Reflections from WiCyS 2025 Conference: Empowerment, Community, and Cybersecurity Innovation

Attending and speaking at the Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) 2025 Annual Conference in Dallas was an experience I won’t soon forget. The energy, the conversations, the people — it was a powerful reminder of how vibrant, supportive, and forward-thinking the cybersecurity community truly is when we come together with purpose.

As a workshop speaker, I had the privilege of leading a session titled “Private, Secure and Custom AI Assistant Using LLMs, WebUI, with RAG for Cyber Applications”. The session focused on a step-by-step approach to building a private, self-hosted artificial intelligence (AI) solution using open-source large language models (LLMs) and Open WebUI, enabling organizations to deploy powerful AI without compromising sensitive information. I left the session inspired by the sharp minds in the room, eager to learn and contribute to shaping the future of cybersecurity using AI. In this blog, I’ll recap highlights of the event as well as my top takeaways from WiCyS 2025 as there were many lessons learned that can be applied throughout the industry.

Event Highlights

Recognizing the need for broader accessibility, WiCyS introduced a virtual component to the 2025 conference. The virtual event held April 9–10, featured unique presentations and an International Virtual Career Fair, allowing participants worldwide to engage with the content. This hybrid approach ensured that more individuals could benefit from the conference’s offerings, regardless of their ability to attend in person. 

A highlight of the event was the keynote delivered by Bloomberg’s Mansi Chaturvedi titled, “Advice for my younger self: embracing change and finding confidence”. Chaturvedi emphasized how she was nurtured, encouraged, and valued by the top management team at Bloomberg. She was required to lead and develop in a role that was not particularly her major area of strength. She challenged herself to brace for the challenges and became very successful with the support of her team and even the company’s CEO.

My Top Takeaways From WiCyS 2025

1. The Power of Representation and Mentorship

WiCyS continues to lead the way in building an inclusive space for women and underrepresented groups in cybersecurity. What stood out most was the genuine commitment from attendees, sponsors, and organizers to not only open doors but hold them open for others. From the career fair booths to lightning talks, the focus on mentorship and professional development was incredible.

2. Collaboration Over Competition

My workshop turned into a two-way learning session. I met students, early-career professionals, and veterans in the field, all exchanging ideas freely. The conference buzzed with cross-disciplinary collaboration — bringing together academia, industry, and government in powerful ways. It was a reminder that our greatest advances in cybersecurity will come when we break silos and work together.

3. Innovation Needs Inclusion

Many of the keynote speakers and panelists reinforced a message I deeply resonate with: “inclusion and collaboration fuels innovation”. From discussions on securing AI systems to talks on building secure open-source ecosystems, WiCyS 2025 showcased how diversity of thought is essential to tackling complex cybersecurity challenges.

Looking Ahead

As someone who has spoken at different technical events, WiCyS 2025 stands out for its heart. It’s not just about knowledge-sharing — it’s about building community and empowering people to grow, lead, and make an impact.

I’m proud to have been part of this year’s conference and I’m already looking forward to what the WiCyS community will do next.

Whether you attended in person, tuned in virtually, or are just hearing about WiCyS now — know this: there’s a place for you in cybersecurity. And communities like WiCyS are here to help you thrive.

Stay curious, stay bold, and stay connected.