KnowBe4 partners with the Center for Cyber Safety and Education to bolster women in cybersecurity
KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, today announced Sara Takhim as the recipient of its 2023 Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship in partnership with the Center for Cyber Safety and Education.
The KnowBe4 Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship offers $10,000 to be applied to tuition, fees, books and required electronics for the recipient. Additionally, up to $3,000 may be applied to on-campus housing. Applicants were evaluated based on the following criteria: passion, merit and financial need.
This year’s scholarship recipient, Sara Takhim, is a third year student at Northwestern University. Her interest in a career in cybersecurity at a young age and her impressive academic resume significantly contributed to her receiving this scholarship. This includes being the president of the Northeastern University Women in Tech Club, interning as a cybersecurity consultant co-op with IBM, co-founding a program in her hometown to teach children with disabilities how to code, the numerous advanced cybersecurity courses she has taken and much more. Additionally, Takhim acknowledges the importance of diversity in the industry and plans to pay it forward via mentorship, speaking engagements, volunteering and donating to initiatives once she is established in her career.
“KnowBe4 is thrilled to once again offer our Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship in partnership with the Center for Cyber Safety and Education for the fourth consecutive year,” said Kelly Barrena, VP of global talent brand and outreach, KnowBe4. “Sara’s passion for cybersecurity pairs well with her dedication to pursue her degree while also being involved in extracurriculars. She is committed to honing her skills in order to become a leader and make a meaningful impact in this industry. Sara is an ambitious student and a deserving scholarship recipient with a bright future ahead of her.”
“The KnowBe4 scholarship will go straight towards my tuition, so this will help supplement my tuition payments and alleviate some of the costs,” said Takhim. “With these costs eliminated, I can focus on my career and other cybersecurity interests, and spend any additional money on certificates, attending workshops and conferences. This scholarship will allow me to focus more on my classes and work and less on paying the tuition bill. Additionally, this scholarship provides an opportunity to diversify the industry with women who can bring a wider range of perspectives and skill sets. Promoting diversity of thought and mindset can lead to better innovation in the future and contribute to filling the gender gap in tech in general, which motivates me to fight for everyone to have a space in the cybersecurity industry. A big thanks to KnowBe4 for selecting me to receive this scholarship!”
For more information on the KnowBe4 Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship, visit https://iamcybersafe.org/s/knowbe4-womens-cyber-scholarships.
About KnowBe4
KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 60,000 organizations around the globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness about ransomware, CEO fraud and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to awareness training on security. Kevin Mitnick, an internationally recognized cybersecurity specialist and KnowBe4’s Chief Hacking Officer, helped design the KnowBe4 training based on his well-documented social engineering tactics. Tens of thousands of organizations rely on KnowBe4 to mobilize their end users as their last line of defense.
About Center for Cyber Safety and Education
The Center for Cyber Safety and Education (Center), is a non-profit charitable trust committed to making the cyber world a safer place for everyone. The Center works to ensure that people across the globe have a positive and safe experience online through their educational programs, scholarships, and research. Visit www.IAmCyberSafe.org.
