As governments and organisations across the Middle East accelerate investments in cyber resilience, industry leaders increasingly recognise that effective security programmes require more than technology alone. Diverse leadership teams, access to strategic opportunities and inclusive workplace cultures are emerging as critical factors in strengthening organisational cyber defences.
The issue is particularly relevant in the Gulf region, where national cyber security strategies and digital transformation initiatives are driving growing demand for skilled professionals who can manage increasingly complex threat environments.
While the cyber security industry has made progress in attracting more women into the profession, many leaders argue that the conversation should now shift from representation to opportunity. The challenge is no longer whether women can succeed in cyber security, but whether they have access to the high-profile projects, critical infrastructure programmes and leadership roles that ultimately shape future executives.
“Leadership comes from experience,” said Yuliana Martirosyan, senior director and head of application security at Visa. “If you don’t get those most challenging projects, it’s very difficult to get that experience to get you to the next level.”
According to Martirosyan, organisations must actively create pathways into these opportunities, while individuals must also be willing to take on unfamiliar and demanding responsibilities.
Cyber security leaders also highlighted the growing importance of diverse perspectives in addressing modern threats. As cyber attacks become more sophisticated and interconnected, organisations increasingly benefit from teams that bring different experiences, backgrounds and approaches to risk management.
Arianna Lepore, from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), argued that organisations often focus too heavily on gender comparisons rather than on the value that diverse teams bring to cyber resilience. “The broader the composition of teams, the broader the experience and the approach to threat, the better the responses are,” she said.
Creating environments where talent can thrive is equally important. Industry experts noted that many young women entering cyber security possess the necessary technical skills and qualifications but often lack opportunities to demonstrate their expertise or gain visibility within organisations.
“What young women are missing is the space – not the competencies, not the capacities, not the self-confidence, but the space,” said Lepore.
This emphasis on creating opportunities aligns closely with the UAE’s wider efforts to develop cyber security capabilities. Through initiatives led by government entities, universities and industry events, the country has invested heavily in developing local cyber talent and encouraging greater participation across the sector.
Industry communities also play a key role. Lena Yu, a cyber security analyst and researcher, highlighted the importance of building environments where professionals feel safe to contribute and where inappropriate behaviour is challenged.
“One of the hardest parts is having the strength and courage to hold bad personalities accountable,” she said. “If there is no one to hold them accountable, they will keep doing it.”
For many female leaders, however, the biggest obstacles are not always organisational. Several pointed to confidence and self-perception as barriers that can prevent talented professionals from pursuing leadership positions.
Reflecting on her own career, Lepore said she spent years waiting for permission to contribute before realising that the limitation was largely self-imposed.
“I was waiting for permission to sit at the table and contribute,” Yu said. “It was myself that I was waiting for permission from.”
Such experiences resonate across the cyber security profession, where rapid technological change often requires professionals to step outside their comfort zone and continuously adapt to new challenges. For Eng.Huda Ahmed Mohsen, chief of information technology at Bahrain’s Ministry of Information, the focus should remain firmly on capability and performance rather than gender.
“I’m focusing on my capabilities, my achievements and my leadership,” she said. “Focus on the output.”
As the Middle East continues to strengthen its cyber security posture, leaders increasingly agree that resilience depends not only on technology investments but also on ensuring that the industry’s best talent has the opportunity to develop, contribute and lead.