International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate the achievements and impact of women across cybersecurity. From strengthening organizational resilience to driving innovation and protecting the digital world, women play a critical role in shaping the future of the industry. This year, Obsidian Security is proud to interview seven incredible women across the company, each bringing unique experiences, perspectives, and passion to their work.
What excites or motivates you most about working in cybersecurity, and why has this field been meaningful to you?
I didn’t set out to work in cybersecurity. My passion has always been words—literature, storytelling, and writing. Early in my career I had the opportunity to apply those skills in cybersecurity, and more than a decade later I’m still here because the industry never stands still. There’s always something new to learn, understand, and explain.
What motivates me most is the chance to keep learning while helping others find their way into the field. Seeing the next generation begin their cybersecurity journey—and knowing you may have played a small role in encouraging them—is incredibly rewarding. The work became even more meaningful after I became a parent. As a single mom, I think a lot about the kind of digital world my kids are growing up in. Protecting that world and the people who depend on it is what makes cybersecurity so meaningful to me.
Stephanie Williams
Senior Director of Demand Generation
What does it mean to you to be a woman in cybersecurity, and what makes you especially proud to be doing this work at Obsidian?
Being a woman in cybersecurity means helping build spaces where others feel supported and empowered to grow. I’m proud to have co-founded the SheTech network with other amazing women in the industry — a place where we can connect, be ourselves, and lift each other up. I’m also honored to mentor through Women of Central Asia, supporting the next generation of women pursuing careers in tech. Being able to do this while working at Obsidian makes the work even more meaningful.
Farzona Usmanova
Strategic Account Executive<
Cybersecurity, like much of the technology industry, has historically been male-dominated, which makes diverse perspectives more important than ever. I’m proud to work at Obsidian, where women’s voices, ideas, and leadership are valued and where diversity of thought truly strengthens how we innovate and solve complex problems. It’s especially inspiring to collaborate with so many talented women at Obsidian who are shaping the future of our company and industry.
Andrea Pukulis
Senior Director of HR
Being a woman in cybersecurity means contributing to a field that benefits from diverse perspectives. Security challenges are complex, and solving them requires different ways of thinking. Having a broader range of voices in the room ultimately leads to stronger and more resilient security outcomes.
I’m especially proud to be doing this work at Obsidian because of the mission we’re tackling — helping organizations secure the SaaS and AI-driven applications that power modern businesses. Being part of a team that is helping organizations understand and secure this new generation of technology makes the work incredibly exciting and meaningful.
Shweta Lakshmanan
Principal Product Manager
What advice would you give to women who are curious about cybersecurity but may not see themselves represented in the field yet?
My biggest advice is: don’t assume you need to fit a specific mold to belong in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity needs far more than technical specialists. It requires people with backgrounds in finance, risk management, operations, policy, analytics, and leadership. If you’re curious about how organizations manage risk, protect assets, and make strategic decisions in a digital world, there is a place for you in this field. The cybersecurity community is growing quickly, and there is enormous opportunity to make a meaningful impact — both professionally and for the broader digital ecosystem.
And most importantly: your perspective is not a limitation; it’s an asset.
Chithra Rajagopalan
Head of Finance
Value your unique perspective, as cybersecurity gains from diverse ideas that sharpen risk handling and creative solutions, with no single path to success. Start with free courses on Coursera or Cybrary covering ISO standards, risk analysis, cloud security, or application security; join groups like WiCyS for mentors and connections; and draw on your planning and teamwork skills, while staying persistent, sharing your ideas, and celebrating wins to strengthen the field and inspire others.
Cynthia Valencia
GRC Manager
Curiosity is a good first step to start. My background was in data science and economics, not security, but the ways of thinking I'd built carried over more than I expected. Both cybersecurity and software engineering are constantly evolving fields, so there's always a way in. Finding community helps too. Organizations like WiCyS connect you with women already in the field, and having people invested in your growth as you're finding your footing goes a long way. I didn't have that roadmap when I was starting out, but I found it once I got to Obsidian.
Jade Phay
Software Engineer
