Project launched that encourages the insertion of women in the cybersecurity market 

Technology professionals are the ones who will be the most on the rise, both in demand and in wages in 2025. A study by the recruitment company PageGroup revealed that among the prominent jobs in the area is data security. Despite the growing demand for these professionals and the great employability in the sector, only 25% of cybersecurity jobs are occupied by women.

To reverse the majority occupation of men in technology careers, the Metis project was launched, coordinated by computer scientist Michele Nogueira, Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Sorbonne, a professor at UFMG, who works in research on the use of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity. The objective of the project, which is receiving support from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), is to encourage women to join the cybersecurity field. “Métis is the Greek goddess of protection. Women have an intrinsic concern with protection; therefore, they bring different perspectives and necessary to build cybersecurity solutions”, explains the computer scientist.

The Metis Project

The Metis Project has as main objects the girls' awareness of the possibility of acting in cybersecurity from elementary school to higher education, the development of the skills of these girls, the formation of a network of mentoring and strategic partnerships for them, the promotion of social inclusion by a highly demanded profession with differentiated remuneration, in addition to influencing the creation of public policies that promote incentives for girls to work in the area.

“ The project aims to change to promote inclusion and female protagonism in cybersecurity. For this, it operates from the educational base to the female insertion in the labor market, offering support for girls and women of different age groups through initiatives ranging from workshops and lectures to arouse interest in cybersecurity in schools, mentoring programs and technical training. In addition, it promotes events and meetings to encourage the creation of support networks and share knowledge. Our goal is to change the reality that we, scientists in STEM (English acronym to refer to the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics), face today, when we are in meetings with colleagues, and we are always a minority, sometimes a woman, another two among so many men”, says Michele.

pierce the bubble of the predominantly male presence in the sector

She learned to deal with this situation and, over time, she acquired more security to position herself in situations where the fact of being a woman generated discomfort. “I understand that it is discomfort for many girls and many women, even because of the way some men act. Often they don't even realize what they're doing. Some interrupt what we are talking about and do not let us finish the sentence. Other times, we say something important, the others do not value, and later on a man speaks the same, with the same words and everyone values. It is cultural and we have to work on it broadly. I've always had a strong personality, but in some situations I protected myself, it diminished me where I should, in fact, speak. I learned to do this throughout the relationship with them, positioning myself. But this culture is not just for men, many women also submit to it”, reflects Michele.

The computer scientist recalls that already in her graduation period she was a minority in the classroom. But, she always stood out for her performance and believes that that's why she felt integrated into the class. “Although most are male, I have always had a very good relationship with the boys in my class and I was very integrated with them. But it can also be because as I always stood out a lot in the subjects, they ended up accepting me. Maybe they accepted me for that aspect and not exactly because I was a woman or not”, she analyzes.

The Metis project seeks not only to increase the number of women in the area, but also to create a structural change in the sector, contributing to the formation of a more inclusive and diverse environment. “Thus, the project not only strengthens cybersecurity, but also promotes a positive impact on society, showing that inclusion is an essential path for innovation and progress”, concluded the professor.