San Diego City College student Brenda Nguyen may not yet be ready for a full-time job, but at a recent professional conference, she walked through the career fair anyway.
The cyber defense and analysis student in City’s baccalaureate program connected with recruiters and learned what companies look for when hiring.
One takeaway? The majority of jobs in the field aren’t actually posted online, Brenda said.
“It is up to us to make connections and demonstrate our skills to professionals,” Nguyen said. “It is not enough to blindly send out resumes and hope one lands.”
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City College is helping women in cybersecurity translate classroom skills into professional careers, reinforcing its commitment to diversity and social justice in the male-dominated field.
Part of that includes opportunities like Nguyen had, which came at the Women in CyberSecurity Conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this month.
“It was very insightful and inspiring,” Nguyen said. “They create a warm and welcome environment for students, researchers and professionals. Everyone has their place there.”
Nguyen received scholarships from WICYS and Microsoft, which covered her lodging, meals and travel expenses for the conference, where more than 2,000 professionals gathered.
WICYS, a nonprofit founded in 2014, focuses on advancing women in cybersecurity. This year’s program emphasized artificial intelligence integration, with sessions on technical skills, career development and mentorship.
The organization’s efforts come as the cybersecurity industry continues to grapple with a significant gender imbalance, with women comprising only about a quarter of the global workforce.
According to a report published by the National Science Foundation Public Access Repository, the cybersecurity workforce lacks diversity.
The field is predominantly men who are White or Asian. Only 10% identify as women, Latine, or Black, the report said.
Nguyen also participates in WICYS’s mentorship program as a mentee. Her mentor is a security operations center analyst at Meta, and they meet remotely once a month.
Despite the lack of diversity in the professional industry, Nguyen said she has never experienced discouragement or a negative stigma within City College’s first baccalaureate program.
“San Diego City College has made its goal to make all students feel included,” Nguyen said. “With (computer information systems) professor David Kennemer as the director, I have felt my place is established within the cohort.”
Her advice for other women considering cybersecurity is to sign up for WICYS, explore scholarship opportunities and don’t be afraid to reach out.
“A lot of women in the field are trying to support each other,” Nguyen said. “Our presence is becoming more prevalent. Do not feel intimidated. You never know where you will find your next mentor.”
She encourages students to stay curious and seize opportunities even when they feel intimidated.
“Inaction will freeze you in fear,” Nguyen said. “Take action. Immerse yourself in opportunities. Try out capture-the-flag competitions. Ask questions. That is how we learn and grow.”
New scholarship available for women studying cybersecurity, STEM
A new scholarship opportunity through Electronic Systems Engineering Technology (ESET) is now available for women pursuing cybersecurity and STEM fields. ESET is offering two $10,000 scholarships, with one award dedicated to a San Diego City recipient.
The deadline to apply for the ESET scholarship is April 8, 2026, and recipients will be notified in summer 2026. Applicants must submit a 500-700-word personal essay, an unofficial transcript or acceptance letter, and one signed letter of recommendation.
The program, now in its 11th year, aims to address the gender gap in the technology sector by providing financial assistance and mentorship to the next generation of cyber defenders, according to WICYS.
Winners are invited to join the Women in Cyber Scholarship Alumni Mentorship Program, which connects past and current scholars with mentorship opportunities.
More information and the application can be found on the ESET scholarship website.
This story was edited by David J. Bohnet and Tresean Osgood.
