As a force within the tech space, attorney and executive, Camille Stewart has had many roles. In the leading government and private sector, she’s worked for companies such as Deloitte, Google, and the Department of Homeland Security.

A woman of many hats, Stewart uses her knowledge in cyber, national security, and complex technology to serve as a guiding force to the way that we navigate through privacy, global cybersecurity, and election security/integrity.

AfroTech sat down with the cybersecurity expert to discuss the importance of safe cyber practices, how to apply those same practices to our everyday lives, and her passion for creating opportunities for people in spaces where individuals don’t always look like them.

Importance of National Security Issues

As the former Senior Policy Advisor for Cyber, Infrastructure & Resilience Policy at the Department of Homeland Security, Stewart is no stranger to why our national security is something everyone should take seriously.

Appointed by former President Barack Obama, Stewart shares her most memorable contributions to Cyber Security Policies under his administration.

“Serving a president whose policies and positions you really believe in is a lot of work, but also extremely rewarding,” Stewart said. “The mission around the work we were doing was something I was extremely passionate about.”

Stewart hones in on the fact that cybersecurity is one of those areas that is very human-focused where everyone has a specific role to play. She encourages us all to have strong cybersecurity hygiene practices like the use of a password manager and being cautious about who can see and access our information.

Passion For Diversifying the Cyber Space

Today, Stewart is the Head of Security Policy for Google Play and Android at Google where she leads everything from security to dis/misinformation. Here she focuses on the mobile experience so if you have an android phone, her responsibility is to ensure there are policies in place for how developers and applications can get access to your information.

She is most passionate about helping other women and people who look like her level-up in cyberspaces where she says there’s still a lot of work to do when it comes to diversity and inclusion.

“Eradicating systemic racism is vital to our success,” Stewart said. “Technology does not work as well as it should because there is still bias wrapped up in it.”

One way Stewart is pushing for change is through her Share The Mic In Cyber campaign on social media that she says is all “about amplifying Black cyber practitioners in the wake of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and beyond and ensuring that people are putting action behind their words to do better.” Stewart says she does not want cyber to be left out of those initiatives for diversity.

View this post on Instagram

People have asked if #ShareTheMicInCyber is a “solution” to systemic racism. The answer is NO but YOU can be! This campaign is an opportunity to empower individuals in #cyber to understand their a role in changing our industry. I continue to hope this is a catalyst for action. @lzxdc & I are so proud if this work and grateful for each participant, the organization & individual support across the industry, & Katelyn & Prachi for dedicating their time & talent to help. #ShareTheMicInCyber is a movement. Thank you for believing in that! Look at this reach! ??????????

A post shared by Camille (@camilleesq) on Oct 26, 2020 at 3:01pm PDT

“We’re not doing the job right if we’re not diverse and not paying attention to race,” said Stewart.

She has also partnered with Aspen Digital to bring together a number of cyber practitioners from the majority to the minority leaders, junior folks, senior folks, you name it, to help them pay attention to the issues involving race and lack of diversity in the space.

Stewart also sits on the Board of Directors for Girl Security and is a member of the advisory board for Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security & Conflict Roles where she aims to “empower underrepresented voices.”

For more on Camille Stewart, click here.

Girl Security

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