WiCyS Presents Woman in the Middle hosted by JackiesinSecurity

The energy was electric here at the Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) 2026 Conference! In this first episode of the special "Live From" series, these interviews were recorded by Jackie McGuire in person at the Gaylord National Resort! As over 2,000 women and allies gathered at WiCyS 2026, Jackie sat down with WiCyS leaders, researchers, partners, students, and industry leaders to discuss the power of the WiCyS Edge. Jackie and the guests in this episode and over the whole series explore how the community is tackling the industry's most pressing shifts, how WiCyS is engaged in the cybersecurity workforce, and what WiCyS means to the industry workforce.Episode 1 of this series features:WiCyS Executive Director Lynn Dohm and FourOne Insights Founder and CEO Will Markow discuss the newly launched WiCyS ROI of Resiliance research. Showing how cybersecurity talent management best practices improve the bottom line and the careers of professionals. Google Senior Director of Product, Cybersecurity and Data Protection, Archana Ramamoorthy, talks about meeting WiCyS Founder Ambareen Siraj and how that launched her WiCyS journey. Plus, the strength of the WiCyS Mentorship, and how mentorships move to sponsorship. AWS Principal Technical Program Manager Ashley Smyk shares her journey to WiCyS and how she led the effort to bring Amazon on as a Strategic Partner. Ashley describes how the community of women in cybersecurity has grown through WiCyS. She and Jackie discuss AI in cybersecurity.

About the PodcastWiCyS presents Woman in the Middle, a podcast hosted by Jackie McGuire, founder of jackiesinsecurity. The show connects seasoned cybersecurity leaders with emerging professionals, exploring cybersecurity not just as a technical discipline, but as a human and cultural one.This EpisodeIn the premiere episode, Jackie brings together Lynn Dohm, Executive Director of WiCyS, and Amber Linnea Kirylak, Junior Information Security Analyst and WiCyS member, for a candid, cross-generational conversation.Together, they explore:• Unexpected career turning points that shaped their professional paths• What to expect at the WiCyS Conference 2026 and how it brings the community together annually unlike any other cybersecurity event• Practical “easy wins” for strengthening security awareness and culture• Real-world experiences navigating the cybersecurity industry as womenThis episode highlights the power of mentorship, community, and shared experience in building a stronger, more inclusive cybersecurity workforce.Who Should Listen• Cybersecurity professionals at every career stage• Leaders committed to building inclusive security teams• Women exploring or advancing careers in cybersecurity• Anyone interested in the human side of information securityWiCyS 2026