Seattle-Based Cybersecurity Executive Recognized for Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion, Empowering Women in STEM Globally
Seattle, Wash., January 9, 2019 — IOActive, Inc., the worldwide leader in research-fueled security services, today announced that its CEO Jennifer Steffens has been named a National Diversity Power 50 recipient. The 2018 Washington Power 50 Awardees are a definitive list of female executives, influencers and achievers, impacting various industries in corporate America. The recognition is given by the National Diversity Council, the first nonprofit organization to bring together private, public, and nonprofit sectors to champion diversity and inclusion across the country.
“The 2018 Washington Power 50 Award honors an amazing group of women that exemplify effective leadership in their industry,” said Dennis Kennedy, Founder and Chair of the National Diversity Council. “We hope their success inspires all women in their industries to continue striving for success.”
In her role as IOActive’s CEO, Steffens manages a world-class team of cybersecurity researchers to advise Global 1000 enterprises on how to improve their security posture. A proponent of unique ways to fill the cybersecurity talent gap, Steffens celebrates global diversity at IOActive with a diverse team throughout every area of their business. She founded and hosts IOActive’s “Women, Wisdom, & Wine” events in major cities across the globe with the goal of bringing women and non-binary individuals together to foster a greater social network amongst peers in security. She has hosted over 50 events across the United States, as well as London, Amsterdam, Berlin and Buenos Aires, and often in tandem with leading security conferences such as RSA, Black Hat, DEF CON, and InfoSecurity Europe.
“The cybersecurity industry has historically struggled with diversity. The irony is that diversity is a critical strength, as our industry seeks to understand various types of cyber attacks and methodologies,” said Steffens. “It is one of my top priorities to see individuals and teams empowered as advocates for diversity in the field of security. At IOActive, we embrace a diverse, global team, which speaks numerous languages, includes a broad range of ages, celebrates various religions, and are strong supporters of the LGBT community.”
In addition to their security consulting services, IOActive is also well known for its discovery of groundbreaking vulnerabilities. Steffens and her team have presented their self-funded research on pressing cybersecurity trends and topics at over 500 conferences around the world. They have donated their time to charities and university training programs, with the goal of making security and IOActive’s work digestible by the masses to make innovative technology across industries more secure. Steffens is also an active member of the Executive Women’s Forum, the Information Security Systems Association (ISSA) and the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP).
About the National Diversity Council
A non-profit organization committed to fostering a learning environment for organizations to grow in their knowledge of diversity. The council affords opportunities for organizations to share best practices and learn from top corporate leaders in the areas of diversity and inclusion.
More information about the National Diversity Council is available at: nationaldiversitycouncil.org
About IOActive
IOActive is a trusted partner for Global 1000 enterprises, providing research-fueled security services across all industries. Our cutting-edge security teams provide highly specialized technical and programmatic services including full stack penetration testing, program efficacy assessments, and hardware hacking. IOActive brings a unique attacker’s perspective to every client engagement to maximize security investments and improve client’s overall security posture and business resiliency. Founded in 1998, IOActive is headquartered in Seattle with global operations. For more information, visit ioactive.com.