The third installment of the Channel Women in Security podcast, Cass joins the “mother of hackers”. As the founder of Black Girls Hack, Tennisha Martin is on a mission to close the ethical hacker skills gap by building the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

In episode 3 of Women in Security podcast channelCass Cooper interviews Tennisha Martin, CEO and founder of Black Girls Hack, discussing the importance of ethical hacking and cybersecurity. Martin explains the role of ethical hackers in protecting data and Black Girls Hack’s mission to provide training and resources for underrepresented communities in cybersecurity. The discussion highlights the need for diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity to improve outcomes for both individuals and the industry.

The transcript of the interview is below.

What exactly is ethical hacking?

Ethical hacking is about performing security tests for an organization, but doing it ethically. When people think of hacking, they often picture it as shown in the movies: lots of frantic keyboard clicks and then “I’m in!” But in reality, it’s more about carefully assessing vulnerabilities in a company’s security posture, making sure they have the right controls in place to protect their assets. And the critical difference is that ethical hackers always have written permission from the organization.

Why is ethical hacking so important in cyber security?

It’s all about keeping your data safe. We hear about breaches almost daily, where personal information ends up in the wrong hands and is then misused for phishing or other malicious campaigns. By properly protecting data and systems, companies can protect their intellectual property and ensure they can continue to do business. It is essential for every organization regardless of their industry.

Your organization, Black Girls Hack, has grown rapidly and gained a lot of attention. I understand you now have over 2,000 members internationally. Can you tell us a bit more about the Black Girls Hack and how it fits into the ethical hacking ecosystem?

Absolute! Black Girls Hack is a non-profit organization that is open to everyone – our only rule is no idiots allowed. We provide training, resources and even scholarships to help people retrain or improve their cyber security skills. We run hands-on labs, study groups and offer programs for people from Kindergarten to age 17. We want to create a complete pipeline for future employment in cybersecurity. Our goal is to bridge the gap between what is taught in schools and the skills needed for careers in cybersecurity, such as penetration testing and ethical hacking.

How does Black Girls Hack align with equity and inclusion efforts in tech?

We focus on supporting people at all stages of their cyber security journey. We offer mentoring, resume reviews, mock interviews – everything needed to help people feel ready to enter the field. By training people of color and providing a supportive community, we also address some of the issues of bias and discrimination in the industry. Studies show that more diversity brings better results – financially, socially and beyond. We believe increasing diversity will strengthen overall cybersecurity and help improve the economy within the black community.

Where can people find Black Girls Hack online if they want to learn more or get involved?

We are at blackgirlshack.organd you can also find us on all social media under @blackgirlshack. We welcome everyone to join, whether you want to volunteer or improve your cyber security skills!

If you’re inspired to learn more about ethical hacking or get involved, visit blackgirlshack.org