Dr. Cheryl Cooper

Dr. Cheryl Cooper is a cybersecurity leader, U.S. Navy veteran, and bestselling author with a career spanning more than two decades at the intersection of technology, governance, and advocacy. Cooper holds a doctorate in computer science with a concentration in information assurance. Her professional experience includes roles at Sprint and T-Mobile, where she earned CISSP and CDPSE certifications and spent a decade teaching cybersecurity. As a former business information security officer, she served with a major Fortune 50 company for 20 years.

Cooper holds several industry certifications, including CISSP, CISSA, and CDPSE, and serves as an adjunct professor, providing practical and academic instruction in cybersecurity degree programs. She brings technical expertise, business strategy, and human-centered cyber leadership to her consulting work, partnering with small and medium-sized businesses, SaaS startups, and regulated organizations to reduce risk, strengthen compliance, and build effective cybersecurity programs. She has spoken at events and conferences, including the Women in Telecom Conference following the September 11 attacks, where she shared lessons learned.

As an author, Cooper has written the memoir "Hood to Hooded: A Black Woman's Choice to Rise," which draws on her experience of not having a mentor and highlights the importance of supporting mentoring for marginalized young women and girls. The book explores racial and gender bias in corporate America. She is also a co-author of the anthology "Our Stories Belong in History," a collection that brings together the voices of three generations of Black and Latina U.S. women executive leaders sharing their stories of overcoming adversity. Her TEDx talk at TEDxBazeUniversity further demonstrates her ability to engage audiences as a global cybersecurity leader and author.

Beyond her corporate and literary work, Cooper advocates for diversity in STEM. She is the founder and president of Women in Security Mentors, an organization dedicated to promoting women and minorities in STEM careers through workshops, summits, and training. As a keynote speaker, she provides insight into the importance of mentors, allies, and the representation of women—particularly women of color and underrepresented groups—in STEM. Cooper has received multiple awards, including the Central Exchange Midwest award for championing women and the Golden Royalties Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for contributions to education and community service. Her ability to translate complex cybersecurity concepts into accessible narratives positions her as a recognized voice for organizations and audiences worldwide.