Former CIA Deputy Director Discusses Women’s Paths Into Cybersecurity

Summary

In a Women’s Equality Day interview, former CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation Jennifer Ewbank discusses her career, ways organizations can broaden participation, and advice for people considering cybersecurity.

Key points

• Ewbank said she moved from CIA operational work into the Deputy Director for Digital Innovation role in 2019, overseeing areas including cybersecurity, communications, data science, and AI.
• She described finding a successful approach to operational work by using her language skills, cultural knowledge, and strengths rather than trying to match a traditional stereotype.
• Ewbank said women held all five CIA deputy director roles when she became Deputy Director for Digital Innovation, and six of the agency’s top eight positions were held by women.
• She encouraged organizations to invite qualified women to apply for leadership vacancies and make recruiting environments welcoming to a broader range of candidates.
• Ewbank said cybersecurity careers can be reached through formal education, self-study, certifications, or on-the-job training.
• She advised aspiring cybersecurity professionals to connect their work to a broader purpose and develop data fluency alongside cybersecurity skills.

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