WOMEN IN TECH BLOG SERIES: WORDS OF WISDOM FOR WOMEN ENTERING THE CYBERSECURITY SALES INDUSTRY

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Written By: Lindsey Ernst, Government Sales Manager, Vertosoft

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Lindsey Ernst is currently a Government Sales Manager at Vertosoft, bringing over a decade of experience within the government sales industry. Her expertise is used in supporting Vertosofts Cybersecurity and DevOps portfolios easing their adoption of technology within their desired government markets.

To be honest, when asked to write about being a female in the cybersecurity sales industry, I really struggled with what to write. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to be surrounded by intelligent and highly competent women in our industry and have worked for leadership that championed women in their workforce.From those strong leaders, I’ve learned that while they may have been the one of the few females in the room, their gender isn’t what made them “different”. Instead, what made them stand out amongst their peers was their preparedness, customer relationships, technical proficiency, extensive network, persistence, and their expectation of respect.If I were to pass words of wisdom onto the next generation of women entering our industry, I would offer 3 pieces of advice:
 
  1. Be confident. Prepare, work hard, be inquisitive, and let your competence drive your confidence. Let your work ethic be your differentiating trait.
  2. Surround yourself with positive influence. Work for companies that have women in their C-sutie and management positions, work for women and men who hold your professional and personal goals in your best interest. Find strong female mentors and model yourself after them.
  3. Respect yourself and your peers. Know your values and hold true to them. If anyone (male or female) violates them or you see them abusing others, speak up.
I’m grateful to the women who paved such a great path for me to feel empowered and respected in this industry, and I hope to do the same for the next generation.