Hello, everyone. When I was a kid, I used to watch reruns of Star Trek together with my dad. It was great, and I was captivated by the science, the technology, and the spirit of teamwork.
And I wasn't the only one who was inspired. It sparked real world innovation. Silicon Valley was full of geeks, and things were discovered and invented that we take for granted nowadays, like cell phones, the communicator, tablets, voice interaction. All of those things were inspired by Star Trek.
And what was also great, everyone had a role. The crew was very diverse and everyone mattered and everyone was respected. One of the main characters was Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, an African American woman, and she was Chief Communication Officer, sometimes even taking over the helm.
Back then, I was far too young to understand that this was extraordinary. Nowadays, it's nothing so special. But back then, it was more than just entertainment. It was a really bold vision of a possible future. It broke boundaries, social, cultural, and scientific boundaries.
My name is Susanne Haase, and I am a Principal Solution Architect at One Identity. I've been working in cybersecurity for over 25 years now, and I'm specializing in identity and access management. I started out as a consultant, so very technical, leading projects as well, implemented the software, then moved on to pre-sales. So the technical counterpart of the sales person. Now I lead pre-sales enablement for partners across EMEA.
What I love about identity and access management and about pre-sales is that every customer has a different challenge. So the first rule is when we are speaking with customers, listen and understand. Yeah, it might even take a little bit of empathy. And IAM projects are holistic projects. They are cross-department from a technical, also from an organizational approach. They are all about processes. So communication skills, as well as staying ahead of market developments, technology is required. Innovation matters, because guess what? Bad actors are innovative too.
But yeah, well even in science fiction, it took decades for expert women to be recognized, to be depicted. And let's be honest, media shapes perception and perception shapes media. Challenges existed and still exist. I remember when I was visiting sometimes in my pre-sales role IT departments, first meetings, so on together with my male sales colleague. And many times, the guys there, because usually they were men, thought that they maybe better talk to the male colleague instead of speaking with me, the technical one.
And so it always took a little bit of effort to turn the meeting over to make them understand, hey, yes, I'm blonde, I'm a woman, but still you can talk to me. I get it. I understand your concerns. And to be honest, it felt good every time. At the end, it felt so good. So yes, prejudices persist. But focus on the odds, not the obstacles.
Cybersecurity is a team sport. The more diverse the team, the more aspects are covered. And the stronger the team, of course, the better the solution. And it all starts with listening and understanding, as always.
If I could share one message with all the women entering or already working in cybersecurity, it would be the following. Be yourself. Stand tall. Keep learning. Own your strengths and never try to be a man. Never mimic your male colleagues. You bring something different and incredibly valuable to the table. Fresh perspectives, empathy, resilience, and flexibility. So never shrink back. And if you are treated unfairly, speak up.
I've been fortunate, because I've always worked in companies and environments where gender didn't define opportunity, but I know it's not the case everywhere. But thankfully, more and more cybersecurity industry is full of companies that recognize the value women bring.
And when you find yourself in the right place, you know it. Seek out workplaces where ideas are respected, voices are heard, people lift each other up, just like in Star Trek. Help build those environments and never underestimate the ripple effect of your presence there.
Women in cybersecurity isn't just a celebration. It's a call to action, to keep learning, keep leading, and keep lifting others. And most of all, be proud of yourself and of your accomplishments. To every woman in cybersecurity, you belong here. You are needed and your voice matters. Thank you very much.
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