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Women in science and tech.
Each partner of the CONSOLE Project actively promotes gender balance and equal opportunities for women in science and technology. This is why each issue of the CONSOLE Newsletter will include a section on Women in science and tech. Our first guest is Ourania MANTA.
What inspired you to pursue a career in cybersecurity and software development, and please name one significant challenge you have faced as a woman in this field?
Technology has always been a tool for progress, and I was drawn to it because of its power to shape the future. Coming from a background in biomedical engineering and data science, I quickly saw how cybersecurity is not just about protecting systems but also about safeguarding people, their rights, and their access to information. The digital world should be a space of security and inclusion, not of exclusion and gatekeeping.
I personally have been fortunate to work in environments where my skills and expertise were valued. However, in conversations with other women in tech, I have witnessed the additional hurdles many have had to overcome—whether that’s being underestimated, having their contributions questioned, or being one of the few women in the room. These experiences reinforce why it’s crucial to keep breaking down barriers so that future generations of women in STEM enter a world where they don’t have to "prove" they belong.
Ourania works as a Project Manager for CyberAlytics Limited, and she holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering NTUA
EU-funded projects like CONSOLE aim to drive innovation in cybersecurity. From your experience, what’s one key area where greater inclusion of women could make a tangible impact in strengthening Europe’s digital resilience?
Cybersecurity, like all fields, benefits from diversity—not just because it’s fair, but because it’s necessary. When only a limited group of people shape digital security policies, tools, and infrastructures, blind spots emerge. Inclusion is not about giving women a “chance”; it’s about recognising that without us, the picture is incomplete.
A key area where greater gender balance is needed is decision-making and leadership. Women must be at the table where policies are shaped, risks are assessed, and strategies are built. We don’t just need more women in cybersecurity—we need more women leading cybersecurity. If Europe wants true digital resilience, it must be built by a workforce that reflects the full spectrum of talent, intelligence, and perspective that society has to offer.
If you could choose one book to recommend to our readers, what would that book be and why?
I would recommend "Girl, Woman, Other" by Bernardine Evaristo. This novel tells the interconnected stories of twelve women, each navigating the world in her own way, yet bound by shared experiences of identity, struggle, and ambition. It’s a book that challenges assumptions, dismantles stereotypes, and highlights the strength that comes from embracing complexity.
Just as in tech and cybersecurity, where diverse perspectives are essential for progress, this book highlights the importance of amplifying voices that have historically been overlooked. Representation matters—not just in literature but in every field where decisions are made, innovations are developed, and systems are built. This book is a reminder that the world does not move forward by following a single narrative but by uplifting many.
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