GCF and the United States Telecommunication Training Institute (USTTI) welcomed emerging female leaders from 18 countries representing a range of sectors for the inaugural session of the ‘Empowering Women to Leadership in Cyber’ training program.​ Held in the United States from June 16-30, the two-week program featured 10 modules delivered in Washington DC as well as multiple locations across California and Texas.

The intensive, hands-on curriculum engaged participants in cybersecurity training and mentorship – focusing on leadership, managing cybersecurity operations, safeguarding critical networks and systems, and cyber diplomacy. It also introduced tools to help them foster a resilient cybersecurity culture within their respective countries and organizations.

GCF’s partnership with USTTI forms part of the Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity (WEC) initiative. With women representing just 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce, which currently faces a 2.8 million shortage, the initiative aims to bridge the global talent gap through efforts to upskill and empower more women in the sector. The USTTI-GCF partnership contributes to these goals by supporting women to advance to positions of leadership in the cybersecurity workforce.

For Kristerbella Sookdeo, from Trinidad and Tobago and a cybersecurity advocate for the Caribbean, the experience gave her a renewed sense of purpose to serve her region and support others in their growth. “The program didn’t just offer knowledge, it offered perspective,” she said. “It deepened my understanding of cybersecurity through the lens of leadership, policy, and global cooperation, and reminded me how vital it is for women in this field to be equipped, visible, and connected.”

Participants engaged with foremost experts and sector leaders, and visited industry hubs and research facilities, including Nokia’s ASTaR Lab, Ericsson’s Imagine Studio, Nokia Cybersecurity and Apple Park, for first-hand insight into cyber operations.

“What I found especially valuable was the practical approach and the real-life examples shared during the sessions,” said Vesna Gabrić Kešina, a participant from Croatia.

With its emphasis on supporting women to advance their careers to leadership, the program aimed to provide participants with access to an international network of women leaders in cyber.

“This opportunity was remarkable for networking, allowing me to connect with inspiring women from around the globe who are making strides in their cybersecurity careers. Additionally, it deepened my knowledge of cyber diplomacy, legislation, and policy, enhancing my understanding of these critical areas,” said Yemurai Rabvukwa, from the United Kingdom.

Several participants highlighted mentorship as a motivation. Houyem Ghrairi Trimech, joining from Tunisia, noted: “We, women leaders in our different structures, will use the skills we have just acquired, thanks to the rich program by USTTI and GCF, to consolidate and build a safer digital future in our respective countries.” 

“The mentorship examples were especially powerful—they motivated me to inspire more women and students within my organization to pursue careers in cyber,” said Moono Consuela Simukali, a professional from Zambia.

Reflecting on the longer-term impact, Shakhnoza Yunusova, from Uzbekistan, concluded: “The global network of inspiring women I met during the training has become a lasting source of motivation and support. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to grow both technically and as a leader in the cybersecurity field.” 

The next GCF-USTTI training sessions will be conducted in the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aimed at emerging female leaders in cybersecurity globally, the program will contribute to fostering a resilient cybersecurity culture while building a supportive community of professionals to actively lead in the workforce and inspire more women to enter the sector.