Empowering Women in Cybersecurity: Register for the 2025 Glass Firewall Conference

Breaking barriers. Building connections. Elevating the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

The Glass Firewall Conference is back for another year. On October 23, 2025 in Austin, join Capital One, GitHub, Salesforce, and HackerOne for this free event designed to inspire, educate, and empower women interested in security research and cybersecurity.

Following the success of last year’s conference, which featured hands-on workshops, engaging panel discussions, and networking opportunities, we’re expanding our reach to bring even more women into the cybersecurity community.

We spoke with Kate Torelli, Capital One's Bug Bounty Program Lead, and Jessica Sexton, HackerOne’s Senior Director of Community, to discuss the motivations behind the Glass Firewall Conference, its impact, and their hopes for the future of inclusion in cybersecurity.

The Motivation Behind Glass Firewall

The idea for Glass Firewall took root during conversations between women leaders at Capital One, HackerOne, GitHub, and Salesforce, realizing the lack of women security researchers in security programs.

“We started to think about the reasons for that and figure out what we could do to encourage more women to enter this space. It's important to me to empower and enable other women to pursue ethical hacking and security testing as a career or hobby.”

—Kate Torelli, Capital One's Bug Bounty Program Lead

Sexton adds that the concept for the conference was born from discussion during the Hacker & Technical Advisory Board Summit.

“That conversation highlighted the magic of a strong community where diverse backgrounds, shared experiences, and mutual encouragement come together to create something truly impactful,” she said.

By creating an accessible, inclusive space, the Glass Firewall Conference is helping to lower barriers and build a more substantial pipeline of women in cybersecurity.

Highlights of the 2024 Conference

On November 1, 2024, women and allies from across the cybersecurity industry gathered at the University of Maryland in College Park to participate in the second annual Glass Firewall Conference: Breaking Bytes and Barriers.

Last year’s event offered a dynamic lineup of workshops, panel discussions, and hands-on challenges to make ethical hacking and cybersecurity more accessible. The goal? To equip women with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to explore opportunities in bug bounty programs and beyond.

One of the most impactful moments for Torelli came from the conversations she had with attendees.

“Everyone I spoke to said that this type of conference was in short supply and very much needed,” she said. “They all expressed interest in security testing but said they honestly didn't know where to start and that forums such as this were incredibly helpful in providing that foundation.”

Sexton emphasized the importance of building partnerships with universities and local organizations, noting that collaborations with women-in-cyber clubs both enriched the experience and broadened engagement.

“Looking ahead, I’m eager to expand this model to reach even more people,” she said.

The conference sessions embodied a spirit of collaboration and knowledge-sharing, offering a blend of technical and leadership-focused topics. Highlights included:

• An introduction to vulnerabilities and OWASP with Dr. Hanan Hibshi, professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Information Networking Institute
• A recon workshop led by security researcher Gunner Andrews (@g0lden)
• A session on web vulnerabilities with security researcher Jasmin Landry (@JR0ch17)
• A hands-on team workshop on hardware led by Catherine Cassell (@plutonianfern)

The event wrapped up with a Women in Security leadership panel, providing attendees with valuable insights on career growth and overcoming barriers in cybersecurity.

The Importance of Inclusivity in Bug Bounty Programs

Despite progress, fewer women are represented in cybersecurity and bug bounty programs. Events like Glass Firewall aim to change that by providing an inclusive, welcoming environment where women can explore ethical hacking without fear of judgment or intimidation.

“There is a perceived high barrier to entry into the ethical hacking community, and with so many accomplished and public security researchers, it can seem inaccessible and daunting,” Torelli said. “We aim to show women that anyone with any background can learn to hack, and by providing them with the foundations, we're empowering them to get started.”

Events like Glass Firewall help reshape the cybersecurity industry by amplifying diverse voices, Sexton said, creating hands-on learning opportunities, and building inclusive communities. 

“These events lower barriers, empower individuals, and demonstrate that representation matters.”

—Jessica Sexton, HackerOne’s Senior Director of Community

Join us in 2025

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your technical skills, learn from experienced security professionals, or build meaningful connections, Glass Firewall is your chance to be part of a movement that’s reshaping the future of security through inclusion and innovation.

Follow our 2025 Glass Firewall Conference: Breaking Bytes and Barriers page for more details on the upcoming event.

Register for free now