As our Founder, Kellie Kwarteng, prepares to moderate a panel on inclusive leadership at International Cyber Expo 2025, she is reflecting on why this conversation matters more than ever in our industry.

The cybersecurity skills shortage isn’t news. With over 3.5 million unfilled positions globally and threats evolving faster than ever, every organisation is scrambling for talent. But here’s what most miss: the solution isn’t just about finding more people – it’s about creating environments where diverse talent can thrive.

The Hidden Cost of Exclusion

I’ve spent years working with tech teams worldwide, and the patterns are stark. Brilliant minds walking away not because they lack technical skills, but because they can’t see a path forward. Women make up just 25% of the cybersecurity workforce, with many leaving within five years.

The cost? Beyond the obvious recruitment and training expenses, we’re losing diverse thinking precisely when our industry needs it most. Cybercriminals don’t think in silos – why should our defence strategies?

What Inclusive Leadership Actually Looks Like

On 30th September, I’ll be joined by Rebecca Taylor (Threat Intelligence Manager at Sophos), Amy Lemberger (Fractional CISO, ex-Gamma), and Simon Goldsmith (CISO at OVO) to explore what inclusive leadership means in practice.

This isn’t about ticking diversity boxes or implementing feel-good policies. It’s about recognising that:

• Psychological safety drives better threat detection. When team members feel safe to speak up about potential vulnerabilities without fear of blame, organisations catch threats earlier.

• Diverse perspectives strengthen incident response. Teams that include different backgrounds and thinking styles develop more comprehensive response strategies.

• Inclusive cultures retain critical knowledge. High-performing diverse teams stick around longer, reducing the knowledge drain that leaves organisations vulnerable.

The Breakthrough Moments

Every inclusive leader I know can point to specific moments that shifted their approach. For some, it was realising their team meetings were dominated by the same three voices. For others, it was discovering that their “culture fit” hiring was actually “culture identical” hiring.

These breakthrough moments share common themes:

• Recognition – Seeing exclusion patterns they’d previously been blind to
• Responsibility – Understanding their role in perpetuating or challenging these patterns
• Action – Making concrete changes, not just expressing good intentions

The Allyship Advantage

True allyship in cybersecurity goes beyond supporting colleagues – it’s about leveraging influence strategically. The most effective allies I work with understand that their advocacy can:

• Amplify diverse voices in threat assessment meetings
• Champion innovative approaches that might otherwise be dismissed
• Create sponsorship pathways that accelerate career progression
• Challenge groupthink that can blind teams to emerging threats

Measuring What Matters

Here’s where many organisations stumble – they focus on representation metrics while ignoring inclusion indicators. The leaders joining me for this panel understand that success looks like:

• Reduced time-to-detection for security incidents (diverse teams spot patterns faster)
• Increased employee retention rates (inclusive cultures keep talent)
• Higher innovation scores (psychological safety encourages creative problem-solving)
• Better stakeholder communication (diverse teams translate technical concepts more effectively)

The Community Connection

This conversation matters beyond individual career advancement. At Elevate Community, we see how collective action amplifies individual efforts. When cybersecurity professionals share strategies, challenge each other’s thinking, and create genuine sponsorship opportunities, the entire industry benefits.

That’s why I’m particularly excited about bringing our community members together at International Cyber Expo. The real magic happens when online conversations become face-to-face connections, when shared experiences become collaborative action.

Your Role in the Revolution

Whether you’re a CISO, security analyst, or aspiring cybersecurity professional, you have a role in building more inclusive teams. It starts with honest self-reflection:

• Which voices are missing from your threat assessments?
• How might your team’s homogeneity be creating blind spots?
• What small changes could make big differences in your team dynamics?

Join the Conversation

On 30th September at 12:30pm, we’ll dive deeper into these questions on the Diversity & Skills Stage at International Cyber Expo. This isn’t a theoretical discussion – it’s a practical workshop for creating change.

Can’t make it in person? The conversation continues year-round in Elevate Community, where cybersecurity professionals share real talk about building inclusive careers and teams.

Because ultimately, cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting systems – it’s about protecting people. And the best way to protect people is to ensure everyone has a voice in the solution.

Ready to be part of the change? Join us at International Cyber Expo on 30th September, or connect with Elevate Community for ongoing support and practical strategies.

About the Author: Kellie Kwarteng is the Founder of Elevate Women In Tech Community and HALZAK, focused on creating more inclusive pathways in technology. She hosts the industry-recognised Elevate Women in Tech podcast and runs the award-winning ElevateHER leadership programme.

Event Details:

• Date: 30th September 2024
• Time: 12:30-1:00pm
• Location: International Cyber Expo, Olympia London
• Stage: Diversity & Skills Stage
• Cost: FREE registration required – Sign up here