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Cyber Diversity & Inclusion Summit 2021

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The Power of Diversity: Solving Cybersecurity’s Global Challenges

Cambridge College hosted its 2021 Annual Cyber Diversity & Inclusion Summit, The Power of Diversity: Solving Cybersecurity’s Global Challenges, on October 19th. The Summit highlighted the challenge of diversity and the talent pipeline. In collaboration with the National Security Institute and their distinguished leadership, the Summit also focused on recruiting, advancing and retaining diverse talent in corporate environments that are often not set up for women and people-of-color to succeed. Monthly presentations supporting the Summit theme will follow.

The multi-event Summit launched on October 19th in support of Governor Charlie Baker’s Annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The Summit featured Cambridge College President Deborah C. Jackson, along with industry experts, Corey Thomas, Chairman & CEO of Rapid7 and Stephanie Brown, Vice President of Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion at Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts, who discussed cybersecurity and talent development.  

The documented talent pipeline shortage in the tech industry has led to an estimated one million jobs in the US having gone unfilled in 2020, with many companies at a loss regarding how to address these gaps.  The sad truth is that this is further exacerbated by the glaring omission of women and people of color. Of the total number of professionals in the sector, Blacks represent 7.9%, Hispanics 6.8% and women only 25%. 

In addition to Cambridge College’s cybersecurity certificate and degree programs, another initiative recently launched by the College, the CyberSummer Academy, seeks to ensure pathways to critical college level experiences for K-12 youth.  By collaborating with industry and school partners, our goal is to nurture, inspire and infuse diverse representation into the tech talent pipeline at the earliest points possible.

 

To learn more about these programs, please contact Alex Morr at alex.morr@cambridgecollege.edu.