Lisa Ventura MBE is an award-winning cyber security specialist, author and founder who builds communities that bring people together to make technology safer — and workplaces more inclusive. Her journey from the entertainment industry into cyber, plus her work combining mental-health coaching with cyber resilience, makes her story a powerful model for women and neurodivergent professionals aiming to shape tech with empathy and integrity. (Lisa Ventura MBE)
Q: What inspired you to start your own organisations and projects in cyber security?
A: I spotted gaps in the industry — places where people and organisations weren’t getting the focused attention they needed. That led me to found a dedicated trade association for cyber professionals (now Cyber Security Unity) to unite the sector, lobby for better policy, run awareness campaigns and open stronger career pathways for under-represented groups. Creating bodies that fill real needs — whether membership support, awareness or specialist guidance around AI and security — is what motivates me. (Lisa Ventura MBE)
Q: You’ve done a lot of writing and publishing. What role do your books play in your mission?
A: The books — The Rise of the Cyber Women series and The Varied Origins of the Cyber Men — collect real stories from people who entered cyber by non-linear routes. They’re intended to inspire and to show that there isn’t just one way into the industry. They also help spotlight diversity, promote career pathways, and encourage organisations to think differently about talent. (Lisa Ventura MBE)
Q: You also work as a mental-health coach and support neurodivergent people. How does that fit with your cyber work?
A: For me it’s inseparable. I was diagnosed as neurodivergent later in life, and that experience — plus periods of burnout — showed me how critical human support is in high-pressure technical roles. I trained as a mental-health first aider and coach so I can provide a non-judgmental safe space, help people manage burnout, and support leaders (especially CISOs) when they face the intense stress of breaches and constant threats. Cybersecurity is ultimately as much about people as it is about technology. (This support is vital when a breach does happen — it’s rarely the individual’s fault; they need practical steps and a supportive environment to recover.) — from the interview transcript.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges for women and entrepreneurs in tech today?
A: Gender bias, pay gaps, microaggressions and heightened scrutiny remain real problems. Women often bring empathy, collaboration and creative problem-solving to leadership, but still face barriers like imposter syndrome and unequal pay. For entrepreneurs, funding, automating to run sustainably, and avoiding burnout are huge challenges. Setting clear boundaries and expectations with clients helps protect work-life balance — a thing many expect from entrepreneurship but which can still be hard to maintain. — from the interview transcript.
Q: Where do you see AI fitting into cyber security?
A: AI is transformative, but its security implications are still under-explored. That’s why I’m launching an association focused on the AI–cyber intersection: to consider how AI should be used responsibly, securely and ethically, and to prepare the industry for the new risks and opportunities AI brings. (This is the next big conversation the sector must have.) — from the interview transcript.
“Keep going — your idea is valid and it matters. Stay focused, cut through the noise, and you’ll find a way to make it work.” — Lisa Ventura MBE. — from the interview transcript.
Connect with Lisa Ventura MBE
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/csunity/
- https://www.youtube.com/@CyberSecurityLisa/
- Lisa’s X/Twitter – @cybergeekgirl
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