How Women Are Rewriting the Rules of Cybersecurity Leadership
From 2 Cyber Chicks by Simply Cyber Media Group
March 11, 2026 · 24 min · Season 8 · Episode 2
About this episode
Aarti Gadhia discusses her journey and insights on leadership in cybersecurity, focusing on authenticity and breaking outdated norms.
In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, we sit down with Aarti Gadhia, a cybersecurity leader who isn’t interested in fitting the mold, she’s here to redesign it. We dig into what it really takes to lead in cybersecurity today: navigating perception versus reality, owning your voice in high-stakes environments, and pushing back against outdated leadership norms. Aarti shares her personal journey, the moments that shaped her confidence, and how she balances authenticity with executive presence in rooms that weren’t built with her in mind. This is a candid, thoughtful, and energizing conversation about: What real leadership looks like in cyber (beyond titles) How women and underrepresented leaders shape influence without permission The unspoken rules of executive spaces—and when to break them Building credibility without losing yourself If you’ve ever felt like you had to “perform” to be taken seriously in tech or security, this episode is for you. Connect with Aarti: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aartigadhia ========================= Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks: LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks Podcast Email us: 2CyberChicks@gmail.com Jax Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray - Jax on LinkedIn…
People in this episode
Hosts: Jax Scott, Erika McDuffie
Guest: Aarti Gadhia
Topics covered
- cybersecurity leadership
- women in tech
- executive presence
- authenticity
- influence
- leadership norms
Keywords
- cybersecurity
- leadership
- women leaders
- authenticity
- executive presence
- influence
- tech careers
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Simply Cyber Media Group, Outpost Gray, Coalfire Systems
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- AI Is Quietly Rejecting You at 1:50 a.m. and The Brutal Truth About AI Hiring · May 6, 2026 · 29 min
- Authenticity, Neurospicy Leadership & Why Perception Is Reality in Life · April 22, 2026 · 36 min
- Risk, Power, and Influence: What It Really Takes to Lead in Cyber · April 8, 2026 · 25 min
- Security Doesn’t Win, Business Does: The Hard Truth About Being a CISO · March 25, 2026 · 24 min
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