“Together, we can change the face of cybersecurity”

This drive led me to pursue my passion for African art and policies related to the continent. Along the way, I traveled from Guinea to Ethiopia, connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, and learned from each one. My career began in the public sector, where I worked as communications manager for the U.S. government’s Nouveaux Horizons book program, which reached 25 Francophone African countries. Later, I held positions with the International Organization of La Francophonie and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Transformation in Togo.

It was during my time in Togo that I first encountered cybersecurity. The country was strengthening its national digital framework, and it sparked my interest in the field. As I considered making a shift from public diplomacy to IT, I thought about building technical skills like coding. France has programs that support women making transitions into tech, and I had even applied and been accepted into one. But when I learned of an opportunity at Kaspersky, I realized I could still leverage my experience in diplomacy while working in the tech sector.

During my job interview, the General Manager in France mentioned that only 11% of women in the country worked in cybersecurity roles, and he was committed to changing that. It wasn’t just about women supporting women, it was about creating an entire ecosystem that championed diversity, with men as allies too. His vision resonated with me, and I knew this was a company I wanted to join.

Of course, entering the tech sector brought its own challenges, including stereotypes about women in IT. But I had already faced similar perceptions in the diplomatic world — where a woman in a leadership position doesn’t always fit the traditional mold. In fact, my name, Gladys, often leads people to assume I’m a man when they first correspond with me, because my name isn’t familiar in their country. I never corrected them, just to enjoy the surprise when we met in person. They see that you’re a woman, wearing pink, and that you’ve had your nails done. Of course, this leaves them in shock at their previous actions.

I believe we can — and must — do more to encourage women to join cybersecurity. According to ISC2, only 24% of cybersecurity professionals globally are women, despite the growing demand for talent in this field. Kaspersky is actively working to address this through initiatives aimed at recruiting and retaining women in cybersecurity, as well as engaging young girls early on to explore STEM careers. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at two universities in Morocco, where it was amazing to see so many women eager to enter the tech field. Contrary to what some might think, North Africa is seeing a rise in women-led IT initiatives, and it was inspiring to see the level of engagement and leadership among young women there.

At this event, I delivered a talk on the ethical principles of AI and was struck by how many young women approached me afterward, sharing how rare it was to see someone like me —a black woman — in the tech sector. In my past life, many asked me to join mentorship programs, and I realized I could be a role model for them. I’ve been fortunate to have my own mentors — like my aunt, who nurtured my curiosity from a young age — and other women throughout my career who helped me become who I am today. Now, I’m proud to mentor the next generation of women, helping them achieve their goals and encouraging them not to let anyone’s expectations hold them back.