Empowering Women to Lead Cyber Security - Scotland - Spring/Summer

March - June 2025

Apply Online Here

Supporting Organisations

Partners

Summary

This is a unique, cross-sector, leadership program for women in cyber security and resilience, delivered by Empowering You and in association with the Scottish Digital Academy, Scottish Government and ScotlandIS. The aim is to build a collaborative and powerful community of women leaders in digital transformation roles across Scotland.

Delivered over 3 months from March - June 2025, Empowering Women to Lead Cyber Security is designed to enable the transition of aspirational and early to mid-career professionals, team leaders and managers into more confident, capable and energised leaders.

Key Learning Points

Accelerate personal leadership skills and adaptability
Become an inspirational role model for girls and women
Build confidence and influencing skills to lead change
Contribute to a national project that supports society and the InfoSec community

Program Modules

Segmented into four workshop modules, individual 1-1 coaching and a team community challenge, Empowering Women to Lead Cyber Security engages participants in a personal journey to realise your leadership potential.

Each module includes a senior guest speaker from diverse industries and sectors sharing their own personal leadership journey.

Self-awareness, strengths and what holds you back

How neuroscience can inform your values, beliefs and behaviours

Vital coaching skills and different leadership styles

Energising your career and optimising your impact

Program Experience

Empowering Women to Lead Cyber Security immerses participants in a multi-layered development journey designed to ensure maximum individual impact.

This programme is delivered in a face-to-face and highly experiential format, with group activities and action learning sets.

Two leadership facilitators are used throughout our workshops to make sure we maintain high levels of personal engagement and diverse perspectives.

2x 2-day in-person workshops in cohort of 20-24 participants
Guest industry speakers sharing personal leadership stories
Three individual coaching sessions at different stages of the programme
A team collaboration challenge for the national community
A graduation event with team presentations to a wider national audience and certificate awards

Program Timetable

Our timetable is designed to develop, practise and reinforce skills to create sustainable personal leadership capability. All modules must be completed fully to graduate and there is no option for virtual or partial attendance.

Activity	Format	Date
Self-assessment	Self-directed	1 week before workshop
1st 2-day workshop	In-person	24th - 25th March
Team challenge kick-off	Self-directed, virtual	ASAP after workshop
Individual coaching	1-1 with coach, virtual	2 sessions scheduled with coach
2nd 2-day workshop	In-person	29th - 30th April
Individual coaching	1-1 with coach, virtual	1 session scheduled with coach
Graduation event and team challenge presentations	In-person	3rd June

Pricing & Enrolment

This is a free but selective program. Participants will be selected by a cross-industry panel after applying.

Participants are expected to attend all workshops and the graduation event to complete the programme and graduate.

Apply Online Here

Closing Date For Applications: 21 Feb 2025

Venue: cyberQuarter, Dundee

Pricing: Free (not including travel expenses)

Max Participants: 24

Workshop Date Information:

1st 2-day workshop

Monday 24th March 2025 - 10:30 to 18:00

Tuesday 25th March 2025 - 09:00 to 16:30

2nd 2-day workshop

Tuesday 29th April 2025 - 10:30 to 18:00

Wednesday 30th April 2025 - 09:00 to 16:30

It is expected that participants will stay overnight close to the venue on the middle evening of each 2-day workshop and join the planned networking social and group preparation work. Exceptional circumstances (eg. childcare arrangements) will be considered of course.

What Our Alumni Say

“The coaching took me on a deeper level to review both my professional and personal objectives and I truly valued this opportunity and experience.”

Nuala Kilmartin | Innovation Lead, UKRI

“I liked the “experiential” part of the program – it was very interactive and there was a lot of discussion and reflection.”

Nadia Vidinova | Content Designer/User Centred Design, Social Security Scotland

“To be part of a network of inspiring, empowered women that I can tap into, and give back to, for support, ideas, mentoring and to simply share successes with, is truly a blessing.”

Michelle Baillie | Team Leader, Forensic Computer Analyst, Police Scotland

“Essentially, this program forced me to take time and space and reflect on who I am and what I want in my career and life – both as a leader and as a person.”

Narelle Gibbons | Product Manager, STV Group

“I absolutely loved the program! For me personally, it was so much more than I was expecting and the outcomes will shape who I am moving forward to lead in Cyber Security.”

Irene Coyle | Chief Operating Officer, OSP Cyber Academy

“The entire program has been a very positive, immersive experience that has left me feeling empowered and ready to take on future challenges.”

Ieva Kaleinikovaite | Adarma