Cyber Florida at USF Co-Hosts Premiere of “Do We Belong Here?” Documentary with Cisco and WiCyS

Last night in Tampa, Florida, Cyber Florida at USF, in collaboration with Cisco and WiCyS (Women in Cybersecurity), rolled out the red carpet for the premiere of the groundbreaking documentary “Do We Belong Here?” at the iconic Tampa Theatre. With over 200 attendees from the cybersecurity community, including out-of-town participants and partners, the event was a resounding success after almost 18 months of planning and production.

The 90-minute documentary, inspired by the popular podcast of the same name, delves into the experiences of women and other underrepresented groups in the cybersecurity field. Viewers were captivated by the tales of resilience and triumph shared by leading female cybersecurity professionals, executives, and CISOs from major companies and organizations who lent their voices to the project.

Despite the growing number of women entering the cybersecurity industry, statistics from ISC2 show that women only make up about 20-25% of the workforce. Sarina Gandy, co-producer of the documentary, emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity, stating that “everyone belongs here.”

Following the screening, a dynamic Q&A panel was held with key figures such as Pam Lindemoen, Chief Information Security Officer Advisor at Cisco, and Tashya Denose, Reality Labs Security Program Manager at Meta. The documentary is now available for viewing on the Cyber Florida at USF YouTube channel, offering a deeper insight into the challenges and triumphs faced by women in cybersecurity.

For interviews with documentary participants and the podcast team, reach out to Cyber Outreach Manager Jennifer Kleman, APR, CPRC at [email protected]

Cyber Florida at USF, established in 2014 by the Florida Legislature, aims to position Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through education, research, and outreach initiatives. Their efforts inspire and educate cybersecurity professionals, promote applied research, and raise awareness about cybersecurity for individuals and organizations.