• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Tech

Prominent Tech Conference Faces Backlash for Keynote Lineup: 19 Men, 1 Woman

By
Verne Kopytoff
Verne Kopytoff
Senior Editor, Tech
By
Verne Kopytoff
Verne Kopytoff
Senior Editor, Tech
March 1, 2018, 8:16 PM ET

One of the most prominent technology conferences has 19 men scheduled as keynote speakers out of 20 total, highlighting the continued challenges the industry faces with diversity.

The one lone woman keynote speaker at RSA, a computer security conference to be held in San Francisco next month, is Monica Lewinsky, who has become an anti cyber-bullying activist after her role in President Bill Clinton’s impeachment.

The tech industry has faced intense criticism for its lack of gender diversity at conferences. In January, CES, the electronics trade show in Las Vegas, faced similar complaints for the skewed gender makeup of its solo keynote speakers, all of whom were men.

Fortune contacted RSA for comment and will update this post if it receives a response.

RSA told news site Axios that 20% of its overall speakers will be women, albeit in less prominent roles. “This year, RSA Conference will feature more than 130 female speakers tackling everything from data integrity to hybrid clouds to application security, among other topics,” the organizers told Axios.

They also pointed out to USA Today that the conference keynote lineup is not yet final and other speakers may be added later. Additionally, it shifted some of the blame to the technology industry itself, in which women fill a minority of technical roles including in the computer security field.

About the Author
By Verne KopytoffSenior Editor, Tech
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Verne Kopytoff is a senior editor at Fortune overseeing trends in the tech industry. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.