#United States #Cybersecurity #mentorship #WiCyS #Cookeville

WiCyS 2025-2026 Professional Mentorship Program

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), a leading nonprofit organization focused on empowering women in the cybersecurity field, has introduced its 2025-2026 Professional Mentorship Program. This program will run for nine months and is designed to provide structured cohort-based mentoring aimed at fostering career growth and bolstering the professional confidence of its participants.

A Commitment to Women's Advancement

The program is founded on the principle that continuous learning is key to professional success. Previous iterations of the program have shown significant benefits; research indicates that individuals with mentors are promoted five times more frequently than those who do not have mentoring relationships. Furthermore, mentors themselves are six times more likely to progress within their careers.

During the previous year, WiCyS successfully matched hundreds of mentors with mentees, resulting in strengthened professional networks, improved leadership capabilities, and advancements in careers across the cybersecurity landscape. Building on this success, the current edition of the program features an enhanced structure aimed at providing an even richer experience for all involved participants.

New Tracks for Targeted Development

For the first time, the WiCyS Mentorship Program will operate through two distinct tracks: the
WiCyS Professional Mentorship Program, designed for experienced professionals, which is now open for enrollment, and the WiCyS Aspiring Professional Mentorship Program, set to launch in December 2025. This new layout caters to the varying levels of career advancement among participants, offering tailored mentorship opportunities that align more closely with their specific professional stages.

This initiative not only allows WiCyS members the chance to give back to the community by stepping into mentor roles but also enables those aspiring to grow their careers to receive critical guidance from seasoned professionals. Thanks to strong support from WiCyS's strategic partner, Google, the program infrastructure has also been improved to ensure a rewarding experience for mentors and mentees alike.

Program Structure and Benefits

The nine-month engagement will involve monthly virtual cohort meetings where participants will follow a structured curriculum that includes crucial topics such as goal-setting, influence strategies, negotiation skills, leadership, communication, and more. Mentors and mentees will be equipped with the necessary resources to maximize their time together, including support for resume reviews and opportunities for quarterly fireside chats.

The 2025-2026 Professional Mentorship Program will officially commence on September 17, with monthly sessions scheduled from October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Enrollment is currently open until August 27, 2025, and is available to WiCyS members aged 19 and older who are already in the workforce or within a year of full-time employment.

For those interested in participation, further information and application details can be found on the WiCyS official website.

About WiCyS

Founded in 2013 by Dr. Ambareen Siraj with the support of a National Science Foundation grant to Tennessee Tech University, WiCyS is committed to the recruitment, retention, and progression of women in the cybersecurity sector. The organization provides invaluable resources, events, and training to its community. Among its strategic partners are well-known organizations such as 3M, Google, Cisco, and Lockheed Martin, showcasing the robust backing for women-oriented initiatives in cybersecurity. For more details on partnerships and support, interested parties are encouraged to visit the WiCyS website.