Organised by Eskenzi PR in media partnership with the IT Security Guru, the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards aim to shed light on the remarkable women in our industry. The following is a feature on one of 2026’s Top 20 women selected by an esteemed panel of judges. Presented in a Q&A format, the nominee’s answers are written in their own words.
In 2026, the awards were sponsored by BT, Bridewell, Plexal and Fidelity International. Community partners included WiCyS UK & Ireland Affiliate, Women in Tech and Cybersecurity Hub (WiTCH) and Seidea..
What does your job role entail?
My role as a lecturer in Computer Science at Teesside is wonderfully varied, and that variety is one of the things I enjoy most about it. No two days look the same, and I get to contribute to the university in several different ways.
Teaching is the most visible part of my work, and it’s a part I genuinely love. I currently teach across five modules, from foundation year through to master’s level. I lead two of these: a final year module on Service Management and Information Governance, and an MSc module on IT Ethics and Law. Leading and teaching these modules means designing learning materials, preparing and delivering sessions, creating and marking assessments, and supporting students as they develop their skills and confidence.
Research is another core part of my role, especially in cybersecurity and applied AI. This involves identifying interesting questions, exploring them through investigation, and sharing the findings through publications. Alongside this, I am involved in activities that support the wider research community, including reviewing papers, applying for grants, presenting at conferences, and contributing to the development of others’ work.
There is also a significant element of academic leadership and administration. I manage my own research projects and budgets, supervise MSc student theses and PhD students, and provide pastoral support to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. These responsibilities allow me to mentor emerging researchers and help students navigate their academic journeys.
Beyond teaching and research, I contribute to the wider life of the university. I take part in outreach and marketing activities such as open days and discovery days, and I serve on university-level committees, including the ECR Research Forum and the Athena Swan team.
Overall, my role brings together teaching, research, leadership, and community engagement.
How did you get into the cybersecurity industry?
I often say I dabbled my way into cybersecurity, and I think that’s a familiar story for many women who grew up and studied in Nigeria in the early 2000s. After my GCSEs, it was obvious my strengths lay in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, so engineering seemed like the natural path. My older sibling was already studying medicine, but that was never going to be my route; you really don’t want to see me trying to dress even a small scratch.
Everything changed when my dad, who I genuinely believe was ahead of his time, brought home a computer with a huge monitor. I was instantly captivated. I didn’t yet know what a career in computing could look like, but I knew it sparked something in me.
I went on to study Mathematics and Computer Science, and although cybersecurity wasn’t a major part of the curriculum, the curiosity was still there. I kept wondering what it meant to secure computers and what opportunities might exist in that space. That curiosity eventually led me to pursue a master’s degree in Network and Information Security at Kingston University.
That degree opened the door to the cybersecurity world for me. I later completed a PhD in Computer Science, where I built and applied machine learning algorithms to detect phishing attacks. And that’s how I found myself fully immersed in the cybersecurity industry.
What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced as a woman in the tech/cyber industry and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I faced early in my career was the lack of visibility and guidance. I didn’t have many women, let alone women who looked like me, who were ahead of me in cybersecurity. Without that representation, I learned mostly through trial and error, and I am sure I missed opportunities I didn’t even know existed. For example, I started my MSc convinced that “network security” was the path, only to realise later that my strengths and interests aligned far more with data security. With a mentor, I would have made those choices earlier and more strategically.
Another ongoing challenge has been balancing family life with the demands of staying visible and competitive in tech. I am a mum of three, and at the same time, I am expected to publish, lead projects, and say yes to opportunities that keep me progressing. Imposter syndrome still shows up occasionally, especially in spaces that remain heavily male-dominated.
What has helped me overcome these challenges is a combination of support and intentionality. I am fortunate to have a deeply supportive partner, and Teesside University’s flexible working culture, wellbeing support, and commitment to gender equality have made it possible for me to grow without burning out. Over time, I have also learned to anchor myself in results, specifically focusing on delivering strong outputs with confidence.
What are you doing to support other women, and/or to increase diversity, in the tech/cyber industry?
A big part of my work is making sure the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, especially women and people from underrepresented backgrounds, can see themselves in this field and feel supported as they grow. I mentor through Kingston University’s Beyond Barriers programme, working one-to-one with students from underrepresented backgrounds to help them build confidence, recognise their strengths, understand their skill gaps, and plan their academic and career journeys. Many simply need someone who believes in them and can help them navigate a system not originally designed with them in mind.
I also created CipherSeen, a self-nominated, searchable directory designed to increase visibility and equity in cybersecurity. It highlights professionals from underrepresented groups so they can be easily found for recruitment, speaking engagements, panels, collaborations, and recognition opportunities.
Who has inspired you in your life/career?
I have been inspired by many people throughout my life and career, but the very first source of inspiration was myself. I grew up determined to create a different mindset and trajectory from what I saw around me, and I wanted my younger siblings, nieces, and cousins to see that fields like computing and cybersecurity were absolutely open to them, too.
Along the way, I have been shaped by so many others, especially women in STEM, even outside my field. Seeing women excel in areas like physics, biology and mathematics showed me what was possible long before I had the language or confidence to claim it for myself.
My parents have also been powerful influences. My mum went to university with several children in tow and still excelled, showing me what resilience and ambition look like in real life. My dad, brilliant and ahead of his time, pursued higher education in Nigeria when it was far less common, and he never stopped pushing us to believe in our own potential.
And today, I am deeply inspired by my husband, Kennedy. He trained as a civil engineer but had the courage to pivot into a new business-focused career while studying for an MBA. His willingness to reinvent himself reminds me that growth is always possible.
All these people, and the lessons they model, continue to shape how I show up in my work and in my life.
