The 5th annual Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards are due to take place on February 26, 2025 at The BT Tower, London. The awards aim to celebrate exceptional women within the cybersecurity industry at all stages of their careers, from CISOs to students, all of whom have made the industry (and world) a safer, more secure place to work.
As media partners for the 2025 event, we caught up with previous winners of the awards. We spoke to 2024 ‘ones to watch’ Valeen Oseh-Ovarah, Founder and CEO of TisOva, and Jasmine Eskenzi, Founder and CEO of The Zensory, as well as Rebecca Taylor, Threat Intelligence Knowledge Manager at Secureworks, and Nikki Webb, Global Channel Manager at Custodian360, both of whom were named amongst the top 20 most inspiring women in 2024.
What have you been up to since being named ‘One to Watch’ at the 2024 Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards?
Valeen Oseh-Ovarah: “Since winning the award in February 2024, I’ve been deeply focused on building my cybersecurity startup, TisOva, an AI-driven app dedicated to protecting students from online scams and fraud. A significant portion of my time has gone into research, product development, and forming strategic partnerships to ensure the success of the platform.
In addition to TisOva, I launched Female Founders First (F3) in May, a thriving community of over 400 female founders across the UK, providing a community for collaboration, support, and shared growth among women in business.
I’ve also been actively involved in speaking engagements across the tech and cyber industries, sharing insights on cybersecurity, innovation, tech, and DEI. Beyond that, I’ve dedicated time to mentoring the next generation, inspiring young people to consider careers in cybersecurity. As an NCSC CyberFirst Ambassador and STEM Learning Ambassador, it’s been incredible to connect with students and professionals alike to advocate for diversity and innovation in tech.”
Jasmine Eskenzi: “It’s been an exciting and rather full year since being recognised at the fabulous awards! Since the awards we’ve been proud to launch a wide-scale partnership with Brigantia to launch The Zensory to MSPs across the UK, introducing mindfulness into cybersecurity through our mindful security initiative. We’ve also delivered impactful workshops for companies like Google and Vodafone, sharing tools for managing stress and improving focus.
Our speaking engagements have been a highlight too – keynoting at the CSO Security Summit in London and Cyber Revolution in Frankfurt, where I shared how mindfulness enhances cybersecurity by improving mental clarity and reducing susceptibility to threats.
We’ve had some amazing collaborations too, such as working with Apple on an education series promoting mental health among young people, and hosting wellbeing spaces at major conferences like the International Cyber Expo, where we even built a forest! Alongside these efforts, we’ve also launched seven research studies with Newcastle and Middlesex Universities to explore how sensory modalities improve mental states.
Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to be building Zensory 2.0 this year, where we’re hoping to take everything we do to the next level.”
What have you been up to since being named a Most Inspiring Woman in Cyber in 2024?
Rebecca Taylor: “Working hard! I’ve continued to really push myself and develop as a cybersecurity professional, whilst have also increasing my outreach to support those wanting to progress in the industry and those wanting to be more cyber conscious. I continue to mentor, coach, present, write and be a voice in the field! To top if off I recorded my first ever TEDx which I’m excited to share comes out this month (January 2025). It’s been a busy year!”
Nikki Webb: “Since receiving this incredible recognition, I’ve been more motivated than ever to make a positive impact in the cybersecurity industry. I’ve dedicated myself to championing talent, diversity, and innovation, whether through supporting initiatives like the UK Cyber Team competition, mentoring emerging professionals, or driving impactful programs like the Cyber House Party sponsorships. As well as pushing forward the commercial side of Custodian360, we were once again named in the top 250 global MSP awards so that really has been a highlight of the last year for me and the team.
I’ve also deepened my advocacy for mental health awareness in cybersecurity, collaborating with experts to address burnout and retention challenges. The award amplified my platform, enabling me to engage with more organisations, regional clusters and individuals who share my passion for building an inclusive, resilient cybersecurity community.”
What did winning the award mean to you?
Valeen: “Winning the award was an unforgettable moment for me. My category was the last to be announced at the ceremony in London, and as I listened to the names of the first four awardees for the One to Watch category being called, I was in disbelief when the fifth name, mine, was announced. It was a surreal and emotional experience that I’ll never forget.
This recognition meant everything. It coincided with my one-year anniversary of moving to the UK, making it even more special. For me, the award validated the years of work I’ve put into advancing cybersecurity and innovation, not just globally but also recently in the UK. It reinforced that my efforts are seen and valued and served as a powerful motivator to keep going.
More than anything, it was a reminder of the incredible talent in the room that night. The award wasn’t just about me but about being part of a community of extraordinary women in cyber who are changing the industry. It inspired me to push harder, dream bigger, and continue advocating for change and inclusivity in tech.”
Jasmine: “Winning the award meant the world to me. It was a validation of the hard work our team has poured into our research, events, workshops, and products. Everything we do is deeply personal to us, and the recognition highlighted the importance of promoting mental health within the cybersecurity industry. It’s a topic that deserves momentum, and this award encouraged us to keep driving change.”
Rebecca: “The award was an absolute dream and to this day still remains a shock. I have always been someone who helped others, and so I had never identified myself in the ‘inspiring’ bracket but instead as someone who was simply doing the right thing. To receive the recognition and validation that I was indeed doing ‘good’ and inspiring others to bring their best possible selves to the cyber fight was amazing. It’s a moment I will never forget.”
Nikki: “Winning the award was a deeply humbling experience. It wasn’t just a personal achievement, it felt like a celebration of the values I hold dear, collaboration, empowerment, and driving change in a field I care about so much.
It reminded me of the importance of representation and how vital it is to shine a light on the diverse contributions women make in cybersecurity. It validated my work, but more importantly, it reinforced the message that no matter where you come from or what your journey looks like, you can make a meaningful difference.”
Nominations for the 2025 Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards close soon! This year’s awards are sponsored by KnowBe4, BT, Bridewell, Mimecast, Varonis, Certes, Pentest-Tools. The awards, hosted by Eskenzi PR, are also supported by community partners WiTCH, WiCyS UK & Ireland Affiliate, InClusive InCyber and CyBlack.
Nominations close at 5pm on 22nd January 2025. Nominate here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYSY6YZhZmIYbx-0aT__3XYzWvRXrWozlh-FbfNfvB-0FShg/viewform
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