In the Spotlight - Ms. Kristina Jovanovska (Austria)

When I reflect on why creating the Cybersecurity Woman of the World Edition an of the World Edition Awards was so important, I am reminded of Maya Angelou’s profound words: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

In cybersecurity, many of us have gone through our own transformations. The challenges we face daily—working tirelessly to prevent breaches, never feeling fast enough, and carrying the guilt of not always being able to protect as we wish—change us profoundly. We often find ourselves blamed for things outside our control, and rare are the moments of gratitude or recognition. As I traveled the world, meeting so many talented, brilliant women dedicating their lives to this field, I knew these women needed a platform, a special opportunity to feel truly celebrated. I wanted to create a moment for them—free from the noise of daily life—where they could be honored, appreciated, and loved by their sisters in the field. These incredible professionals, who often prevent catastrophic breaches and protect our digital world, deserve more than just a fleeting thank you. They deserve to feel like the queens of the castle, as they truly are, for the tremendous impact they have on our lives.

By hosting these celebrations at extraordinary places like Blejski grad / Bled Castle in Slovenia or last year’s event in Scotland, I aim to give these women a memory that lingers—where they feel at the top of the world, celebrated for the warriors they are. Some might think it’s going overboard, but I ask: would you think the same if these women had just saved your company from a multi-million-dollar breach? These women are experts who have dedicated their lives to protecting and defending our digital realm, and they deserve to be honored in the most beautiful settings I can find.

And now, moving forward, our honorees will receive even more spotlight for their incredible achievements. In addition to the ceremony, each will be recognized through a dedicated article that celebrates their hard work and contributions to the cybersecurity community. These women deserve every bit of recognition, and I believe it’s essential to give their stories the platform they deserve.

Maya Angelou also said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I want these women to remember feeling cherished, celebrated, and connected in ways they will never forget. They deserve nothing less. ~ Carmen Marsh

A Champion for Cybersecurity and Diversity

We are proud to spotlight Kristina Jovanovska , the honoree for the Cybersecurity Woman of the World Edition 2024, for her remarkable contributions to the cybersecurity field and her dedication to advancing gender diversity in technology. As the Cyber Defense Group Manager at Avanade, a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture, Kristina specializes in enterprise cyber resilience and large-scale cyber transformations, consulting across industries to implement robust defense strategies in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).

Kristina’s journey began in her home country, North Macedonia, where pursuing a career in Computer Science was seen as normal for women. However, upon moving to Austria for her master's degree, she encountered a stark gender disparity, often being one of only a few women in lecture halls dominated by men. This experience fueled her passion for promoting diversity in cybersecurity, leading to her co-founding and becoming President of Women4Cyber Austria. Under her leadership, this organization has grown rapidly, mentoring young women and providing them with the tools to succeed in cybersecurity careers.

With a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Technology in Graz and a specialization in IT Security and Data Science, Kristina has equipped herself with top-tier knowledge. Her leadership and technical skills are further amplified by certifications from Harvard Business School’s Leadership Principles program, and other IT security-focused qualifications, including cryptography and secure software development from KU Leuven in Belgium.

Her career trajectory is impressive. She began as the only woman on a team of over 40 people in a significant project, later helping to change the gender balance by creating opportunities for other women to join. In her current role at Avanade, Kristina has succeeded in building a team where 55% of members are women—an extraordinary achievement in cybersecurity. She attributes this success to mentoring and guiding her team members to become subject matter experts.

In addition to her corporate role, Kristina’s work at Women4Cyber Austria includes launching a successful mentoring program that connects aspiring cybersecurity professionals with CISOs, leading to several mentees securing positions in cybersecurity. She organizes conferences and initiatives to attract young girls to the field, ensuring the next generation of women sees cyber as not just possible, but also rewarding.

Kristina’s commitment to securing organizations against cyber threats, while fostering diverse and inclusive teams, is unwavering. Her focus on developing comprehensive defense strategies and assessing risks enables the organizations she supports to stay ahead in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

Kristina Jovanovska’s journey is an inspiring blend of technical excellence, leadership, and advocacy for gender diversity. We are honored to celebrate her as a Cybersecurity Woman of the World 2024 honoree, showcasing the incredible impact she has made on the cybersecurity community. Her work embodies the future of cybersecurity—one that values diverse perspectives and technical brilliance.

Reflecting on her work, Kristina shared, "I strongly believe that diverse teams are the key to success in cybersecurity. The different perspectives and strengths we bring together enable us to create more secure and resilient systems. My mission is to continue empowering others, especially women, to see that they belong in this field and can thrive."

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