Laura Payne, Chief Enablement Officer and Vice President of Security Consulting at White Tuque, a Canadian cybersecurity firm, highlighted the limitations of ChatGPT in creating realistic scenarios for women aspiring to have a career in cybersecurity. Payne emphasized that the chatbot perpetuates the same stereotypes that already exist in the industry.
Payne’s intention was not to discredit ChatGPT as a planning tool for career paths. Rather, her main point was that women and other underrepresented groups still have a long way to go in gaining appreciation within the male-dominated profession.
Payne tested ChatGPT by asking it to create a story about a woman in cybersecurity who exceeded expectations. The chatbot generated “Emily Roberts,” a passionate individual who excelled in her studies and eventually became a Chief Security Officer (CSO), inspiring other women to pursue careers in cybersecurity.
Although ChatGPT got some aspects right, such as acknowledging women’s talent and hard work, Payne identified several problems with the story. Firstly, the chatbot assigned an Anglo-Saxon name to the protagonist, overlooking the diverse backgrounds of individuals in the industry. Payne emphasized the importance of seeing authentic examples of success from individuals with similar backgrounds.
Secondly, not everyone focuses on cybersecurity from a young age. Many professionals enter the field later in their careers, after pursuing undergraduate degrees in different fields, and still achieve great success in the industry.
Thirdly, recognition and support from others may be scarce. Payne highlighted that only a few individuals will act as cheerleaders, while most people will be too absorbed in their own pursuits to notice one’s accomplishments. However, this does not prevent success.
Fourthly, Payne highlighted the unrealistic representation of how quickly “Emily” ascended to the position of CSO. In reality, it takes years of hard work and dedication to reach such heights in the industry.
Payne emphasized the importance of sharing stories that highlight the hard work, resilience, and challenges faced by individuals in the cybersecurity field. It is crucial to acknowledge the biases and obstacles that women encounter, including personality conflicts, industry-related stress, and the balancing act of family and career.
Lastly, Payne urged aspiring cybersecurity professionals to consider the wide range of career paths beyond incident response. The industry offers numerous specialties that align with different talents and interests, but the challenge lies in securing the first opportunity to showcase capabilities.
Payne, as one of the judges for the Top Women in Cybersecurity for 2023, emphasized the need to amplify the stories of the 20 finalists who epitomize success in the industry.
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