The Role Education Can Play in Women’s IT Careers

Information technology and cybersecurity are fields that contain many opportunities for adult learners. Opportunities are available for those who are just starting their careers, those who are further along, and those who have many years of experience.

Maria Weber, M.S., director, cybersecurity at Saint Louis University (SLU) recently discussed her career in both education and IT and the benefits of pursuing degrees and certifications, particularly for women.

Can you describe your experience working in education?

I’ve worked in the IT industry for about 20 years, including at some Fortune 500 companies in different engineering positions. At one point, I moved into higher education as a network engineer within the IT department. I eventually got my master’s degree and took on a role as an adjunct instructor. I’m now the director of the cybersecurity and information systems graduate programs.

My experience in education has been really rewarding. I enjoy inspiring my students and helping them develop critical-thinking skills. By mentoring them and leading hands-on exercises, we show them how to use evidence-based decision-making in their work and other skills to help them get started in their IT careers.

What are some of the benefits of education for working adults at various career stages?

For those who are just starting out, a bachelor's degree or other education can help them gain access to entry level position or other roles that don’t require a high level of experience. This phase of someone’s career is when they explore what they’re really interested in and how best they can contribute to an organization.

For adults who are mid-career, between five to 10 years of experience in their industry, education can open up the kinds of roles they can advance into. This includes switching careers altogether. There are so many people who want to enter a STEM career path at the moment. For example, when I started as the director of the information systems department several years ago, we had four students. Now we have over two thousand.

Last, for people who are more well-established in their careers, education is a way to become a leader within their company. If you’re a third- or fourth-tier engineer with a lot of experience, you could become a network architect or manage a team. Education, particularly advanced degrees and credentialling, can help you get ready to do that.

What role can education play in women’s careers specifically?

There is still a gender gap in terms of how many more men than women are involved in IT. I think as women, education can help support our career development in the ways we usually think it can: education can help us get ready for new roles and responsibilities.

Beyond that, there’s a great opportunity to connect with mentors and coaches through an academic program. Through mentorship/career coaching, women can learn more about what an IT career looks like. They can also draw inspiration from those who have risen to a high level within the industry. And once they’ve gotten their education and are well into their own careers, women can then mentor younger or newer individuals.

Another benefit of education is access to resources while students are pursuing their degree or certificate. I always recommend that people take advantage of these resources, which include networking groups. I recently founded the Women in Cybersecurity student chapter here at SLU. It’s a wonderful group that offers a lot of opportunities for students to connect. 

Can you give some examples from your career or experiences that colleagues have had?

I can tell you that having a degree really does help you with job opportunities. I’m from Venezuela, and I know that when I came to the U.S., already having a degree helped me get started with my career here. I think it was actually three total credentials that helped. One, I was bilingual (English and Spanish). Two, I had my undergraduate degree. And three, I had industry certifications.

It’s important to understand that, depending on what job you’re interested in, having a degree can make all the difference. When an HR representative (or often an AI program) is looking through a pile of resumes, the first thing they look for is whether the candidate has a relevant degree or credential. By having the right one for the job you’re applying for, you can get that first interview or follow-up contact from the employer.

'When an HR representative (or often an AI program) is looking through a pile of resumes, the first thing they look for is whether the candidate has a relevant degree or credential. By having the right one for the job you’re applying for, you can get that first interview or follow-up contact from the employer."

Any additional insights? 

A lot of employers will try and make it easier for their employees to get the education that’s relevant to their roles. I’m thinking about entry-level IT workers who don’t have a bachelor’s degree yet, but their manager has suggested it and has explained that there’s support to do so. It’s really important to take advantage of these opportunities.

Also, fitting education into your day-to-day life can be a challenge. I say that as a mother who has a very busy home life. But it is possible, and there are resources to help students succeed. It’s worth exploring them because education really can make a difference in your career, particularly in the world of IT.

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