Charity Penn

I attribute my success to remembering those moments where I didn't get the exact help that I should have gotten or really needed in those early STEM camps. Seeing the lack of women in those programs and experiencing how my male counterparts weren't as helpful with some of the challenges we faced really motivated me. I was probably in 7th or 8th grade, trying to learn how to do makeup and shop for heels, and I really didn't know much about computer programming. But those experiences where I noticed there were only 3 women out of 30 people in the program stuck with me. Through my love for tech and being able to see different parts of it, I think what really helped motivate me is just seeing the lack of representation and remembering those moments. That's what drives me to create opportunities like my Dear STEM Girl series and to be involved with Women in Cyber, so other young women don't have to face those same challenges alone.

The best career advice I've received is about building your personal brand. I started watching a lot more videos on personal brand, and I learned that having your personal brand and building that can be really powerful. It'll gain you many opportunities and help you gain really good connections. A lot of the successful people I learned from started with LinkedIn, just posting educational content and building their presence there. That's why I started my Dear STEM Girl series through LinkedIn. I also learned to push past my overthinking. I'm definitely an over-thinker and I'll think 'what if this is...' but I had to tell myself, no, Charity, you're gonna post, you're gonna make these posts. If I would have kept my overthinking, the Dear STEM Girl series wouldn't have started, and I never would have had people actually contact me and be interested in my journey.

My advice to young women entering tech and cybersecurity is to seek out that big sister advice and mentorship that you might not find elsewhere. When I was younger, especially in those high school days going into college, I would look on YouTube and social media for advice on things I might not want to tell my mom or dad about. I realized we need that same kind of support specifically for women in STEM. Even if you're early in your career like me, you have experiences to share. I changed my major three times in college, from computer science to information systems to cybersecurity, and I've had a plethora of different tech classes and cool experiences. Don't let overthinking hold you back from sharing your journey and connecting with others. I never thought people would care about my journey, but I've had people contact me asking for advice about different jobs and my experiences. Just having people actually be interested in what you say is really cool, and it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't put myself out there.

One of the biggest challenges is bridging the gap between technical skill and organizational understanding, particularly as cybersecurity becomes increasingly integrated with business operations. At the same time, there’s a tremendous opportunity to shape inclusive, user-centered security solutions and expand representation in tech through mentorship and advocacy.

Integrity, persistence, and empowerment are central to my work and personal life. I value supporting others, creating safe spaces for learning, and ensuring that growth—both personal and professional—is accessible, meaningful, and inclusive.