Ljubica Pendaroska is Privacy and Data Protection Expert. She presently serves as Data Protection and Privacy Expert at UNICEF, Europe and Central Asia. She’s the Executive Director of “MCM Security Forum”, distinguished member of the “Adriatic Council”, member of “Cyber Security Capital Network” and founder of C3I-Macedonia.
Ljubica Pendaroska
How do you feel in an environment that is usually dominated by male professionals?
Honestly, as an added value, the cream on the top! (Laugh). In my working environment, I have recognized three “sexes”: men, women and professionals. The first two are dominating not longer than 10-15 minutes, when we get to know each other. But, when the talks about working issues come on the agenda, well, then it’s all about being professional with your own unique qualities and specifics. So, I want to put male-female things this way: it’s not the question whether a computer can operate without software, but how does a software interact with hardware! We are all equal as human beings. At the same time, the nature makes us different, not in a way “better” or “worst”, not in a negative competitive way, but with a profound particular reason: to complement each other! Men and women look at things differently, hence have different approaches and responses to the same challenges in cyber space. So, when different personality traits surrounded by professional knowledge and experience will “attack” the problem, it is only then a winning combination! For instance, my male counterparts always tell me that I involve calmness and sobriety into “high voltage situations”, and that I bring the solutions closer to people in a more humane, friendly language. In short, I feel more than equal with colleagues, to use the phrase: I feel “as poetry in prose”!
Do you feel women have the same opportunities to succeed in cyber security industry?
The question, so is the answer, is multifaceted. If we take into account that the cyber space doesn’t recognize borders in traditional sense, also, that in many cases the whole work can be done from your home, then the answer would be simply yes! But on the other hand, in some cases, working in cyber industry branches can be strictly tied to national companies that operate in traditional societies, where these occupations / education is strictly reserved for men. Hence, the answer would be no! It is also important to note that there are differences between the branches of the cyber industry, as well as between the different aspects of the same branch (legal, sociological, technical, informational, etc.). For example, in the area of privacy and data protection (as a human right, which is my subject of interest), there are more women, and I can say that the opportunities are equal in terms of access to job positions and in terms of payment / benefits for work done. Things are moving upward, but the speed will depend on raising the general awareness that success in working does not depend on sex (but on ability), and of course the interest and “struggle” of women themselves for greater participation in the cyber world.
What are the largest day-to-day challenges a women faces in your profession (how to keep on track with latest developments)?
Well, our time does not give us to breathe, even when we drink morning coffee something new has already emerged in the “information and knowledge market”. This is a time when acting speed plays a very important role, while new technology is much easier available and cheaper for all of us. However, information is the key, the information combined with knowledge on how to properly utilize it’s the real power! In this sense, there is no difference between men and women, that is, we share the same challenges: how to get the right information, in a faster and more economical way, to be able to offer our clients /consumers services / products with the highest possible quality affordable price. For those women like me dealing with privacy and personal data protection, the biggest challenge is how to convince people that, despite massive privacy violations, data leaking scams should still be fighting for their privacy as sacred. What needs to be done is raising the awareness of the “ordinary” citizen, because, despite the sophistication of machines and technology, man is the essential pillar!
What advice would you give to young women considering career in cybersecurity?
Freed from any prejudice, to dive into a sea called cyber security, in which, like in all other seas (areas) there are sharks, whales, but also dolphins, beautiful colorful fishes and corals, big and small! Often the cyber world is seen as machines, technology without a soul. But it is not at all so, because the cyber world, in all its forms, is designed precisely to serve people, that is its essence, and we give it the essence! Choose the aspect of the cyber world that suits you best, whether it is as a human right, legal, sociological, cultural, technical, technological, etc., and then carefully select the appropriate education. Through your example, act positively to raise awareness that the cyber world is not a masculine world. See your male colleagues through the associates-professionals lenses. And remember, thought has the greatest power to change the world, and the world is not a battlefield, but a field of complementarity and interactions.