Penny Longman
“We can’t expect women to suddenly change. We need to change societal norms to create environments where everyone feels confident and happy at work.”
A cybersecurity expert and visionary, Penny is setting the stage for future female trailblazers in cyber. Her extraordinary background spanned ecology and mining before discovering her passion for cybersecurity while driving the IT and security programs at a mining company.
Today, she’s proud to contribute to a safe environment for healthcare workers as they save lives.
What is the first thing you do to start your day?
People are really shocked when I tell them I get up at 4. I’m a morning person. I make tea, do some focus work and exercise, like yoga or an online ballet class.
What aspects of your career journey have taken you by surprise?
I’m constantly pleasantly surprised by what I bring to my role that’s not cybersecurity-related.
What is one skill, interest or talent of yours that makes you GREAT at your job?
My humor. Not taking myself too seriously allows me to break barriers and connect with people, which is sometimes overlooked in business environments. It can brighten the mood in complicated or difficult situations, and people are more engaged and receptive.
What do you love about working in the cybersecurity industry?
It’s so multidisciplinary. I love working in cyber and in healthcare because working in an impactful space is important to me. The discipline spans psychology, criminology, technical programming, networking and business.
