Tech professionals are the ones who will be the most in demand., both in demand and in wages in 2025. A study by the recruitment company PageGroup revealed that among the prominent jobs in the field is that of data security. Despite the growing demand for these professionals and the high employability in the sector, only 25% of cybersecurity jobs are held 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, professor at UFMG, that works on research about the use of Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity. The objective of the project, that is receiving support from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), is to encourage women to enter the field of cybersecurity. "Métis is the Greek goddess of protection. Women have an intrinsic concern for protection; therefore, bring differentiated and necessary perspectives for building cybersecurity solutions, explain to the computer scientist
The METIS Project
The METIS Project has as its main objectives the awareness of girls about the possibility of working in cybersecurity from elementary school to higher education, the development of skills of these girls, the formation of a mentoring network and strategic partnerships for them, the promotion of 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 field
"The project aims to promote inclusion and female leadership in cybersecurity". For this, acts from the educational base to the insertion of women in the labor market, offering support for girls and women of different age groups through initiatives ranging from workshops and lectures to spark interest in cybersecurity in schools, even mentoring and technical training programs. Furthermore, 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 in English referring to the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, we face today, when we are in meetings with colleagues, and we are always a minority, sometimes a woman, "two more among so many men", relates Michele
Bursting the bubble of predominantly male presence in the sector
She learned to deal with this situation and, over time, she was gaining more confidence to position herself in situations where being a woman caused discomfort. "I understand that it is discomfort for many girls and many women", even by the way some men act. Many times they don't even realize what they are doing. Some interrupt what we are saying and do not let us finish the sentence. Other times, we talked about something important, the others do not value, and further on a man says the same, with the same words and everyone values. It is cultural and we have to work on it broadly. I have always had a strong personality, but in some situations I would protect myself, I diminished where I should have, in fact, to speak. I learned to do this over time while being 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 even during her undergraduate studies, she was a minority in the classroom. But, she has always stood out for her performance and believes that is why she felt integrated into the class. "Although the majority is male", I have always had a very good relationship with the boys in my class and I became very integrated with them. But it could also be because I always stood out a lot in the subjects, they ended up accepting me. "Maybe they accepted me for that aspect and not exactly for being a woman or not", analyze her
The METIS project aims not only to increase the number of women in the field, but also create a structural change in the sector, contributing to the creation 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, the teacher concluded
