Event Recap | Hosted by Elisity & Vision & Voice
Vision 2025: The State of Women in Cyber Leadership
Vision 2025 brought together 70+ women in cybersecurity for a candid conversation on the state of women in cyber leadership. From winemakers and Girl Scouts to CISOs and VCs, the event offered everything: authentic storytelling, high-impact insights, and some delicious wine + cookie pairings.
Revisit the full panel discussion featuring powerhouse leaders from Carvana, Discount Tire, DigiCert, Elisity, and NightDragon as they share raw insights, career stories, and real strategies for advancing women in cybersecurity leadership.
Top Leadership Insights from Vision 2025
Diverse perspectives help cybersecurity teams avoid groupthink, especially in high-pressure, rapidly evolving threat environments.
“You’re not going to get real problem-solving in a room full of people who think the same way.” — Amy DeSalvatore
Women in Technical Roles: Generalists vs. Specialist
Strategic thinking, communication, and broad business alignment are winning leadership traits.
“Being a generalist isn't a weakness—it’s a superpower.” — Dina Mathers
“There’s a misconception that you need to be deeply technical to lead in cyber. Some of the best CISOs I know were history or art majors.”
— Ashley Devoto
Recommended Reading:
“Range” by David Epstein – Celebrated by Ashley as a must-read on why generalists thrive in complex environments like cybersecurity.
Mentorship Fuels Momentum: We All Got Here Because Someone Opened the Door
Every panelist had a story of someone (often a woman) who saw their potential and made space for them to rise.
The call: Be that person for someone else.
Breaking Into Leadership
“Don’t get hung up on the title. Think about the value you want to deliver and the people you want to bring along for the ride.”
— Bindi Davé
