Beth Dunphy
“Confidence in who we are and the value we bring as women leaders and technologists is vital.”
Beth is a fearless security leader and veteran who’s passionate about protecting people and systems, from safeguarding the nation’s defense infrastructure to the social media realm.
She started her career as an Air Force Communications Officer before joining the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), where her mission was to protect the DOD’s network systems and data. That experience ignited her affinity for cyber.
She encourages women to leverage their unique knowledge and experience and contribute to the cybersecurity conversation to improve security for organizations and representation in the field.
What is the first thing you do to start your day?
I start my day by drinking lots of coffee, reading industry news and walking my dogs. It’s really important to me to feel grounded before diving into the chaos of the day.
How has being a woman shaped your experience in this industry?
I’ve often been the only woman or one of few at the table and had to learn to be bolder and braver to speak up in a room full of opinions. I realized that we were in the room for a reason.
What advice would you give a woman who wants to pursue a cyber career but doesn’t think they are qualified?
We’re often our own biggest critics. We second-guess ourselves instead of being our biggest advocates and champions. Also, keep learning and growing to make your next career move.
What makes you proud to be a part of the cybersecurity industry?
I’m passionate about securing enterprises and protecting data. My work makes a difference by helping the military, and large Fortune 500 and international organizations secure their systems, applications and data for their customers and their businesses.
