Synack Commits to Supporting the Advancement of Women in Cybersecurity by Launching a Courageous Women in Security Initiative
5.8.2019 19:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
New York Times reporter Jessica Bennett observed that the 2020 female Democratic candidates have largely avoided the phrase “glass ceiling”, prompting linguist Robin Lakoff to speculate that the phrase just “seems tired”. On the debate floor, action-oriented and empowering words like “persist” are replacing phrases like “glass ceiling” and the “stuck-ness” implicitly suggested by them. It’s not just in politics that women are intentionally working toward changing society’s perception of them in the workplace; it’s happening in cybersecurity too.
Today, women make up only 20% of the cybersecurity industry’s workforce. This largely untapped demographic could be the saving grace for an industry desperate for skilled labor and on pace to hit 3.5 million unfilled jobs by 2021 according to Cybersecurity Ventures. This is why today Synack launches their “Courageous Women CISO Initiative” which aims to encourage more women to enter the cybersecurity field; offer support by creating a strong network for women; and provide a platform for women to share their voice in the boardroom, across the aisles in policy, and from the podium at leading industry conferences. Synack will build upon efforts that aim to close the talent gap in other ways (like encouraging young women to enter into STEM fields) by empowering women to get to the forefront of cybersecurity innovation and lead the charge in making our organizations more secure. The company is also encouraging more women to apply to their elite Synack Red Team, the world’s best and most trusted crowd of ethical hackers.
“When the concept of harnessing a crowd of ethical hackers was novel, Synack found that women CISOs were 2x more likely to adopt crowdsourced security, which showed that female security leaders are willing to be bold and courageous when facing decisions that can make their organizations more secure. Cybersecurity is a field that needs more diversity in thought and action, and women are an underrepresented group. We need more female leaders in the field who have successfully navigated the industry to be examples and mentors to newcomers,” said Aisling MacRunnels, Synack CMO and Courageous Women CISO Initiative Chair.
Synack’s initiative aims to connect and empower security’s female change-makers through a series of networking events and opportunities to speak from the podium at industry-renowned conferences. Synack has partnered with Microsoft/M12, CyberWire and now Booz Allen Hamilton to host popular women’s networking events at Black Hat USA, RSA Conference, and Billington Cybersecurity Summit; later this week, the company will host their 3rd annual Women’s Brunch at Black Hat USA. Through these efforts, Synack aims to …
- Close the talent gap in cybersecurity by increasing the number of women entering the industry by 50% by 2022.
- Increase the number of women speaking at industry conferences, so that the percentage of female speakers is on par with the percentage of male speakers by 2022.
After the women’s lunch at the RSA Conference 2019, partners M12 and CyberWire said, “We had a great time with the Synack team today - if only every lunch could be filled with so many impressive women! A big thank you to our amazing hosts: Lisa Nelson, Microsoft Ventures and Aisling MacRunnels, Synack,” (M12), and “It is our pleasure to support and empower women in the field of cybersecurity!” (Cyberwire).
Synack’s Courageous Women CISO initiative was developed to bring female security leaders and executives together to support each other in having a bigger impact in their companies and industry. Through this initiative, Synack’s goal is to create an environment that fosters authentic conversations and provides a support network for women in cybersecurity. Let’s change the status quo in cybersecurity together - RSVP for upcoming events for women and learn more about Synack’s Courageous Women CISO Initiative here: https://go.synack.com/courageous-women-ciso.html.
