IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Victoria Beckman, our finalist in the "Cybersecurity or Privacy Woman Law Professional" category of CSWY Awards 2020

Nothing makes me happier than shining the spotlight on someone changing the world!

That is my “why” for creating the Cybersecurity Woman of the Year and Ally of the Year Awards. There are so many courageous women and men making sure we are safe and secure who rarely get the attention they deserve. These awards bring us together to celebrate all the talent in our cybersecurity community.

Last year, I mentioned in my opening statement that we need more women in cybersecurity, not only because we look at things differently, but also because we are the ones that make light out of the darkness. We are the creators of life we bring into this world to thrive and survive. We are also the subtle but strong protectors of our families, our communities, and each other. The world needs us – perhaps now more than ever!

Before we get to who won this year’s awards, I wanted to share more about all the people our judges considered as deserving nominees. Here is a look at another spectacular woman saving the world every day, our 2020 Cybersecurity Woman of the Year nominee Ms. Victoria Beckman:

What is your “why” for being in the cybersecurity or privacy field?

Even during my first cybersecurity case, I felt an immediate, strong connection to the work. From a skills perspective, it perfectly blends my left-brained, process-oriented engineering acumen with the applied theories and case-building required from a legal professional. Secondly, the issues and technologies are ever-changing, making the work pertinent, dynamic and challenging. But from the perspective of daily motivation, I enjoy summarizing and humanizing topics that are often obtuse, frustrating and intimidating for businesses or the general public. I strive to promote safer practices and smarter solutions between businesses.

Describe one of your achievements that you are most proud of and why.

My transformation from a non-English speaking Colombian Industrial Engineer to an accomplished cybersecurity professional in the United States (US) is the achievement of which I’m most proud. I disregarded those who criticized my accent or diminished my background and focused on surrounding myself with a diverse and supportive network.

If you were a queen of the world and could change one behavior to make everyone safer, what would it be?

Safety comes when people have their needs met and do not feel threatened. If societies elevated their approach of an individual’s digital identity to be treated with as much care, respect and tolerance as their physical one, we would all be in a much safer world. To this end, if I were queen of the world, I would compose a resolution enforceable across the globe that bans the spread of disinformation, cyber bullying and identity theft. This would improve outcomes for our digital selves.

Name one person, alive or dead, you’d like to collaborate on a project with?

Madeleine Albright. As a fellow female immigrant, I have always admired her grit, intelligence and grace in a challenging and male-dominated environment. Being the first female US Secretary of State, she would be an excellent partner with whom to discuss cybersecurity topics. While Internet behavior is borderless, her perspective on creating a more just digital world would be fascinating.

If selected for the award, how do you envision that impacting your mission, reach, sustainability, and results?

One of the most rewarding activities in my career is mentoring. I have deep gratitude for those who believed in me and gave me opportunities to succeed. If I were granted this award, it would be a win for my future mentees and their networks as well. I envision being able to more effectively convince female attorneys, and specifically those of color, that the limits to their potential are only those self-imposed.

How can CSWY 2020 help you further your mission? 

A career is a personal journey; I don’t have a mission to convert women into cybersecurity attorneys. However, it is easier to imagine oneself in a role when he/she sees others that look like them being successful in that role. This is where CSWY 2020 drives my mission; it provides amplification to the fact that people like myself are already strong forces in this industry, and other women of color can be, too.

What would you like to see happen for women in the coming year in the greater Cyber/Tech community?

I would of course like to see more roles filled in the industry, but that also includes leadership opportunities. This will require the help of our male allies, as they will need to be intentional and make space for female perspectives when organizations are restructuring or filling roles.

I would also like to see more focus on cybersecurity topics by universities, especially in colleges of engineering, computer science, business and public policy. Exposure to female students early in their careers, even immediately prior to them beginning, will go a long way towards improved outcomes for women in the Cyber/Tech community. 

Where do you find your inspiration?

I re-energize in a few different ways; distractions, exercise and new challenges. If I’m ever frustrated by my day’s circumstances, I know that checking out memes and communicating in group chats will quickly raise my spirits.

But for true inspiration, I look no further than the buzz caused by constantly changing cybersecurity laws and the incredible insights and work of my peers. I relish the fact that this industry is ever-evolving, which forces me to continually improve and learn.

Anything else you would like to add? 

Humans face incredible challenges at this moment in history. From epidemiology to climate change to artificial intelligence, fundamental societal systems must be challenged and potentially rebuilt in order to best serve all people. We must come together as humans to utilize our brightest minds and deep talents; there is no room for discrimination or myopic, hateful views. If we are to meet the moment, it will take partnership and diverse team to do it.

I am truly grateful for consideration for this award and want to thank all those involved for their advocacy and efforts.

More about me:

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"Our community is strong even during these challenging times and I find so much inspiration from all of you. You have done everything you can to focus on what you can do – protecting people so we can keep some normalcy in a world gone wild." Carmen Marsh

Please visit our CSWY 2020 site to cast your vote: https://leadmind.inteligenca.com/cswy2020/