Sanja Kekić, Presedent of ISACA Chapter Serbia, is professional with 20 years of professional experience, focused on managing and providing business process and IT process improving, optimization, risk assessment,information&cyber security management, audits, development and implementation of IS.
Sanja Kekić
How do you feel in an environment that is usually dominated by male professionals?
As a woman that is usually in an environment dominated by male professionals I feel inspired and challenged.
I feel Inspired because it’s required me to get to the focus in any situation and on the other hand I feel challenged because my knowledge and skills are less or more challenged in any situation.
Do you feel women have the same opportunities to succeed in cyber security industry?
The need of cyber security workforce is real and well-documented and women cannot be left aside. For example, Frost & Sullivan and (ISC)2 report found that the global cyber security industry will have more than 1.5 million unfilled positions by 2020.
So, yes, I feel women have the same opportunities to succeed in this industry and our task is to work on the raising awareness about women in cyber security.
What are the largest day-to-day challenges a woman faces in your profession (how to keep on track with latest developments)?
My profession is the fast-growing profession with a huge skills gap. Hence, the largest day-to-day challenges a woman faces in my profession is to concentrate on consistently honing knowledge and working skills to keep herself an expert.
What advice would you give to young women considering career in cybersecurity?
Cyber security is a really interesting and exciting industry. Therefore, my advice to young women considering career in cybersecurity would be: be brave and yourself and don’t fall into the trap of waiting your turn. So, if you have a research spirit and you’re passionate about technology, your gender is not matter, go for it and be the best you can be.