About Synack
Synack, the most trusted crowdsourced security platform, delivers continuous and scalable penetration testing with actionable results. The company combines the world's most skilled and trusted ethical hackers with AI-enabled technology to create an efficient and effective security solution. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with regional offices around the world, Synack protects leading global banks, federal agencies, DoD classified assets, and close to $1 trillion in Fortune 500 revenue. Synack was founded in 2013 by former US Department of Defense hackers Jay Kaplan, CEO, and Dr. Mark Kuhr, CTO. For more information, please visit www.synack.com.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190805005459/en/
Contact information
Ellie McCardwell, Synack Communications
press@synack.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Xtep-Sponsored Chinese Teenage Dancer Claims World Championship at Juste Debout Street Dance World Finals10.3.2026 20:46:00 EET | Press release
Xtep, a well-known sportswear brand from China, proudly announced that Xtep-sponsored Chinese teenage dancers delivered an electrifying performance at the Juste Debout Street Dance World Finals in Paris on Sunday, March 8, 2026, claiming top honors and showcasing a unique fusion of traditional Chinese culture with modern street dance. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310519224/en/ Chinese Teens Dance to Glory at Juste Debout World Finals Li Yongqiu, a 14-year-old from Southwestern China’s Chongqing Municipality, made history by winning the Global Championship in the Junior Dance Tour, becoming the third Chinese dancer to achieve this feat. His explosive power and technical mastery, honed through years of training that integrates Kungfu elements, captivated judges and audiences alike. The Chinese contingent's success didn't stop there. Zhang Xinlan and Zhang Chuyi secured a Top 8 finish in the Popping Adult D
ATLAS Infrastructure Invests in H2O America, Backs Long-Term Growth Strategy10.3.2026 19:29:00 EET | Press release
ATLAS Infrastructure (“ATLAS”) is a specialist Global Listed Infrastructure investor managing funds on behalf of long-term infrastructure clients. Following the recent equity placement, ATLAS’s actively managed accounts hold ~10.8% voting and economic interest in H2O America (“H2O”). ATLAS was pleased to support H2Os long‑term strategy to invest in local water and wastewater utility operations through our participation in the recent equity raise. ATLAS recognises the disciplined approach from H2O management which focuses on organic investment in existing businesses alongside targeted and accretive transactions such as the acquisition of Quadvest which materially expands H2O’s regulated water footprint in a premium high‑growth jurisdiction. The upsized equity raise, anchored by ATLAS, supports the company strategy through providing significant balance sheet capacity and financial flexibility well into the Company’s 2026-2030 CapEx plan. “Increased investment in water utilities is essent
Svante and Integrated Packaging Company Advance U.S. Biogenic CDR Project to Feasibility10.3.2026 15:57:00 EET | Press release
Svante Technologies Inc. (“Svante”) announced today that its bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) project at a paper mill in the Southeast U.S. has progressed to the feasibility study phase. The project is being developed in partnership with an integrated sustainable packaging company, following an extensive screening and pre-feasibility study conducted across several of the partner’s mills. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310319382/en/ During the feasibility study phase, the companies will complete further engineering and design activities, cost and schedule estimates, and risk assessments required to evaluate commercial viability ahead of a future engineering study leading to final investment decision (FID). Svante’s subsidiary, Svante Development Inc., is co-investing in this phase with the mill owner. The project is designed to capture and permanently store more than 500,000 tonnes per year
Forbes 40th Annual World’s Billionaires List10.3.2026 15:43:00 EET | Press release
Forbes releases its 40th-annual World’s Billionaireslist, the definitive ranking of the planet’s richest people. Wealth surged to unprecedented levels over the past year, with fortunes climbing at a record pace. This year’s list features 3,428 billionaires, the most since the list’s inception in 1987. The world’s wealthiest people are worth a record $20.1 trillion combined, up from $16.1 trillion in 2025. Elon Musktops the Billionaires list for the second year in a row and is the richest person ever recorded, worth an estimated $839 billion. His net worth skyrocketed by half of a trillion dollars from last year, thanks to a rise in the value of Tesla, and SpaceX which is aiming to go public in 2026. Musk is the first person ever recorded to reach the $800 billion mark, as he moves toward becoming the world’s first trillionaire. “It’s the year of the billionaire,” said Chase Peterson-Withorn, Forbes Senior Editor, Wealth. “The planet added more than one billionaire per day over the past
Andersen Global Expands African Presence with Addition of Bravura10.3.2026 15:30:00 EET | Press release
Andersen Global strengthens its presence in Africa through a Collaboration Agreement with Bravura, a leading independent tax and financial advisory firm based in South Africa and Namibia. Founded in 1999, Bravura provides tax and financial advisory solutions to listed and private companies, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth families across the region. Bravura combines deep financial expertise with an entrepreneurial mindset to deliver tailored strategies that drive value. The firm’s multidisciplinary team provides advisory services in mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, corporate restructuring, and succession planning. Additionally, the firm offers tax and accounting strategy, international tax structuring, global mobility, and exchange control compliance solutions. “At Bravura, we’re driven to redefine standards and deliver bespoke, results-driven solutions that create lasting value for our clients,” said Ian Matthews, head of business development at Bravura. “Our collaboration
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom