Talent, experience and self-confidence top Thorstenson’s essential ingredients for success and a message she advocates to future women leaders.

Pam Schwamb, a senior manager and scyops engineer at Conquest Cyber, describes how she entered the cybersecurity industry and the challenges of getting an authorization package through the Department of Defense. 

“I really believe the day you stop learning is the day you become outdated or rusted,” says Kavitha Srinivasulu, Global Head of Cyber Risk and Data Privacy for BFSI R&C at Tata Consultancy Services.

Walker dedicates so much of her time fighting on behalf of other unheard groups and communities she doesn’t have the time – or the temperament – to celebrate herself.

Cynthia Overby has risen to the top of the mainframe-security world, yet her career started in the unlikeliest of places.

Schwamb says it's apparent that she belongs at the table when she begins discussing a cybersecurity incident.

Said the chief business information security officer at Salesforce: "I really want to be able to help minority voices be heard. I want to champion other women because I feel I have seen quite possibly everything that you can see.”

Said Mandiant's senior vice president of strategy and alliances: "I recognize that at critical points in my life people leant me a hand, and I want to do that for others."

Said UnitedHealth Group's chief privacy officer: Synergy between privacy and security leaders on a regular basis is critical “because it's truly important that we’re not operating in silos.”

Said Forescout's chief customer officer about her transition away from technical work to leadership: "When I want it I can grab it. When there's a deep technical issue, I can sit down and say, ‘OK, help me understand this.’ And I do find customers that appreciate when I come back."