Standard Chartered has unveiled its “Women in Cyber” Mentorship Programme. This is a hybrid mentorship and training platform aimed at developing a new generation of female cybersecurity leaders in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
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The programme offers a blend of technical training, mentorship, CPD-recognised learning, and networking opportunities. It is designed to tackle both the skills and gender gap in East Africa’s cybersecurity space.
Globally, women hold just 22% of cybersecurity roles, and with a global shortfall of over 2.5 million professionals, the lack of representation is as much a talent issue as it is a diversity one. In Africa, the situation is even more urgent—with the continent accounting for fewer than 300,000 cybersecurity professionals.
“Digital adoption is accelerating across East Africa, but inclusive growth will stall if half the population remains underrepresented in cybersecurity,” said Jaine Mwai, Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Standard Chartered.
The mentorship initiative is open to early-career women across the three countries who are interested in cybersecurity. Successful applicants will undergo a curated online learning journey, including:
- Technical modules and hands-on labs
- Soft skills development
- Fireside chats with global cybersecurity experts
- Mentorship with seasoned cybersecurity professionals, including both women and male allies
- CPD (Continuous Professional Development) credits for every completed session
The programme was launched at an event themed “Collaboration and Partnerships – Women in Cybersecurity”, held at Standard Chartered’s Head Office in Nairobi. The launch brought together policymakers, tech industry leaders, and academia.
“Cyber risk is a shared responsibility,” said the Dean of the School of Computing at Strathmore University. “Through this partnership, we’re combining academic rigour with real-world mentorship to build a confident pipeline of future cybersecurity leaders.”
Opportunity for 100 Mentees
Applications for the first cohort, limited to up to 100 mentees, are now open through womenincybersec.strathmore.edu and will close on 30 June 2025. The first training sprint is expected to begin in August 2025.
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Also Read: Standard Chartered Launches Cohort 8 of Women in Tech Programme
