WomenHackerz exists because community matters. The information security field can feel isolating, especially for women and non-binary practitioners who are often the only person like them on their team. We built this community so that no one has to navigate their security career alone. Whether you are just starting out or have been in the field for decades, there is a place for you here.

Mentorship Program

Our mentorship program is the backbone of what we do. It is a structured, six-month engagement that pairs mentees with experienced security professionals who are committed to helping the next generation of practitioners grow. This is not a casual coffee-chat arrangement - it is a real program with goals, milestones, and accountability on both sides.

We offer three mentorship tracks, each designed around a specific career path in information security:

Application Security Track

For practitioners focused on secure development, code review, and vulnerability research. Mentees work through real-world projects including threat modeling exercises, secure code review of open-source applications, and hands-on work with SAST and DAST tooling. By the end of the six months, mentees have a portfolio of work they can point to in interviews and a deeper understanding of how AppSec fits into the software development lifecycle.

Incident Response Track

For those building careers in detection, response, and digital forensics. This track covers incident triage, log analysis, malware analysis fundamentals, and crisis communication. Mentees participate in tabletop exercises and work through simulated incidents using realistic lab environments. Mentors in this track come from SOC teams, MSSPs, and consulting firms, bringing a range of perspectives on how IR works in practice.

Security Leadership Track

For mid-career practitioners transitioning into management and leadership roles. Topics include building and scaling security teams, communicating risk to executive stakeholders, budget planning, and developing security strategy. This track is especially valuable for practitioners who have strong technical foundations but need guidance on the organizational and interpersonal skills that leadership demands.

Our mentorship completion rate stands at 89%, which we attribute to careful matching, clear expectations, and regular check-ins from our program coordinators. Each cohort runs twice a year, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Workshop Series

We run monthly workshops that are open to all community members, regardless of experience level. These are hands-on sessions designed to build practical skills in a supportive environment.

CTF for Beginners - Our most popular recurring workshop introduces capture-the-flag competition concepts. We walk through web exploitation, cryptography, and forensics challenges step by step, and no one gets left behind. Many of our community members discovered their passion for security through these sessions.

Resume Review and Career Prep - Security hiring is its own world, and our resume review workshops help community members present their skills effectively. We bring in hiring managers and recruiters from security teams to provide direct feedback, and we run mock interview sessions covering both technical and behavioral questions.

Technical Deep Dives - Rotating topics that go deeper into specific areas - recent sessions have covered Burp Suite methodology, cloud IAM analysis, and writing detection rules for SIEM platforms. These workshops assume some baseline knowledge and are aimed at practitioners who want to level up in a specific domain.

Code of Conduct

Every WomenHackerz space - online and in person - operates under our code of conduct. We take this seriously because safe spaces do not happen by accident. They require clear expectations, consistent enforcement, and a willingness to have difficult conversations when boundaries are crossed.

Our code of conduct covers harassment, discrimination, and disruptive behavior. It applies to our Slack workspace, conference events, mentorship interactions, and any other community space. We have a dedicated response team that handles reports confidentially and acts promptly. We have removed people from the community when necessary, and we will continue to do so. The safety of our members is not negotiable.

How to Join

Joining WomenHackerz is straightforward. Our community Slack is the hub of daily interaction - request an invite through our website and you will hear back within 48 hours. From there, you can sign up for workshops, apply for the mentorship program, or simply connect with other practitioners.

We welcome women and non-binary people at all career stages. Whether you are a student exploring security for the first time, a career changer making the leap from another field, or a seasoned practitioner looking to give back, this community is for you. Allies are welcome to participate in public events and contribute to our open-source projects.

If you have questions about any of our programs, reach out to [email protected]. We read every message and respond to all of them.