowed me to embrace challenges to learn and grow to continuously expand my skills and knowledge.
How did you get into the cybersecurity industry?
My passion for cybersecurity was sparked during my undergraduate studies in Computer Science at Coventry University, where I first encountered a dedicated security module. This interest deepened as I worked on my final-year dissertation, which explored how user behaviour can help identify security threats within a Security Operations Centre (SOC) environment. Following this, during my summer internship at Barclays, I had the opportunity to work under the CTO for Cards and Payments. This exposure gave me my first practical insight into cybersecurity in a corporate environment, particularly around regulatory controls such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). It was a formative experience that fuelled my desire to pursue the field further.
After graduating with First Class Honours, I went on to study Cyber Security Management at the University of Warwick, where I achieved a Distinction in my master’s degree. Alongside my studies, I served as Treasurer for the Women in Cyber Security (WiCyS) Warwick Student Chapter, where I helped foster a community of aspiring professionals. Through WiCyS, I was awarded a competitive scholarship to attend BlackHat Europe 2022, gaining access to world-class briefings and industry insights. This experience also contributed to my selection for the WiCyS Conference 2023 in Denver, Colorado. At the conference, I presented my undergraduate dissertation research during the student poster session, my poster was among the top 29% accepted. Following this, I was awarded one of nine travel scholarships to attend the Women in Forensic Computing Workshop and DFRWS Europe 2023 Conference held at the University of Bonn, Germany.
I was shortlisted for the Cyber Security Awards: Newcomer of the Year 2022. I was honoured to be awarded the 2024 Cyber Diversity Student Champion title at the Cyber Diversity Awards, celebrating my continued commitment to driving inclusion within the cybersecurity industry.
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced as a woman in the tech/cyber industry and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I faced as a woman entering the tech industry was being told I would not be able to pursue a degree in Computer Science. From a young age, I was always curious about how technology worked, and I knew it was a path I genuinely wanted to follow. I’ve always been passionate about technology, but unfortunately, Computer Science was not offered as a subject at my school. Instead, I opted for IT a subject often dismissed and seen as an easy option by many.
Throughout GCSEs and A-Levels, the learning experience was far from ideal. The subject was poorly taught, and we had frequent teacher changes, which made it difficult to build a solid foundation. It was a discouraging time
, but I was fortunate to have one other female colleague in the class. We motivated each other, stuck it out, and focused on the bigger picture.
I refused to let other people’s doubts define what I was capable of. I worked hard and proved to myself that I not only belonged in technology but could thrive in it. I went on to graduate with First Class Honours in Computer Science and later achieved a Distinction in my Cyber Security Management master’s degree.
Most importantly, I have learned to believe in myself and my abilities. Cybersecurity, and tech more broadly, thrives on diverse perspectives and problem-solving approaches. It is natural to feel imposter syndrome or even intimidated in a male-dominated field. Overcoming those early doubts gave me the resilience and confidence to grow into a space where I now encourage and support other women entering the field. Today, I use that experience to inspire, support, and uplift other women looking to build a future in tech.
What are you doing to support other women, and/or to increase diversity, in the tech/cyber industry?
I play a key role in the Barclays Women in Tech EMEA network as the Comms and Branding Secretariat, as well as part of the Chief of Staff Office. I am responsible for crafting engaging newsletters, event campaigns, spotlight features, and leadership updates to enhance visibility. Further to this, I champion gender equity in the tech space where I support the network by delivering clear, engaging communications that amplify key initiatives and foster community engagement across the region.
As part of National Care Leavers Week, I played a key role in delivering a Discovery Day at the Barclays Northampton campus for Northamptonshire Children’s Trust. This event was designed to inspire and develop employability skills for young adults preparing to enter the workforce. Engaging with these individuals and providing them with insight and encouragement was a truly rewarding experience, reinforcing my commitment to supporting underrepresented communities in achieving their career aspirations.
Additionally, I was involved in hosting the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Community of Practice (SEND COP) and Teacher Encounter Insight Day with Local London. The event facilitated meaningful discussions, insightful presentations, and an exploration of initiatives aimed at fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. It was inspiring to collaborate with individuals who share the same passion for creating opportunities and ensuring that every individual has access to the resources they need to succeed.
I also had the privilege of representing Barclays at Niyo Fest, a celebration of technology, culture, and community. Through panel discussions, my colleagues and I shared our experiences and guided on early career opportunities within technology. Engaging with inspiring speakers and attendees from diverse backgrounds reinforced the importance of representation and the value of diversity in driving innovation and progress.
I actively support women and diversity in the industry to encourage underrepresented professionals and advocate opportunities.
Who has inspired you in your life/career?
One of the biggest inspirations in my life and career has been my mother. She has supported me through every little step of my journey. Watching her navigate life with strength, resilience, and grace has always motivated me to keep pushing forward, even in the face of challenges. From encouraging me to apply to university when others questioned my choice to pursue technology, to standing by me through late nights of study and stressful interviews, her unwavering belief in me has been a constant source of strength. Her continuous belief in my potential, even when others doubted me, gave me the confidence to pursue my goals in a field where women are often underrepresented. Living with chronic illnesses has often made it difficult to keep up with the fast-paced demands of the tech world, and there have been moments when the physical and emotional toll felt overwhelming. But my mum has been my constant, reassuring me when I wanted to give up, advocating for my health when I could not, and always reminding me that I am capable, even when I did not feel it myself.
Alongside her, I have been fortunate to cross paths with incredible women throughout my career. I have the seen the power of women supporting women firsthand from communities like Women in Tech (WiT) and Women in Cyber Security (WiCyS). Whether it is through personal encouragement or professional example, these women have shown me what it means to lead with authenticity, and their journeys continue to fuel my passion to do the same for others.
Together, my mum and these inspiring women have formed the backbone of my journey, reminding me that with the right support and belief, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.
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