The Social Media Era
FOLLOW.SHARE.RETWEET.ACT.
Follow the hashtag #ShareTheMicInCyber & the participants.
Share the campaign with your network.
Retweet the stories of the Black Practitioners featured.
ACT. Find a way to support these practitioners and the countless other Black Practitioners in this space. Take steps to make the field more inclusive for EVERYONE & your work responsive to systemic racism.
What began as a bold idea tweeted into existence became a movement that reshaped cybersecurity. In June 2020, #ShareTheMicInCyber launched on social media to spotlight Black cybersecurity practitioners and disrupt the narratives that excluded them. What followed was more than a hashtag, it was a catalyst.
Through coordinated campaigns, account takeovers, and cross-sector amplification, the movement created viral visibility and lasting connection. Allies shared their platforms. Institutions took notice. Job offers, speaking gigs, research collaborations, and new communities bloomed. At its heart, this era was about reclaiming space, rewriting power dynamics, and showing what’s possible when we share the mic and keep listening.
As momentum grew, so did the ecosystem around it. Community partners launched complementary initiatives, from networking sessions and policy dialogues to mentorship programs and speaking resources, all rooted in the same desire: to expand impact, deepen equity, and reimagine the future of cybersecurity together.
Look back with us. This was just the beginning.
We hosted 5 impactful #ShareTheMicInCyber social media campaign events!
June 26, 2020
The Inaugural campaign came on the heals of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. The cyber community wanted to get involved and this campaign provided an opportunity to showcase the power of individual action.
October 23, 2020
In round 2 we continued the conversation on the importance of diversity and eradicating systemic racism as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. We launched parallel programming with partners to promote skill building, community, and access.
March 19, 2021
In March we amplified Black women in security and privacy in celebration of Women’s History Month. Rep. Lauren Underwood welcomed participants to the 3rd round with this empowering and important message.
Reach of #ShareTheMicInCyber Round 3 - March 2021
After a three rounds of story telling we oriented the conversations around relevant themes that would advance the mission of unlocking our innovative potential through the power of harness the collective insight and intellect of a diverse group.
October 21, 2021 participants focused on
Public-Private Partnerships.
Amid increasing ransomware attacks on the private sector, the new Executive Order, and confirmation of the new National Cyber Director, all eyes are on collaboration between the public and private sectors to bolster our cyber resilience and protect our nation. Grassroots movements, like #ShareTheMicInCyber, can be an important forum to cultivate the trust that will drive public-private collaboration. Therefore, Round 4 of #ShareTheMicInCyber on October 22 2021 will focus on Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) in cyber.
October 21, 2022 participants emphasized
#BelongingInCyber
The theme #BelongingInCyber focused on honoring the role of psychological safety & anti-racism in the workplace.
We want to thank the participants organizations who have supported #ShareTheMicInCyber by amplifying everyone and by giving us a platform–this year, special thanks to the Google Cloud Security Podcast crew for having Lauren Zabierek and Christina Morillo on to discuss Representation, Psychological Safety, and Security which you can listen to here. And special thanks to the ladies behind the new Do We Belong Here Podcast for having Lauren on to discuss our theme of Belonging, which you can listen to here.
Special shoutout to Stephen Hart for his support and hosting the LinkedIn Live on Friday–if you didn’t get to see it, it was an awesome conversation and is up here (and big thanks to Steffanie Schilling and Tatyana Bolton for being a part of the conversation).
Beyond the Hashtag
It all begin with an idea. But the community broadened it into so much more including…
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In partnerships with Women in Security & Privacy (WISP) and with your support, #ShareTheMicInCyber is pleased to offer scholarships to cover training, certification, learning, and professional advancement expenses incurred by Black cyber practitioners that participate in #ShareTheMicInCyber. Read more here.
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CyberBase was a curated, interactive talent list launched in collaboration with R Street Institute’s #MakingSpace and led by former Cyber Director Tatityana Bolton. It gave policymakers, recruiters, and key decision-makers access to a vetted network of underrepresented cybersecurity professionals across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Nominees gained insider access to industry town halls, national policy discussions, and branding opportunities—from conference panels to strategic convenings.
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#ShareTheMicInCyber partnered with Ms. JD to launch Demystifying Cyber—a community-informed, multi-session series designed to make cybersecurity careers and concepts more accessible to women of color in law and adjacent fields. The series provided practical insights into the field, featured Black experts from across the ecosystem, and served as an entry point for those exploring pathways into cybersecurity.
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#ShareTheMicInCyber community members participated in a series of behind-the-scenes and public-facing conversations with senior government officials, congressional staff, and corporate security leaders. These dialogues helped shape how equity, workforce development, and resilience are considered in national cybersecurity policy and enterprise risk strategies. The movement didn’t just call for seats at the table—it helped build the table.
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Participants in the movement have been invited to speak at major conferences, contribute to high-impact policy papers, and provide expert commentary for national media outlets. From RSA to Aspen, Black cyber professionals gained visibility not just for their voices, but for their expertise. The hashtag may have elevated profiles, but the substance kept the spotlight.
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The #STMIC network has partnered with cybersecurity conferences, research institutions, and affinity groups to curate panels, host fellowships, advise on inclusive speaker selection, and co-create content. These collaborations have helped reframe what expert representation looks like on stages, in publications, and in strategy rooms.
“Racism, like cybersecurity, is a national security issue. We chose to address combating systemic and institutional racism through the national security lens based on our shared experience in that domain. We recognize that our security will suffer if we do not prioritize diversity in this field.”
— Lauren Zabierek, Co-founder
