An event to advance the cybersecurity workforce through leadership, innovation, and inclusion.
Uniting Women in Cyber 2026
- Thursday, October 9, 2025
- Amazon HQ Conference Center, Pentagon City, VA
Uniting Women in Cyber 2026
Thursday, October 8
Capital One Hall Tysons, VA
At UWIC 2026, our theme Creative Cyber: Amplified Intelligence reflects the energy and evolution of cybersecurity today. Join us to explore how human ingenuity and AI come together to outpace emerging threats and build a more creative, resilient future.
Key notes from nationally recognized thought leaders
Dynamic panels with thought-provoking speakers
Highly interactive audience sessions and Q&A
Quality time to grow purposeful networks and professional spheres of influence
About Uniting Women in Cyber
Participants get:
- Exposure – Gain enhanced access to an active network of high-profile leaders and peers.
- Education – Receive expert updates on trending cybersecurity topics and their impact on daily life.
- Resources – Access shared lessons learned and actionable strategies to advance cybersecurity technology and workforce.
UWIC 2025 Recap
Watch exclusive outtake interviews from UWIC 2025, where industry leaders share their experience at The Cyber Guild’s premier networking event. Watch now to get a behind-the-scenes look at groundbreaking discussions on the latest trends in cyber technology and workforce.
UWIC Scholarship
for Women in Career Transition
This scholarship includes complimentary full-day access to UWIC 2026 and an opportunity for a VIP invitation to the Recognition Awards immediately following. Priority will be given to public servants in transition to industry and to anyone facing financial difficulty.
UWIC 2026 Speakers
Agenda
8:00 AM Networking Breakfast
8:50 AM Welcome Remarks & UWIC Energizer
Welcome to UWIC 2026!
Speakers:
- Debbie Sallis, Founding Executive Director, The Cyber Guild
- David Beabout, Counselor (Deputy) to Global CISO – International, NTT
Global Panel: When AI Operates at Machine Scale — Coordinating Cyber Defense in a New Operational Tempo
As AI accelerates the speed and scale of cyber operations, defenders must adapt to a new operational reality. This panel examines how governments, industry, and critical infrastructure operators can coordinate defense, manage emerging AI-driven risks, and build the trusted foundations needed to secure increasingly autonomous systems.
Moderator:
- Suzanne Kelly, CEO & Publisher, The Cipher Brief
Panelists:
- Annie Fixler, Director, Cyber & Technology Innovation, Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
- Annie Plews, Head of Cyber Policy, UK Embassy in the USA
- Naveed Ihsanullah, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Identity Intelligence
Additional panelists to be announced!
UWIC Improv: “Unscripted Talent” — Designing the Cyber Workforce We Haven’t Built Yet
The cybersecurity workforce is evolving faster than traditional talent models can keep pace. In this interactive UWIC Improv session, attendees will help shape the conversation by identifying challenges, opportunities, and emerging workforce needs, with expert panelists responding in real time to audience-driven insights.
Moderator:
- Matt Melo, Cyber Practice Lead, Piper Companies
Panelists:
- Brian Correia, Director, Global Cyber Workforce Strategy & Engagement | GIAC Expert, SANS Institute
- Matt Hayden, Advisor, George Washington University, College of Professional Studies; VP, Cyber & Emerging Threats (Intel & Homeland Security), GDIT
Additional panelists to be announced!
Rock Stars and Rising Stars in Cybersecurity
Get inspired by personal stories from incredible RISE Mentorship participants who will share their cyber journeys and top insider tips. These sessions will bring to life our popular See It To Be It Spotlights.
UWIC Podcast: TBA
Details coming soon!
Networking Lunch
Connect over lunch with peers, professionals, and leaders from across the cybersecurity community.
UWIC Fireside Chat: Cybersecurity Protecting our Most Vulnerable — Parenting in the Digital Age
Today’s parents are navigating a digital world that evolves faster than most families can keep up with. This fireside conversation explores the cybersecurity, privacy, and online safety challenges facing children, and what parents can do to help protect their digital identities in an age of AI, algorithm-driven platforms, and persistent digital footprints.
Moderator:
- TBA
Panelists:
- Cynthia Kaiser, Senior Vice President (SVP), Ransomware Research Center, Halcyon
Additional panelists coming soon!
Human in the Lead: People, Imagination, and Perspective are the Differentiators
As AI transforms the cybersecurity landscape, technical expertise alone is no longer enough. This discussion explores the skills, mindsets, and human capabilities that will differentiate top talent in the years ahead, and why judgment, creativity, and accountability remain critical in an increasingly AI-enabled world.
