The third installation of Channel Women in Security podcast, Cass is joined by the “mother of hackers.” As the founder of Black Girls Hack, Tennisha Martin is on a mission to close the ethical hacker’s skills gap by building the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

In episode 3 of the Channel Women in Security podcast, Cass Cooper interviews Tennisha Martin, the executive director and founder of Black Girls Hack, discussing the importance of ethical hacking and cybersecurity. Martin explains the role of ethical hackers in protecting data and the mission of Black Girls Hack to provide training and resources for underrepresented communities in the cybersecurity field. The discussion emphasizes the need for diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity to improve outcomes for both individuals and the industry.

The transcript of the interview is below.

What exactly is ethical hacking?

Ethical hacking is about performing security testing for an organization—but doing it ethically. When people think of hacking, they often picture it as it’s shown in movies: lots of frantic keyboard clicking and then, “I’m in!” But in reality, it’s more about carefully assessing vulnerabilities in a company’s security posture, ensuring they have the right controls to protect their assets. And the critical difference is that ethical hackers always have written permission from the organization.

Why is ethical hacking so important in cybersecurity?

It’s all about keeping data safe. We hear about breaches almost daily, where personal information gets into the wrong hands and is then misused for phishing or other malicious campaigns. By properly protecting data and systems, companies can safeguard their intellectual property and ensure they can keep doing business. It’s crucial for every organization, regardless of their industry.

Your organization, Black Girls Hack, has grown rapidly and gained a lot of attention. I understand you now have over 2,000 members internationally. Could you tell us a bit more about Black Girls Hack and how it fits into the ethical hacking ecosystem?

Absolutely! Black Girls Hack is a nonprofit that’s open to everyone—our only rule is no jerks allowed. We provide training, resources, and even scholarships to help people reskill or upskill in cybersecurity. We run hands-on labs, study groups, and offer programs for people as young as kindergarteners all the way up to age 17. We want to create a full pipeline for future employment in cybersecurity. Our goal is to bridge the gap between what’s taught in schools and the skills needed for careers in cybersecurity, like penetration testing and ethical hacking.

How does Black Girls Hack align with equity and inclusion efforts in the tech field?

We’re focused on supporting people at all stages of their journey into cybersecurity. We provide mentoring, resume reviews, mock interviews—everything needed to help people feel prepared to enter the field. By training people of color and offering a supportive community, we’re also addressing some of the bias and discrimination issues in the industry. Studies show that more diversity brings better outcomes—financial, social, and beyond. We believe increasing diversity will strengthen cybersecurity as a whole and help improve economics within the Black community.

Where can people find Black Girls Hack online if they want to learn more or get involved?

We’re at blackgirlshack.org, and you can also find us on all social media platforms under @blackgirlshack. We welcome everyone to join—whether you’re looking to volunteer or to upskill and reskill in cybersecurity!

If you’re inspired to learn more about ethical hacking or to get involved, visit blackgirlshack.org