Technology professionals will be the most in demand, both in terms of demand and salaries, in 2025. A study by the recruitment company PageGroup revealed that among the prominent jobs in the field is data security. Despite the growing demand for these professionals and the high 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 conducts research on the use of Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity. The goal of the project, which is receiving support from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), is to encourage women to enter the field of cybersecurity. "Metis is the Greek goddess of protection. Women have an intrinsic concern with protection; therefore, they bring different and necessary perspectives for building cybersecurity solutions," explains the computer scientist.
The METIS Project
The METIS Project's main objectives are to raise awareness among girls about the possibility of working in cybersecurity from elementary to higher education, develop these girls' skills, create a mentoring network and strategic partnerships for them, promote social inclusion through 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 and promote inclusion and female leadership in cybersecurity. To this end, it works from the educational base to the insertion of women in the job market, offering support to girls and women of different ages through initiatives ranging from workshops and lectures to spark interest in cybersecurity in schools, to mentoring and technical training programs. In addition, it promotes events and meetings to foster the creation of support networks and share knowledge. Our goal is to change the reality that we, scientists in STEM (an acronym for the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics), face today, when we are in meetings with colleagues, and we are always a minority, sometimes one woman, sometimes two among so many men,” says Michele.
Bursting the bubble of predominantly male presence in the sector
She learned to deal with this situation and, over time, gained more confidence to stand her ground in situations where being a woman caused discomfort. "I understand that it is uncomfortable for many girls and women, even due to the way some men act. Often, they don't even realize what they are doing. Some interrupt what we are saying and don't let us finish our sentences. Other times, we say something important, others don't value it, and later a man says the same thing with the same words and everyone values it. It is cultural, and we have to work on this broadly. I have always had a strong personality, but in some situations, I would hold back, diminish myself where I should actually speak. I have learned to do this through my interactions with them, by positioning myself. But, this culture is not only among men; many women also submit to it," reflects Michele.
The computer scientist recalls that even during undergraduate studies, she was a minority in the classroom. But she always stood out for her performance and believed that because of that she felt integrated into the group. "Although the majority are male, I always had a very good relationship with the boys in my class and was very integrated with them. But it could also be because, since I always stood out a lot in the subjects, they ended up accepting me. Maybe they accepted me for that reason and not exactly because I am a woman or not," she analyzes.
The METIS project aims not only to increase the number of women in the field but also to create a structural change in the sector, contributing to the development of a more inclusive and diverse environment. "Thus, the project not only strengthens cybersecurity but also promotes a positive impact on society, demonstrating that inclusion is an essential path to innovation and progress," concluded the teacher.
