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Did you know that only 25% of the cybersecurity industry is made up of women?  I'm going to share the reasons why I decided to break that pattern, the biggest challenges I have faced in engineering and why it is worth it.

 

It all started when I had to choose my secondary school course. I have always had a huge passion for the humanities. I had an easy time in this area, and literature, whether classic, contemporary or non-fiction, has always fascinated me. But at the same time, ever since I was a little girl, I imagined what it would be like to be a scientist, enchanted by the world of science and its possibilities. During this indecision, I ended up choosing science and technology. There are no right or wrong choices, and this was a difficult decision. But it was here that I started down the path that would lead me to the world of cybersecurity. 

After finishing secondary school, it was time to choose a higher education course. At this point, it is difficult to know what each area and course consists of in practice, so I always had a lot of doubts about the area I wanted to pursue. However, I have always liked mathematics and I had an idea that engineering courses would be the ideal place to face the challenges I was looking for.

I chose computer engineering, a course where, as in most engineering disciplines, women are in the minority. In my application year, only 14% of applicants and 16% of placements were girls. This was evident in my first class, where the girls were numbered on my fingers. Being a woman in this field brings challenges, and you often feel you have to prove yourself more. I felt this several times, whether for internal or external reasons. However, it was an incredible experience, full of learning and friendships. During my master’s degree I had the opportunity to teach undergraduate students, something completely out of my comfort zone and extremely rewarding. At this point, I also opted for cybersecurity courses, given the interest I had gained during my degree.

Fortunately, after completing my master's degree, I had the opportunity to join the .PT team as a Cybersecurity Analyst. I am very happy with my career and feel that all those years of study in this field, where it is not always easy to be a woman, have been worth it. I hope that by sharing my journey, I can encourage more girls to follow their dreams, whether in engineering or any other field.

Above all, my advice is: don't let stereotypes and challenges in these areas demotivate you. Passion for what we do is what really matters and every challenge we face strengthens our resolve. Diversity in cybersecurity is crucial for innovation and progress, and it needs voices like ours!