Table of contents
- A victory that breaks stereotypes
- “I proved that girls can win too”
- Francesca’s future in cyber security
- An inspiration for future generations
A victory that breaks stereotypes
The world of cyber security is often seen as male-dominated, but Francesca Villa Castro has proven that girls can excel in this field too.
A student in her final year at ISIS Bernocchi in Legnano, she won the Cyber Security challenge at the IT Academy Day 2025, an event organized by Cisco’s Junior IT Academy.
The competition took place on Monday, February 10, at the NH Congress Center in Assago, where students competed in various tech challenges.
Francesca participated in the hacking simulation, which required contestants to find nine hidden keys on a specially designed website in the shortest possible time. She was the first to complete the challenge, earning the title of Cyber Queen and surpassing all her competitors.
“I proved that girls can win too”
“It was an incredible feeling” – says Francesca – “I was the only girl in the challenge, and I came in first! I’ve been passionate about cyber security for years, but I always felt it was considered a ‘male’ field. My victory proves that women have what it takes to succeed in this sector.”
This wasn’t an isolated case: in the networking challenge, another young woman took first place, despite the fact that female participants made up only 10% of the competitors. These results confirm that talent knows no gender and that more women can excel in cyber security.
Francesca’s future in cyber security
This experience helped Francesca clarify her future career path: “The IT Academy Day was amazing; it helped me understand what I want to do. I’m not the top student in my class, but these competitions allow me to prove my skills in a practical setting.”
Looking ahead, she is already researching post-diploma courses in cyber security, including those offered by the Academy, with the goal of specializing in cyber attack analysis.
An inspiration for future generations
Francesca’s victory has made her school and teachers proud. “We are extremely proud of her” – said Principal Elena Maria D’Ambrosio – “She is an inspiration to other young women who wish to enter the tech world. There are no gender barriers when it comes to choosing your future: what matters is dedication, passion, and determination.”
Teachers Roberto Albé and Riccardo Andronaco, who accompanied the students to the competition, also expressed their satisfaction with Francesca’s success. They hope that more young women will be encouraged to explore the cyber security field.
