Women in SEP2
Sophia Moreno, Marketing Assistant, recently caught up with Natalie Swallow, Head of HR, to learn more about the Women in SEP2 group, a staff-lead initiative aimed at fostering a feeling of community and support among women within the organisation. Sophia also gathered feedback from the staff involved, gaining insights into the importance of this safe and supportive space in their professional lives.
Cyber security is an industry heavily dominated by men, with women making up just 17% of the workforce, according to Perspective Economics (2023). Being in the minority, women in cyber security can often feel intimidated. As Lillibet Tombs, Account Manager for SEP2 says, “In a male-dominated industry, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why this group is so wonderful – it’s a safe space where we can share our frustrations and challenges, no matter how big or small they might be.”
Women in cyber security often have barriers along the way, starting at the very beginning in the recruitment process. Tech companies tend to want to recruit their idea of the ‘perfect candidate’, a tendency that kills diversity, according to the BCG and Global Cybersecurity Forum (2022). Laura Bird, Digital Marketing Executive, has felt very welcomed by SEP2, though her previous experience was in fields where women were the majority. She says, “I felt a bit daunted to join the tech industry and be in a male-dominated environment. The existence of the Women in SEP2 group reassured me and made me feel much more comfortable starting my new role. It’s been such a valuable resource and sense of community.”
Women in SEP2 was created in 2022 by Mahreen Jamil, Head of Finance, to create a supportive and safe space for the women working at SEP2. Mahreen is passionate about this initiative, saying, “To see the number of women growing with each meeting has been a tremendous joy; today, it is a supportive place where ideas can be shared, achievements celebrated, and advice sought from other women in tech.” When the group first started, there were only six members. As of 2024, the Women in SEP2 group has expanded to fourteen women. Mahreen reflected on the expansion of the group, saying “I take immense pride in its growth and wholeheartedly root for all the incredible women who make it what it is.”
The growth in members reflects the positive change in the organisation as a whole. As Payten Stockton, Senior Digital Marketing Executive says, “Since joining SEP2, I’ve been part of a remarkable transformation from a time when you could count the number of women in the business on one hand. Today, women hold positions as senior leaders, team leaders, and contribute across all areas of the organisation.”
Women in SEP2 meet once a month to discuss ‘ponder points’, a topic of discussion to give some focus to the conversation. Anyone in the group can suggest a ponder point, some of the previous ones being Imposter Syndrome, Being Assertive Without Being Seen as a B*tch, and the underrepresentation of Women in Tech. Maya Lea-Langton, Cyber Security Analyst, has found a lot of value in joining these meetings. They said, “These sessions are also valuable for being a space to get to know people you may be unlikely to meet day-to-day due to remote working or being in different departments. Being able to have fun and thought-provoking discussions makes asking for help easier.”
Natalie believes these discussions are incredibly helpful in community building and are a great way to listen to each other’s experiences and reassure one another that they are not alone in how they’re feeling. She says, “Staying on topic doesn’t always work, however, as our team is known to get chatty and have a laugh, but that can also be the time where we find our best ideas.” Great initiatives have been brought to life by Women in SEP2, including SEP2 Cyber Schools, the Charity Committee and the Period Positive Workplace scheme.
Cyber Security School
These events are hosted by SEP2 in our Leeds office, where we invite local schools to see a real working environment in the cyber security industry. First held in July 2023, SEP2 has run three cyber schools so far, with a fourth on the way in April. The goal of Cyber School is to introduce students to the business environment through informative, interactive sessions discussing three main areas: Attacking, Defending and Analysing. Natalie is overjoyed with how it’s going so far, saying “The feedback has been great from both students and teachers, and we look forward to more educational opportunities in the future.”
Charity Committee
The newly formed charity committee was an idea from Nikki Cooper, Vendor Alliance and Partner Manager. She took the idea to our Senior Leadership Team and selected our charity of the year, Buttle UK. SEP2 will be organising fundraising events throughout 2024. You can keep up to date with our latest events on LinkedIn.
Period Positive Workplace
This organisation supports gender equality by providing period products at work. The group saw the need for these products for all the women who work in or visit the office, but more specifically for those on the CRT team who work 24/7 and may not be able to go and buy supplies in the early hours. Natalie reflects, “providing these items is a fantastic way to encourage diversity and inclusivity in the workplace and help women feel confident and comfortable in their environment.”
Natalie has great hopes for the future of Women in SEP2. She says, “I’m keen to invite guest speakers to our meetings to educate and inspire the group. All current members have five years’ experience or less in the tech industry, so they would love to hear from women who have been in the industry longer.” If you’d like to be a guest speaker or know someone who would, please contact [email protected].
Natalie and Mahreen are in the process of planning a face-to-face meet up for the Women in SEP2, but for now they will continue to meet virtually, discuss ponder points and craft up some more brilliant ideas!
Want to read more about women in cyber security? Check out our blogposts:
