By Una Pulizzi, President of Kyndryl Foundation and Global Head of Corporate Affairs at Kyndryl
In an era of rapid advancement, we are all tasked with keeping up with an evolving technological landscape.
That work necessarily begins with people. Whether it’s through formal training programs, mentorship initiatives, or experiential learning opportunities, there is no downplaying the importance of ensuring we remain resilient and equipped to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
For example, there is no more urgent issue than cybersecurity — which has become a global concern among private- and public-sector organizations, governments and the population at large. According to a Kyndryl survey, 92% of organizations said they experienced an adverse cybersecurity event in the past two years that compromised or disrupted their IT systems.
Cybercriminals act on a variety of motivations, from profit to disruption of commercial and civic operations, to political and economic manipulation. They target those that they deem vulnerable. Organizations that are unprepared to defend against and recover from cyberattacks — an approach that combines cybersecurity with business continuity and disaster recovery — will be vulnerable to data theft and institutional paralysis.
The need for a more skilled workforce to help combat these threats that are costly to businesses has never been greater, so addressing the tech inequities in underserved communities around the globe is an opportunity that benefits us all.
That’s why the Kyndryl Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that work with historically underserved communities to build cybersecurity skills and advance career development in security and related disciplines. It’s an approach that embraces the idea that tomorrow’s skilled professionals should bring diversity of thought and experience. And it makes sense. Security is not necessarily about the credentials a person obtains — it's about an ability to think about risk in a different way. That’s how you outsmart increasingly clever bad actors. In addition to skills development, the Foundation’s grants will enable our nonprofit recipients to become more cybersecure and resilient.
We launched the Foundation in September 2023, just two years into our journey as an independent company. The Kyndryl Foundation’s grantee selection process is rigorous. We received excellent applications this year and made 11 awards across two categories: Growing an Inclusive Cybersecurity Workforce and Preparing Nonprofits to be Cyberattack Smart. We awarded grants to organizations in Australia, Czechia (Czech Republic), Hungary, India, Japan, Poland and the U.S.
Congratulations to our new partners.
