25 WOMEN IN CYBER

Tina Beaudry-Mellor

Partner, Deloitte Canada

Cyberattacks are the number one business risk in most of the world, according to a 2022 study from the World Economic Forum. Not all cyber threats are alike, and diverse problems require diverse solutions. Yet, the cyber industry is predominantly led by men. How can we solve this significant threat to the business world with only half of the population? Fortunately, the women who make up that percentage are some of the fiercest in the greater technology industry. In this series, The Female Quotient and Deloitte are putting a spotlight on 25 women at the forefront of the cyber revolution, amplifying their career advice and sharing their insights on how the industry will evolve in the future. Their stories are proof that behind every functioning society is a woman in cyber.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

Shaping opportunities with government leaders and colleagues, providing strategic advice, building my team, ensuring brand visibility, attending meetings and staying on top of key trends.

What's a common misconception about women in cyber you'd like to debunk?

We wear hoodies and Chuck Taylors. We like stilettos and suits, too. There are a lot more of us than people think and in leadership positions.

What aspects of your career journey have taken you by surprise?

I expected the career ladder to be more linear: one rung at a time, in a single direction. Sheryl Sandberg wrote that it is, instead, a jungle gym, not a ladder, which gave me the freedom to go sideways. What has also surprised me was how important my experience in politics and investment was to cyberspace.

What's your superpower as a woman in cyber?

I can translate tech speak into a language that everyday people understand.

What's the most challenging component of your job today?

The velocity of need: Everyone needs cyber help, and it’s hard to keep up. It is a good problem to have.

Tell us about the cyber project you're most proud of working on in your career.

I have been invited to lead the creation, delivery and growth of our CISO labs. These are used to help new CISOs become successful, help existing ones stay ahead of the rapid changes and be internal influencers. It also shapes the next generation of CISOs in terms of succession.

What's one must read, watch or listen for women wanting to work in cyber?

Watch the news and see what people are focused on. Too often, the cyber sector only speaks to tech. We need to be a part of household discussions because we are a part of household realities. If we want to truly help people have safe experiences in the metaverse, we need to learn how to talk about cyber in relation to what is going on in the world and the priorities of people, governments and organizations.

How has public perception of cybersecurity changed over the course of your career, and how do you predict in the future?

Cyber is currently framed from a threat narrative where people care because of crisis solutions. However, it needs to be reframed to an institutionalized responsibility narrative where cyber protections are normalized and expected ways of doing business, reporting and engaging.

What's one piece of advice you'd give your younger self about getting started in cyber?

Start sooner!

Who are some women working in cyber today that you admire?

WIRED magazine did a piece on women in cyber in the military, and I’ve been following Command Sergeant Major Sheryl Lyon, the first enlisted woman leader of Cyber Command and the NSA, ever since.

Tina has recently joined Deloitte as a partner in Cyber Strategy and Risk Advisory. She is a graduate of the Harvard University Program in cyber risk and is undertaking her CISSP. Prior to joining Deloitte, Tina drove the investment attraction initiatives at Economic Development Regina as Chief Economic Growth Officer, where she was part of the founding partners of Canada’s first VC backed AgTech Accelerator and about $1.2B in investment announcements in the ag and food sector. She has previously held several cabinet ministerial positions with the Government of Saskatchewan under both Premier Brad Wall and Premier Scott Moe, including Advanced Education, Innovation Saskatchewan & the Status of Women as well as Social Services. She also served on Treasury Board. Tina represented the Council of Ministers Canada at both the G20 in 2018 and the 40th General Conference of UNESCO in 2019. Tina is passionate about developing high performing teams, building strategies and ecosystems – especially in GPS and is a life-long avid learner.