Past CyberHERo Summits
Since its launch in 2024, the CyberHERo Summit has brought together cybersecurity practitioners, executives, students, career changers, educators, and industry champions for practical learning, candid conversations, and meaningful professional connection.
Each Summit is designed to recognize the expertise women already bring to cybersecurity while creating opportunities for participants to build skills, share experiences, expand their networks, and connect with leaders who actively champion talent across the field.
DECEMBER 13, 2024 | MICROSOFT RESTON
CyberHERo Summit 2024
The inaugural Summit brought technical learning, honest career conversations, leadership perspectives, and meaningful connection together in one community-centered event.
Leadership
Diana Kelley opened the Summit with a keynote on women’s experiences in cybersecurity, the leadership gap, and the importance of championing talent. Alexis Wales and Olivia from GitHub added candid perspectives on leadership and cybersecurity careers.
Hands-on Learning
Simeon Kakpovi led a realistic KC7 cybersecurity investigation. Michael and Jonathan led a professional-branding workshop on communicating experience, demonstrating value, and strengthening professional presence.
Connection
A candid career panel complemented 43 structured one-on-one career conversations. Professional headshots, an ask-me-anything session, and a social hour created more ways to connect.
OCTOBER 24, 2025 | MICROSOFT RESTON
CyberHERo Summit 2025
More than 100 unique registrants from government, industry, academia, nonprofits, and the broader cybersecurity community joined the second annual Summit.
The full-day program combined keynotes, executive conversations, career panels, technical workshops, professional development, a sponsor expo, headshots, and networking.
Executive Perspectives
Mansi Chaturvedi delivered the WiCyS keynote Building Resilience and Finding Confidence. Alexis Wales joined Elisha Angeles for a fireside chat, then Hillary Lewis and Renata Spinks-McNeal for the Ask the CISO panel moderated by Lina Bello.
Skill-Building
Workshops introduced cybersecurity investigations with KC7 Cyber, career strategy with Microsoft, and mobile forensics with SANS. Attendees could choose sessions aligned with their interests and goals.
Career and Community
Journeys and Arcs explored varied career paths, while Building Confidence in the Chaos focused on leadership and champions who make strong work visible. Headshots, the sponsor expo, an ask-me-anything session, and Mocktails & Industry Tales extended the connections.
WHAT THE COMMUNITY SHARED
A Community Worth Building
Looking Ahead
The first two CyberHERo Summits established a strong foundation for the community. Each event combined practical skill building with authentic conversations, access to experienced leaders, and opportunities to form lasting professional relationships.
As CyberHERo continues to grow, future Summits will build on that foundation by creating more opportunities for cybersecurity professionals to learn from one another, demonstrate their capabilities, expand their networks, and connect with champions who are prepared to advocate for their success.