BlackGirlsHack swaps SquadCon for support-focused edition

BlackGirlsHack has replaced its annual in-person SquadCon conference with Squad Support Edition, a support-focused programme combining scholarships, virtual training and community events during the cybersecurity conference season in Las Vegas.

The new format is designed to remove barriers for members who are unemployed or underemployed. It centres on four elements: financial scholarships, a free global virtual event, an onsite community gathering and a recruitment session led by a new adviser with technology hiring experience.

Instead of holding its usual in-person conference, BlackGirlsHack is directing funds towards practical support for participants. The scholarship scheme will provide financial help tailored to individual needs, including lodging for cybersecurity events, certification exams, study materials and other urgent costs.

The virtual programme will run over two days and be open globally at no charge. It will feature a Capture the Flag competition, technical workshops and a job fair focused on workforce development, giving attendees access to skills training and direct contact with employers.

A separate onsite pool event will give members and allies a place to meet during a week that draws large numbers of cybersecurity professionals to Las Vegas. The gathering will return to the Sahara Hotel and Casino.

Funding push

The group is seeking USD $10,000 in sponsor backing for exam vouchers, study materials and operating costs. It is also building a scholarship fund to cover a wider range of needs for members facing unemployment or underemployment, including bills and books as well as travel and certification support.

BlackGirlsHack aims to help 100 community members gain certifications through the initiative. The goal reflects the growing importance of professional certifications in cybersecurity hiring, where candidates often use them to show practical knowledge alongside formal education and job experience.

The recruitment and career positioning session will be led by BlackGirlsHack's newest adviser. The organisation says it is designed to explain how recruiters and hiring managers assess candidates and how engineers can present themselves more effectively in a difficult job market for many early-career and mid-career technology workers.

BlackGirlsHack describes itself as a community-led organisation focused on representation and access in cybersecurity. The move away from a traditional conference format points to a broader recalibration by community groups weighing the cost of in-person events against more direct forms of member support.

In cybersecurity, access costs can be substantial even before training begins. Travel, hotel bills, conference tickets, exam fees and study materials create high barriers to entry, especially for people trying to move into the sector or return after periods of unstable employment.

Employers across the industry have also increased their use of practical assessments, portfolio work and recognised certifications when screening candidates. That has created new openings for non-traditional entrants, but it has also made exam costs and access to preparation resources a more urgent issue for community organisations trying to widen participation.

Direct support

The decision to pivot SquadCon towards direct assistance comes as many technology workers continue to face uneven hiring conditions. Although cybersecurity is often portrayed as a sector with persistent skills shortages, jobseekers still face obstacles related to networks, credentials, geography and the cost of attending key industry gatherings.

BlackGirlsHack says its revised model is intended to meet members where they are rather than expect them to absorb those costs alone. By combining online sessions with targeted financial aid, the organisation is trying to create a lower-cost route into networking, certification and hiring opportunities.

Rebekah Skeete, Chief Executive Officer of BlackGirlsHack, described the shift as a deliberate move away from the usual conference model. "This year, SquadCon isn't taking the stage; we're putting the resources directly in your hands," Skeete said.

She added: "In order to unlock access, we're handing out the keys."