Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity, has focused on youth and women in technology at its DECODE conference this year. The event included two special sessions, Get IT Girl! and Cyber Defense Society, which aimed to empower and provide opportunities for women and students in the IT and cybersecurity fields.
These sessions covered current trends in the industry and featured speakers and activities for the 187 women and 800 students in attendance. Get IT Girl! focused on the Metaverse and Web 3.0, while the student track, Cyber Defense Society, introduced students to Trend Micro and provided a glimpse into a career in cybersecurity.
Poi Jimenez, Digital Technology Marketing and Employer Branding Manager of Trend Micro PH and Founder of Get IT Girl!, said, “We truly believe that this begins with empowering and providing opportunities for women and the youth to expand their knowledge and inspire them to become leaders in the industry.”
Women in Tech: Navigating the Metaverse
This year’s Get IT Girl! session featured Luna Javier and Myrtle Anne Ramos, who shared their experiences as trailblazing Filipinas in the fields of blockchain and gaming in the Metaverse.
Luna Javier, the first female game developer in the Philippines and Co-Founder-slash-Creative Director of leading blockchain game studio Altitude Games, talked about her journey from a communications graduate to becoming the first female game developer in the country, and how games have evolved over time, leading up to the blockchain games she develops today.
Myrtle Anne Ramos, Founder and CEO of Block Tides and play-to-earn game universe PlaceWar, also discussed how she ended up in the tech industry despite her parents’ desire for her to become a nurse, and how she gained expertise in blockchain through years of independent study. Both Javier and Ramos emphasized the importance of empowering and uplifting women in the male-dominated fields of cybersecurity and technology, and encouraged women to take advantage of opportunities and platforms to share their achievements and inspire others.
Cyber Defense Society: Detect & Respond
Whether a student of computer science, IT, or something unrelated altogether, Trend Micro proves to be a company open to anyone and everyone. To give attendees a look into Trend Micro’s culture and to provide the perspective of a fresh graduate that found a home in the company, Senior Threat Engineer Alyssa Christelle Ramos spoke about how she got to joining the company in 2019, just two weeks after her graduation.
Alyssa Christelle Ramos, a computer engineering graduate, described her experience completing a training course after being hired by Trend Micro. The course introduced her to cybersecurity, a subject she was previously unfamiliar with, and allowed her to make new friends, learn new things, and improve her skills as a cybersecurity professional.
Joshua Paul Ignacio, a Core Tech Engineer and Threat Experts University Trainer at Trend Micro, shared his experiences at the company with student attendees. He provided a glimpse into the work of a Threat Engineer and gave a crash course on one of the most prevalent threats in the industry: email threats.
As a culminating activity for DECODE 2022: Detect & Respond, students led by Erwin Dusojan, a Senior Threat Researcher at Trend Micro, participated in a mini “capture-the-flag” activity to demonstrate and apply their knowledge of email threats. This activity served as a summary of their overall learning from the conference.
Poi Jimenez, Digital Technology Marketing and Employer Branding Manager at Trend Micro PH and Founder of Get IT Girl!, emphasized the importance of including the youth in discussions about the future. She stated that cybercriminals and threats will only become more sophisticated over time, and the younger generation, who are at the forefront of the risks and rewards of the online world, can bring fresh thinking and innovation to the industry.
Get IT Girl! is Trend Micro’s local initiative under the global “Close the Gap” initiative, and the company offers free webinars and workshops for students through its Trend Micro Careers Philippines Facebook page. Participants in the conference can access recordings of sessions, including Get IT Girl! and Cyber Defense Society: Detect & Respond, until December 1, 2023.
