Technical excellence opens the door in cybersecurity but it doesn’t guarantee influence, visibility, or impact. Many women in cybersecurity are highly skilled, certified, and experienced, yet still find themselves talked over, second-guessed, or quietly sidelined in critical conversations. Over time, this silence doesn’t just stall careers it weakens teams and compromises security outcomes. In this powerful and honest talk, Zinet Kemal shares her journey from career changer to senior cloud security engineer, revealing the unseen challenges of navigating high-stakes technical environments where voice, confidence, and presence matter as much as credentials. This session explores why technical spaces often silence voices, how shrinking becomes normalized, and why speaking up in cybersecurity is not about personality rather a professional responsibility. Attendees will gain practical, actionable strategies to use their voice effectively in meetings, and risk discussions without burning out or feeling pressured to “perform” confidence.