LIFT

Empowered by Women in Security, A Fresh Approach for Advancing All Women in Cyber.  LIFT operates through guiding principles based on making our industry better; Learn and Listen, Impact and Inclusivity, Focus on the future, and accomplish our goals Together.     

Mission: LIFT is dedicated to bringing together professionals to support and advance opportunities for women who wish to pursue and grow a career in cybersecurity.

Vision: To increase representation of women in cybersecurity -and- to advance diversity, leadership, and professional development of women.

Thanks for your interest in LIFT

LIFT Events

Upcoming 2024 Events: Trivia Night | Hike Series | Golf Series | Mentorship | Sip & Paint

Trivia June 11th, 7-9:15pm at Reivers Bar & Grill, near Washington Park in Denver

Hike Series

  1. Spring Hike: May 16th, Thursday, 4pm at Deer Creek Canyon, 13896 Grizzly Dr, Littleton, CO. Meet at parking lot.

    • Meadowlark Trail & Plymouth Creek Trail

  2. Summer Hike: July 14th, Sunday, two hikes at Eldorado Springs

    • 7am (longer): South Mesa Trailhead > Mesa Trail > Towhee > Homestead to canyon, 3 mile one way down & back

    • 8am (shorter): Doudy Draw Trailhead, 5 mile loop

  3. Fall Hike: September 29th, Sunday, 11am, at Guanella Pass

Past 2023-24 Events

Feb 2, 2024: JeffCon Student Technology Conference, event for high school students. We’ll have a booth from 11am-1pm.

Dec 12, 2023: Holiday Party at Tivoli Brewery, 900 Auraria Pkwy Ste 240, Denver, CO 80204.

Nov 30: Yoga & 30 Days of Gratitude at RiNo Yoga Social, 3101 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205.

Oct 12: Webinar: Empowering Your Career Journey - Insights from an Accomplished Woman Leader. 

Aug 28: Sept 25th: Golf. Theme: Finding your voice in a room full of men.

Jun 28: Hike & Picnic at Deer Creek Canyon Park, 13388 Grizzly Drive, Littleton, CO 80127.

The LIFT Mentorship Program.

This program is designed to build meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships between women in the Colorado cybersecurity community. Women supporting women through mentorship is taken to a new level where mentors and mentees can work together to better their careers and open their minds to new ideas and possibilities!

Guides and tools will be provided to mentors and mentees to use for the meetings.

Applications & matching will open this spring.

    • Open to all LIFT members (Join LIFT for free by emailing membership.lift@gmail.com)

    • Program runs June - December, 2024

    *Minimum commitment is 30-60 minutes a month

    • Shape the next generation of women leaders in cybersecurity

    • Close criticals skills gaps in leadership and advisory

    • Gain new perspectives 

    • Opportunity to give back to the community and share knowledge

    • Make a difference in someone’s life & career

    • Networking opportunity

    • Gain practical advice and support from women leaders

    • Increased self-confidence

    • Sharpen professional development skills

    • Leadership skills development

    • Career planning & guidance

LIFTSQUAD Board Members

  • Kit Barwick

  • Yvette Florez

  • Mary Hayden

  • Heather Hobson

  • Erika Jones

  • Billie Mohrbach

  • Quintana Patterson

  • Mallory Rubbo

  • Yiping Sun

FAQs

What’s with the logo? Our logo consists of an uplifted open hand that both gives and receives as well as upholds.  The colors are both distinct and overlapping, representing the power of difference when we are truly inclusive. As we collaborate and take collective action.  The CSA cloud is the future of computing – a neutral community that creates opportunities for computing professionals to go as far and as high as they wish. 

What is your motto? Driven by showcasing our collective communities to further the advancement for all, our motto is "When We Lift One, We All Rise."  

Is it free to join? Yes, free. To remove any barrier to entry, LIFT will not have membership fees.   

Who is LIFT? LIFT is a group of security technologists from different backgrounds, different roles, different generations dedicated to advancing the leadership, solidarity, and professional development of women.  

Thanks to our Co-Founders Sara Avery (‘21-23), Dana Sanchez (‘21-23), Stephanie Jasper (‘21-23), Susan Bullwinkle (‘21-22), Amber Devilbiss (‘21-’22), Angela Sims (‘21-22), & Karen Worstell (‘21-22). Board member Larisa Thomas (2023).

Who does LIFT serve?

  • We recognize and celebrate all levels of technologists, from those just starting their education to retention in the workforce, or returning to the workforce post-pandemic or through hybrid work opportunities. 

  • Women who wish to pursue and/or grow a career in cybersecurity

  • We focus on serving diverse mid-career cybersecurity women who are seeking to breakthrough the barriers to senior and C-level leadership as well as BoD positions.

  • We focus on on career development for those already in the field while also ensuring we help retain the talent of women currently in field.

  • Enable Future generations through our mentorship program to lead when it is our time to pass the baton.

  • Covid career casualties – to bring back to workforce in a capacity that works for them.

  • We work within LIFT and through partnerships focused on illuminating pathways to leadership for all including:

  • Women in Underrepresented groups. The latest statistics on demographics in cybersecurity are troubling: according to the Aspen Digital Tech Policy hub’s latest report, underrepresented groups such as Black (9%), Hispanic (4%) and Asian (8%) professionals make up an increasingly low percentage of the industry,

  • LGBTQIA+.

  • Female Veterans.

Why was LIFT created?

The problem we seek to solve: We work to increase the representation of women at senior levels of leadership in cybersecurity.

 We do this by hosting gatherings on a variety of topics, speakers, and locations. 

•Pipeline development of talent new to the industry

•Addressing both structural and personal barriers throughout the employment lifecycle 

•Increasing access to mentorship and sponsorship

•Intentional networking

 Personal and Professional Development

Technical Training, Education

Diversity: As allies and advocates, LIFT recognizes that vibrant, diverse, and inclusive work communities create a stronger, more collaborative culture and levels the playing field for everyone. We believe that together through the power of our diversity, the spectrum of talent and perspective is critical to positive business outcomes. 

Founding Sponsors