For Joyce Brocaglia, the drive to advance women in cybersecurity has shaped every chapter of her career.
Her journey began long before diversity and inclusion became common industry goals. In 1986, she founded Alta Associates, an executive search firm that would soon play a pivotal role in building the first-ever information security team for Citibank. From there, Alta went on to shape the industry — placing many of the world’s leading CISOs and the teams that power them.
But as her career grew, Brocaglia couldn’t ignore a glaring imbalance. Aware that cybersecurity was a male-dominated field, she founded the Executive Women’s Forum (EWF) in 2002, a global organization “dedicated to engaging, developing, and advancing leaders while fostering inclusion across the fields of cybersecurity, risk management, privacy, governance, compliance, IT audit, and related technologies.”
More than 20 years later, Brocaglia still serves as the CEO of EWF, now part of DSG Global, where she continues to build what she once envisioned: a thriving, connected community of women leaders shaping the future of cybersecurity. Her decades of leadership have earned her recognition as a Power Player in SC Media’s 2025 Women in IT Security program.
“These experiences provided the knowledge and network that built my confidence and fueled me to become an authentic and impactful leader who truly cares about advancing our industry and all its professionals,” she says.
A legacy of impact
Under Brocaglia’s leadership, the EWF has grown into a trusted, global community of leaders from diverse industries, backgrounds, and executive roles. Its guiding belief — that leadership development and cross-industry collaboration drive innovation — has made it a model for organizations seeking to strengthen leadership pipelines and accelerate strategic success.
In 2025 alone, the organization has hosted more than 70 events, from networking receptions and Benefactor meetings to webinars, LinkedIn Live sessions and panel discussions, each designed to spark meaningful conversation and professional growth. Through its Leadership Academy, the EWF delivers workshops and in-house programs tailored to every career stage, from new managers to seasoned executives.
“These are not just events — they are catalysts for careers, conversations, and collaboration,” Brocaglia says.
The group’s influence also extends well beyond its membership. The EWF has presented at industry ISACs to strengthen critical infrastructure, convened experts at the RSA Conference, and collaborated with U.S. congressional staff to advance cybersecurity policy nationwide.
For Brocaglia, that reach reflects the organization’s true purpose.
“That’s what the EWF delivers: not performative allyship, not checkbox inclusion, but authentic human connection. The kind that fosters safety, sparks innovation, and unlocks our greatest potential,” she says.
Leading with courage
Building such a movement required bravery from the start.
“I took a huge risk on what I believed would change the future of women in our field,” Brocaglia recalls.
The financial risks of founding a new organization, the career gamble of stepping back from her full-time job, and the reputational challenge of publicly advocating for women in a male-dominated field all weighed heavily. Yet, despite those fears, Brocaglia pressed forward, driven by the conviction that empowering women leaders would strengthen the cybersecurity field.
That leap of faith proved transformative. Today, the EWF gathers more than 700 women annually at its conference and connects over 25,000 members and 100 corporate Benefactors worldwide.
“I believe that courage is fundamental to igniting change, overcoming obstacles, and pushing boundaries to achieve personal growth — and the collective growth of our EWF community,” she says.
Preparing the next generation
Brocaglia’s focus now turns to the future, including preparing women to lead in the age of AI.
“The EWF’s progress has never been inevitable — it has always been intentional. And now, we must all be more intentional than ever. If we don’t deliberately evolve, we will be left behind,” she says.
That belief is driving a new educational series at EWF on artificial intelligence, complete with training, webinars, and certification opportunities.
“We want our members to be powerful in their careers and in all aspects of their lives,” she says. “Because it’s only when we all step into our power — when we’re brave enough to speak our truths and share our wisdom — that real change happens.”
