International Women in Cyber Day: Spotlight on Foley’s Information Security Team

Each September 1, we observe International Women in Cyber Day (IWCD), a global movement to celebrate the achievements of women and bring awareness to the issues they face within the industry. The mission of IWCD, which is to increase the advancement and retention of women within the cybersecurity industry and narrow the gender and skill gaps, is largely accomplished through social media campaigns, petitions, city proclamations, and events around the globe.

In honor of International Women in Cyber Day this year, we talked to the women on Foley’s own Information Security team. While women make up a very small percentage of the cybersecurity workforce on average, Foley is proud that women comprise one-third of our team. When asked what this group most enjoys about their work in information security, here is what they had to say:

Christina Feliciano | Information Security Supervisor, Tampa

“Information security is a constantly evolving field, so I enjoy the fact that there’s always something new to learn. I also really like the awareness aspect. Due to the constant changes, it’s sometimes difficult to find accurate and concise information around the best ways to protect ourselves, both professionally and personally. I like finding new ways to use what I’ve learned to help others by turning complicated concepts into relevant and actionable best practices that everyone can use to stay safe and secure.”

Feyikemi Adelugba | Senior Specialist, Information Security Risk, Chicago

“I love the constant sense of challenge and problem solving. I often encounter new and evolving threats, which requires me to stay up to date on the latest technologies and techniques. It’s a very dynamic environment that keeps the work interesting and ensures that I’m always learning and growing.”

Brooke Henderson | Information Security Specialist, Chicago

“I really like the research aspect — information security is a large and ever-growing field and there is always a ton of material being published. Everything from standards and guidelines … to threat actor behavior … to vulnerabilities. I enjoy consuming this information and seeing how it can be implemented to help in a particular environment. Also, I’m a big fan of working with clients and auditors to explain Foley’s information security controls and what we do to protect data. There are often many ways that a client or auditor can ask a particular question, and I enjoy providing information to outline the maturity of our information security program.”

Maggie Sweeney | Information Security Specialist – Third-Party Risk Management, Washington, D.C.

“I’ve always loved problem solving and puzzles, and I think working in technology is a great fit for this skill set. Information security is all about figuring out why something is happening or how to help in a particular situation, so I think it’s fun to remediate issues and implement solutions. I also really like the team dynamic in information security. You get to put your minds together, and some people may think differently and come up with an idea you hadn’t thought of to help the situation. Information security attracts a very diverse crowd, and it’s fun to learn from the people I work with — they make me smarter!”