EWF Women In STEM – Q&A With Angela Williams

Angela is the Director, Enterprise Information Security at Blue Cross Blue Shield and the 2020 Women Of Influence Corporate Practitioner recipient.

1) How long have you been a​ EWF member?

I have been a member of EWF for approximately 6 years. My first exposure to the organization was at their annual conference in Arizona. Back then it was rare to meet other professional women in the cybersecurity field and this was an entire conference full of them.  I was extremely impressed and wanted to join!

2) How did you break into the “tech/privacy/infosec/cybersecurity​” field?

Approximately 21 years ago, my CIO, positioned me to build and lead an enterprise information security organization, which was non-existent. He knew I was a great problem solver, had a strong technical background, and was highly ambitious.  These were some of the key competencies he needed in a leader to forge into unchartered territory, develop a team, and create a comprehensive information security program.

“Be confident and take risks! So many times, we as women, second guess our capabilities, skills, or qualifications. This can lead to not applying for new roles that we are more than capable of being successful.“

3) What are some strategies you’ve learned that can help women achieve a more prominent role in their organizations? 

There are several things women can do to achieve the position they seek within their organization.  (1) Seek opportunities to take on projects that will provide you the greatest exposure at your organizations’ enterprise level. This will give you a change to showcase your skills and interact with senior leaders across the business. (2) Build a professional network internal and external to your organization. Who knows you, is just as important as what you know. A good network should provide you access to great mentors, key resources, and possible career opportunities. (3) Be confident and take risks! So many times, we as women, second guess our capabilities, skills, or qualifications. This can lead to not applying for new roles that we are more than capable of being successful.

4) What are words of wisdom you would like to share with young women entering a male-dominated profession? 

• Develop Presence – let your peers know you are at the table (don’t hesitate to speak up and share your ideas)
• Know your worth – know that you are an asset to the team
• Stay current within your area of expertise – continuous learning is essential to being confident when engaging in professional conversations amongst peers

5) How has a mentor/sponsor supported you in your career and what advice would give our more junior members about working with a mentor/sponsor? 

I have had multiple mentors and sponsors throughout my career, and I know I wouldn’t have been able to navigate or achieve my career aspirations without them.  My mentors helped me work on me, giving me actionable advice, helping me develop a career vision, and prepared me for future opportunities.  My sponsors provided me the opportunities, which advanced my career.  If you don’t already have a mentor, I highly recommend you participate in a mentorship program. You will attract the attention of a sponsor as you continue to (1) perform your job well; (2) raise your hand for opportunities that give you high exposure; and (3) share your career goals.

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6) What does the EWF mean to you? 

As an EWF member, it is an honor to be part of an extensive professional network that embraces smart, ambitious, supportive, and influential women. Accessibility to the membership, events and awesome programs is priceless and has provided direct benefits to me as a leader. I am committed to giving back to the organization in support of current and future members.

7) What does being the recipient of the 2020 WOI Corporate Practitioner mean to you?

I was honored and appreciative to be selected as the 2020 recipient of the Women of Influence – Corporate Practitioner award. To me, EWF is not only a highly recognized and respected organization in the industry but prestigious. To be selected as a recipient of any award from this organization is mind-blowing. I am an ambitious person and throughout my career, I’ve strived to prove to myself that I could achieve my dreams. To me, receiving this award was evidence that all my hard work was being acknowledged by an important organization that believes I bring value to this industry and my sisterhood of professionals.

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8) What are you most proud of? 

I’m proud of the career I’ve been able to build so far. Each company, each role, and almost every project has brought something new and fresh that wasn’t present before. I have been able to use these experiences as building blocks in my career and build a robust professional network to connect with people, professionally and personally. I’m most proud of being able to use my platform to help others, especially diverse professionals and add to the pipeline in cybersecurity, connect them to my network, and for many becoming their mentor or sponsor. I want to be more than a trailblazer, trailblazing only allows single file access, I want to create a broad runway of accessibility for multiple women, especially women of color to reach their career goals and aspirations.

“Don’t get discouraged when your “plan” doesn’t work out within your scheduled timeframe; keep pushing!”

9) If you could give your younger self one piece of advice what would it be? What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? 

• Take more risks and don’t underestimate yourself
• Don’t apologize for being ambitious
• Don’t allow others to make you doubt yourself
• Don’t get discouraged when your “plan” doesn’t work out within your scheduled timeframe; keep pushing!

10) What do you love doing on your time off​?

When I have time off, I love to play golf. I find it be relaxing while taking in the nature around me. I don’t take the game too seriously; I just want to have a good time outdoors with great company. Other than golfing, I love to travel and always seek to find a beach somewhere in the Caribbean during the winter months.

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