WICYS 2022

March 17-19

WiCyS 2022 is the go-to event to help you get where you want to be. We help organizations recruit, retain and advance women in cybersecurity — all while creating a community of engagement, encouragement and support at a technical conference.

WiCyS 2022 CONFERENCE PHOTOS
WiCyS 2022 CONFERENCE PROGRAM
WiCyS 2022 CONFERENCE REPORT

Conference Statistics

The 2022 conference had 1,700 attendees (1,500 + 200 recruiters), 750 student scholars, 350+ volunteers, 218 travel stipends issued, 121 sponsors, 22 Faculty Grants awarded, 107 Veteran/Active Military registrants, 29 student research posters, 16 technical sessions, 17 awards, 23 workshops, 14 lightning talks, 8 featured speakers, 6 information sessions, 5 keynotes, 6 leadership events, 9 employer socials, and one Capture-the-Flag game.

Conference Attendance Graphs

Conference Attendee

Student Scholarship Recipient
“I attended WiCyS in 2021 and it helped me secure a job after graduation! The resume review/career village really helped me and gave me confidence in the interview process. (And I got over my imposter syndrome!) I will be starting the process of moving in March and while I could make attending the conference work, I would like the scholarship to go to someone else. I know there is a lot of young women at DePaul and from other chapters on the waiting list that can benefit from the experience. And I do plan to attend future conferences as a cyber security professional in 2023 and beyond 🙂 Thank you for the opportunity, WiCyS is a treasure.”

Jessica Robinson

CEO, PurePoint International

“Being at WiCyS, I can truly say I was with my people. It was wonderful to hear women share stories similar to my own personal experiences, or share similar thoughts on perspectives as a practitioner. Within this wave of leaders, it was also incredible to see the vast diversity, in every way of the individuals, and to know this organization stands for ALL of us. This is an exciting time for WiCyS and it’s exciting time to be in the cybersecurity industry.”

Quintana Patterson

Compliance and Security Analyst at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

“To be able to experience the energy and surrealness of being in the company of so many phenomenal women was short of amazing. Hearing the stories of the speakers and the other attendees, was so inspirational and gave validation to the very existence of WiCyS.”

Jenny Graham

WiCyS Veteran Apprentice at Bloomberg

“I asked myself what quality do I embody as a veteran and so I looked up tenacity in the dictionary which stated that tenacity is “The greatest stress a substance can bear without tearing asunder,” It further spoke of the cohesion that keeps it together. That glue is the interconnectedness of the human component that drives the spirit. It all boils down to our community and the support we receive.”

Dr. Ambareen Siraj

WiCyS founder

“At the WiCyS conference, we demonstrate diversity not by pointing out the problem but by showcasing a spectrum of talent from a diverse group of professionals.”

Deborah Kariuki

WiCyS Mid-Atlantic Affiliate
“At the conference, Dr. Ambareen Siraj seemed so excited and genuinely interested to connect with me and listen to my passion about bringing cybersecurity to K-12. This is where I realized that I have met my people and my tribe because everyone was supportive and willing to provide me with resources and connections freely, with no strings attached.”

Kelley Misata

WiCyS New England Affiliate
“Attending WiCyS is far more than just networking and talks; it’s about community, friendship, and exploring new ideas and innovation in cybersecurity. WiCyS, hands down, is the best conference of the year because it’s like coming home to see old friends meet new ones, all centered around a common passion and commitment to better cybersecurity for all.”

Mansi Thakar

SANS Institute Advisory Board Member

“As a transplant from the life science field, I didn’t know anyone in CyberSec field as a graduate student. On the brink of quitting, I won an unexpected scholarship to attend one WiCyS conference, and haven’t looked back nor thought to quit ever since. Invest in yourself and allow WiCyS to double it.”