Karen Kabel, Associate Dean of Creative Arts & Applied Computer Education (ACE) at RRC Polytech has the encryption key to success when it comes to cybersecurity and was recently recognized as one of Canada’s top women in the field by IT World Canada.

Kabel joins twenty leading experts who were recently honoured at the IT World Canada Top Women in Cybersecurity celebration, Surpassing Expectations. The event hosted a group of women who excel in the various cybersecurity disciplines for organizations such as Microsoft, IBM Deloitte, Scotiabank, the Government of Canada, National Microbiology Lab, and RRC Polytech.

“When I entered the cybersecurity industry, I was one of the first women, so it’s incredible to join twenty of the best in this field from across Canada for this prestigious recognition,” said Kabel. “I’ve always had a passion for encouraging and mentoring women to become interested and certified, and one of the other recipients was someone I helped receive their certification, so it made this experience even more special.”

IT World Canada is an organization committed to supporting diversity and inclusion in the IT sector. The Top Women in Cybersecurity event was created by IT World Canada (ITWC) in association with the Women in Security & Resilience Alliance (WISECRA) and the Canadian Women in Security Forum to recognize women who have advanced the Canadian security industry.

IT World Canada hopes that by recognizing Canada’s top women in cybersecurity it will not only highlight the diverse talents within Canada but also serve as a source of inspiration for aspiring young women. Something IT World Canada and Karen Kabel have in common.

As the Associate Dean of Creative Arts and ACE at RRC Polytech, Kabel has dedicated her career to the cybersecurity field and today, helps inspire the next generation of learners. With a career spanning Canada and Europe, Karen has provided essential security services to multiple companies. She believes that learning about cybersecurity education can start as early as kindergarten and continue throughout a lifetime, and she volunteers her time to train and mentor individuals in the field.

“There is a shortage of women in this industry, so I have always strived to encourage others to consider this path and done whatever I can to support their training along the way – whether it was hosting study groups with pizza or mentoring through the certification process,” said Kabel.

Kabel came to RRC Polytech as an Information Security program instructor in 2018 and became the Chair of Applied Computer Education in 2020, where she helped expand the IT program portfolio to include several new programs. In partnership with the School of Indigenous Education, Kabel helped co-create a new Indigenous IT Pathway program and led the development of three new diploma programs including Data Science and Machine Learning, IT Operations and Application Development & Delivery. She was named Associate Dean of Creative Arts and ACE in January 2023.

As a woman in cybersecurity, Karen advocates for more female representation, highlighting their multitasking abilities and stress-handling skills.

“People have always asked me how I can stay so calm and work under stress – which is key if you work in this industry. I always credit my job of being a mom and raising four children into adulthood, said Kabel. “As a parent you are always prioritizing, problem solving, and trying to remain calm under pressure, and these are strategies that I’ve tried to bring from my home life into the working environment.” 

There are currently 25,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions in Canada and the gap is widening. Kabel says RRC Polytech is encouraging more women to enter the field through a training and work-integrated learning pilot with the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) and Microsoft.

The pilot will recruit 20 students who are women or who identify as women in RRC Polytech’s Information Technology programs to acquire foundational Microsoft Cybersecurity training and certification, mentorship, and experiential work-integrated learning – all at no cost to the student.

To learn more about the ICTC and Microsoft Cybersecurity Training Pilot, or to register, click here.