Optiv Wins 2025 EWF Corporate Award for Advancing Women in Cybersecurity

Optiv, a leader in cybersecurity advisory and solutions, has been awarded the 2025 Executive Women’s Forum (EWF) Corporate Award for its dedication to fostering the growth and representation of women in the commercial cybersecurity sector. This accolade recognizes organizations that actively promote diversity through initiatives such as employee resource groups, mentorship programs, and flexible working arrangements.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The EWF Corporate Award is given to companies based on their success in enhancing women’s representation in leadership roles and their overall performance in security and privacy sectors. Kevin Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Optiv, emphasized the importance of inclusion, stating, “Inclusion is more than a core value at Optiv — it’s a competitive advantage. When people from different backgrounds and perspectives come together with a shared purpose, innovation accelerates and culture thrives.” This recognition highlights the contributions of Optiv’s female employees and their allies in creating an inclusive workplace.

Optiv’s initiatives aimed at advancing women in cybersecurity include the Optiv Women’s Network and Lean In Circles, which focus on peer networking and leadership development. Additionally, the company has established a formal mentorship program that has resulted in over 160 mentor pairings across the organization. These efforts are complemented by more than 10,000 live and on-demand training sessions that cover leadership and mentorship.

Inspiring Future Generations

Optiv also sponsors four STEAM Labs located in Denver, Kansas City, Toronto, and Bangalore, aiming to inspire underrepresented youth, particularly young women, to pursue careers in STEM fields. Employee-led initiatives further enhance access to technology education for girls and women, including Optiv’s inaugural all-women hackathon held in India.

Currently, women represent 38% of Optiv’s people leaders and nearly 30% of its total workforce, significantly exceeding industry benchmarks. Heather Rim, Chief Marketing Officer and chair of the Optiv Women’s Network, expressed the significance of the award, stating, “This award is especially meaningful because it celebrates the spirit of connection and leadership that defines Optiv Women’s Network. What started as a grassroots effort has grown to a global employee resource group with more than 300 members — women and allies — who are shaping the future of cybersecurity together.”

Throughout the year, the efforts of women at Optiv have received national recognition, including mentions in the SIA’s Women in Security Forum Power 100 and being named among CRN’s 2025 Women of the Channel. These accolades showcase Optiv’s commitment to promoting women into leadership roles within the cybersecurity industry.

For more updates about Optiv and its initiatives, visit their official website at Optiv Newsroom.