WiCyS Launches 2025-2026 Professional Mentorship Program to Advance Women in Cybersecurity

Program returns with refreshed structure and expanded benefits; enrollment open through Aug. 27

COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), the nonprofit organization dedicated to the recruitment, retention and advancement of women in cybersecurity is proud to announce the launch of its 2025–2026 Professional Mentorship Program. This nine-month initiative equips women in cybersecurity with structured cohort-based mentoring designed to accelerate career growth and foster professional confidence.

Grounded in the belief that continuous learning fuels advancement, the program has already demonstrated measurable impact. Research indicates that mentees are promoted five times more often than those without mentors while mentors are six times more likely to advance in their own careers. Participating in structured mentoring relationships has been proven to enhance professional development, support progress toward intentional career goals and broaden individual perspectives.

Last year's program brought together hundreds of mentors and mentees, resulting in stronger professional networks, enhanced leadership skills and career advancements across the cybersecurity community. This year, the program returns with an enhanced model that refines the participant experience and expands access to valuable opportunities.

New in 2025, the WiCyS Mentorship Program has been divided into two specialized tracks: the WiCyS Professional Mentorship Program, now open for enrollment, and the WiCyS Aspiring Professional Mentorship Program, launching in December 2025. This refreshed structure offers a more personalized experience, aligning mentorship opportunities with each participant's career stage. It's a unique chance for WiCyS members to contribute to the cybersecurity community whether by inspiring others as a mentor or gaining valuable guidance as a mentee.

Thanks to the generous support of WiCyS strategic partner Google, the program infrastructure has been enhanced to deliver an engaging and rewarding experience for both mentors and mentees. Over nine months, participants will meet monthly in small virtual cohorts, following a structured curriculum that covers goal setting, influence, negotiation, leadership, communication and more. Both mentors and mentees will receive resources to prepare for and guide these sessions along with opportunities for resume reviews and quarterly fireside chats.

The 2025–2026 Professional Mentorship Program officially kicks off Sept. 17, with monthly sessions running from Oct. 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Enrollment is open through Aug. 27, 2025, to WiCyS members aged 19 and older who are currently in the workforce or within one year of starting full-time employment.

To learn more and apply, visit: https://www.wicys.org/initiatives/mentor/mentor-mentee-program

About Women in CyberSecurity
Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is a nonprofit organization with international reach dedicated to the recruitment, retention and advancement of women in cybersecurity. Founded by Dr. Ambareen Siraj through a National Science Foundation grant given to Tennessee Tech University in 2013, WiCyS offers opportunities, trainings, events and resources for its community and members. Strategic partners include Tier 1: 3M, Akamai Technologies, Amazon, Bloomberg, Cisco, Ford Motor Company, Google, Lockheed Martin, Optum, Sandia National Laboratories, SANS Institute, SentinelOne. Tier 2: Accenture, Adobe, Microsoft, Navy Federal Credit Union, PayPal, PSEG Services Corporation, Tenable, The MITRE Corporation, Workday. To partner, visit http://www.wicys.org/support/strategic-partnerships/.

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SOURCE Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS)