Tanya Janca

Tanya Janca, also known as SheHacksPurple, is a highly respected figure in the field of application security and cybersecurity. Here are some key points about her career and achievements:

Career Background

Tanya Janca started her career as a software developer, working for the Canadian Federal Government from 2004 to 2014. She later transitioned into application security, driven by her interest and the mentorship of a penetration tester she met in 2013.4

Roles and Positions

• Founder, CEO, and Security Trainer at We Hack Purple Academy: Tanya established We Hack Purple in 2020, a learning platform dedicated to teaching application security, DevSecOps, and cloud security. She creates and delivers all the content, including in-person and online training and coaching.234
• Head of Education and Community at Semgrep: Since July 2023, Tanya has been leading education and community efforts at Semgrep, focusing on secure coding practices, static analysis, supply chain security, and more.3
• Previous Roles: She has worked as a Senior Cloud Advocate specializing in application security at Microsoft from 2018 to 2019, and held various positions in the Canadian Federal Government and other organizations.3

Achievements and Recognition

• Best-Selling Author: Tanya is the author of several best-selling books, including 'Alice and Bob Learn Secure Coding', 'Alice and Bob Learn Application Security', and 'Cards Against AppSec'.145
• Awards and Honors: She is an OWASP Lifetime Distinguished Member and has been named Hacker of the Year. Tanya has also received numerous other awards for her contributions to the field of cybersecurity.1
• Community and Mentorship: Tanya is known for her commitment to sharing knowledge and has founded several initiatives, including OWASP DevSlop, #CyberMentoringMonday, and WoSEC. She emphasizes the importance of mentoring programs and diversity in the tech industry.124

Education and Skills

• Education: Tanya holds a degree in Computer Engineering Technology from Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology. She also has professional working proficiency in French.3
• Technical Skills: Her expertise includes application security, DevSecOps, cloud security, secure coding, and more. Her background in programming has been instrumental in her transition to and success in application security.24

Advocacy and Community Work

Tanya is a strong advocate for increasing diversity in the tech industry, particularly encouraging more women to pursue careers in cybersecurity. She believes in the importance of inclusive workplaces and has implemented various strategies to support underrepresented groups, including mentoring programs and diversity scholarships.24