Moderator:
- Camille Stewart-Gloster, CEO, CAS Strategies
Panelists:
- Andy Sauer, CEO, Sentinel Blue
Additional panelists to be announced!
Quantum + AI: The Cybersecurity Disruption No One Is Ready For
AI is already reshaping cybersecurity, while quantum computing continues to advance toward potentially disruptive breakthroughs. This forward-looking discussion examines how these technologies may converge, what emerging risks leaders should be preparing for today, and where organizations remain most vulnerable to rapid technological change.
Moderator:
- Bryan Ware, Co-Chair, The Cyber Guild; CEO, Grayspace Technologies
Panelists:
- Kathryn Wang, Principal, Public Sector, SandboxAQ
- Eugenia Lostri, Senior Security Policy Analyst, Google
Additional panelists to be announced!
UWIC Resilience Workout: “Reason’s to be Cheerful” in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity can be demanding, but resilience is one of the profession’s greatest strengths. This interactive session invites participants to explore what keeps them engaged, how organizations can better support well-being, and why addressing burnout requires intentional design, not just individual endurance.
Hosts to be announced!
UWIC C-Suite Discussion: Who’s in Charge When AI Moves Faster Than You?
As AI becomes embedded across enterprise and government operations, leaders are being challenged to balance innovation, risk, accountability, and trust at unprecedented speed. This executive discussion brings together senior leaders to explore how organizations can navigate AI-driven transformation, strengthen governance, and lead effectively when technology evolves faster than traditional decision-making models.
Panelists to be announced!
RISE Inclusive Mentoring Program Graduation Ceremony
Join us as we recognize our 2026 RISE Inclusive Mentoring Program graduates.
Presenters:
- Teresa Shea, Co-Chair, The Cyber Guild; President, Oplnet, LLC
- Bryan Ware, Co-Chair, The Cyber Guild; CEO, Gray Space Technologies
- Toni Benson, Chair, RISE Program; Director, Peraton
- Diane Vogel, Volunteer, RISE Program; Director, Recruiting Services, TekStream Solutions
Closing Remarks
Thank you for attending UWIC!
Speakers:
- Debbie Sallis, Executive Director, The Cyber Guild
5:30 PM After Party
Join us after UWIC for drinks and conversations!
Mix and mingle with UWIC speakers and alumni, Cyber Guild Luminaires, Partners, and Recognition Awardees past and present.
UWIC 2026 Speakers
What People Are Saying
The Cyber Guild truly feels like an inclusive community and celebrates everyone in cybersecurity at all stages of their careers.
Dr. Diane M. Janosek
CEO,
Janos LLC
The Cyber Guild represents the most effective effort to address the shortfalls in the cyber workforce - especially in the development of mid-level cyber policy leaders. The Cyber Guild's bottom-up approach to identifying and mentoring future cyber leaders will measurably contribute to the U.S. establishing a diverse, thoughtful cybersecurity leadership for the 2030s.
Mark Montgomery
Sr. Director and Sr. Fellow,
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
"Participating in The Cyber Guild and UWIC has not only been an incredible opportunity to discuss recent cyber events and shape future cyber policy making, these events have also been where I've made new professional connections and lifelong friendships with peers across the industry."
Kim Gajewski
Principal Consultant,
Mandient (Google Cloud)
"I was blown away by the access to women and ally leaders in cyber who shared their career journeys, lessons learned, thought leadership on emerging technological trends and best practices to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion at work."
LaLisha Hurt
Sr. Vice President, National IT,
Federal Reserve System
"UWIC was the first women-focused event I attended and it was such a valuable experience because of the caliber and accessibility of the speakers. Intimate events are a wonderful way to really get to know everybody in the room, and the fact that it was attended by more than just women showed us the mentalities that our allies have for advancing our place in the industry."
Maril Vernon
Solutions Architect,
NetSPI
"UWIC was a professional and personal life changer! It introduced me to a powerhouse of talent and support in the vital cyber community I had never known. This unique conference is valuable to any female interested in strengthening her network with women who help women."
Sue McCarthy
Alumni Host, Contributor, Journalist,
Women's Business Report
"This was the best conference I attended and it's back for their annual event in October. The network and friendships I've gained from this one day is a close second to the quality of content presented. Always an all-star lineup of speakers."
Kathryn Wang
Channel Principal ,
SandBoxAQ
