We are now seeing more women in leadership roles which is very encouraging - Women in cybersecurity

Daniela Álvarez de Lugo is General Manager for Kaspersky’s North Latin America region (NOLA), made up of Colombia, the countries of Central America and the Caribbean.

Daniela’s career in tech started in the early 2000s when she began work in customer services for the first telecommunications company in Venezuela. Today, Daniela is responsible for developing and implementing business strategies to achieve revenue growth in B2B and B2C sales, as well as the coordination and implementation of tactics aimed at partners and clients. A keen advocate for women in technology, Daniela regularly shares her experience of building a career in cybersecurity and the power of diverse teams in talks and media interviews.

65% of women

in Latin America believe gender equality has improved in their organizations over the past two years

Daniela Álvarez de Lugo, General Manager for Kaspersky’s North Latin America region (NOLA)

My early education made me realize the importance of a career

My school years gave no hint to the exciting career in technology that lay ahead for me. I studied at a girls’ school in Venezuela, and my education included lessons on how to become a good housewife with needlework and pottery classes. Luckily, I had two major role models – my mother and grandmother, who worked and encouraged me to have a career.

I studied Humanities at university, learning languages and philosophy, but it was a Bachelor of Science in Management from Preston University in Wyoming that opened a wide range of opportunities for me. My career began working in customer services for the first telecommunications company in Venezuela, so I was linked to technology from the very start of my career.

I took a break after my daughter was born, but I missed my career after a year of maternity leave. Being a mother is a beautiful thing, but I quickly learnt that being a working professional is also a beautiful thing! I love my children, but I also needed something for me.

Joining Kaspersky was a life-changing experience

Joining Kaspersky as Regional Sales Manager in 2012 was a turning point in my life. It wasn’t long before I was offered a leadership role. Looking back, I cannot believe I nearly turned down the job. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for the responsibility of a big promotion. Luckily, a colleague would not take no for an answer. She helped me see the qualities Kaspersky recognized in me.

I would recommend any woman who is offered an amazing career opportunity but suffers from lack of self-belief to talk to their best friend, and see themselves through their eyes, it will give them the confidence they need.

There is a misconception in the tech industry that you must be a technology native with lots of knowledge or have a science degree to become a cybersecurity professional. That’s not the case. The tech industry has plenty of opportunities for a wide variety of talents.

You don’t need to be a tech native to have a successful career in cybersecurity

Recently, a young woman approached me during my daughter’s cheerleading practice. She had checked out my profile on LinkedIn and was interested in cybersecurity. We spent some time talking about my work and my passion. She told me I was her role model, and that was a real ‘wow’ moment for me.

There is a misconception in the tech industry that you must be a technology native with lots of knowledge or have a science degree to become a cybersecurity professional. That’s not the case. It’s a big field and there are various requirements for people with lots of different types of skills. Perhaps you are good with people? or an excellent negotiator? or you can grow a market share? The tech industry has plenty of opportunities for a wide variety of talents.

People are often surprised when they discover I’m not an engineer. I tell them engineers make great salespeople, but non-engineers make great salespeople too! There are many skills and talents that can make you stand out in this industry. You might be good with people, a great seller, negotiator, marketer. The list and the opportunities are endless.

“Choose a career that makes you want to go to work every day. Your intelligence, hard work, passion, and honesty will make you stand out. Remember, your gender doesn’t come into it. To be successful, it’s about being professional, preparing yourself, and being good at your job”.

Companies are making strides into gender equality but there is still a way to go

Equality legislation has levelled the playing field for working women. It has opened doors and provided an opportunity for women to showcase their talent. We are now seeing more women in leadership and governmental roles, which is very encouraging. I welcome the change of law that gives women a chance to break the glass ceiling.

At the same time, I believe that equality should not be about tokenism but the best person for the job, regardless of whether they are male or female. I have not achieved my leadership role because I am a woman. It is because I work hard, I am a professional, I put in the hours.

To encourage more women into cybersecurity, companies need to dedicate more effort into developing mentorship programs for young women and also reach out to girls in schools to spread the word about the many opportunities in cybersecurity through platforms, such as Kaspersky’s Empower Women website. Let us all play our part in encouraging young women who are starting out in their careers to believe there are no limits to their ambitions.