Baddies in Tech reposted this
🔒Senior Cyber Security Program Owner & 🛡Senior Security Industry Specialist at Amazon Web Services (AWS) | Director of External Events & Networking, Amazon's Black Employee Network | 🌎DEI Champion + Speaker + Advocate
I recently had the incredible honor of speaking and leading the Amazon experience at the Baddies in Tech BaddieCon 2024 Tech Conference.🎤✨ We made sure that Amazon was represented with recruiters and ambassadors on-site, connecting with attendees to showcase our security culture, open roles, and, most importantly, representation. It's crucial for people to see themselves in these roles and know that they belong in this space. Representation is critical, especially when Black professionals make up only 9% of the cybersecurity workforce in the U.S., and Black women represent just 2% of the field (WorldMetrics). The broader tech industry also struggles with diversity, with Black professionals comprising just 7% of tech employees(Enterprise Apps Today). This underrepresentation highlights the importance of our work in creating visibility and opportunities for underrepresented groups in tech. This was my first time leading the entire Amazon activation from start to finish—managing everything from outreach to securing recruiters and ambassadors. Normally, we hire a dedicated team for this, but taking on the full lifecycle of the activation was a great learning experience for me. I’m so thankful for the AWS Security Ambassadors Mariamawit (Mary) Alula Comfort Uduebholo Rymesha F. Christina Dickerson Otto Thomas and the recruiters who joined me; I couldn’t have made this possible without their support. Speaking on the panel was such a rewarding experience. I shared industry insights alongside an incredible group of tech leaders Ayana Gardner Kellie P. Stella Ihenacho. MBA, CSM®, PSM™ II, ICP-ACC and helped underrepresented women explore tech career niches, focusing on cybersecurity. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and I’m thrilled that attendees walked away with actionable insights to start or grow their tech journeys. A huge thank you to my company, AWS, for supporting this initiative and for being an employer that people are excited to see! I’m grateful for the relationships and the ability to influence change—ensuring that the next generation of tech professionals feels seen, supported, and inspired to pursue their dreams. Jessica Reyes, MBA Mark Young Megan Franz Sharifa Bernard Ashley Shimer Eric Sikes Andrew Emons Arianny M. Baddies in Tech Allie Joy Tsahey Zaria Pompey-Smith ReeTheCyberBoss Eric Brandwine Sandy Villamil Sharifa Bernard Sharnikya Howard Chris “CAsh” Ashley Chynna W. Omotayo Akintoye, EMBA, PMP, CSM Marquis Thorpe #RepresentationMatters #TechBaddies #BlackInTech #WomenInTech #Cybersecurity
-
-
-
-
-
+11