In an industry still dominated by men, May Chen-Contino is rewriting what cybersecurity leadership looks like. As CEO of Unit 221B, a women-led cybersecurity firm, she helps enterprises and law enforcement fight cybercriminals who move seamlessly between online and real-world crimes. With a $5 million seed round led by J2 Ventures, Chen-Contino is scaling a company that pairs technical mastery with social purpose.
Cybercrime has become a global industry—one projected by Cybersecurity Ventures to cost companies $10.5 trillion in 2025—and threatens both privacy and safety. Unit 221B is part of a new generation of women-led cybersecurity companies focused on threat disruption rather than passive monitoring.
Chen-Contino’s path to cybersecurity was unconventional. After a career in enterprise marketing, she sought work that combined business impact with social mission. A lifelong martial-arts practitioner and self-defense instructor, she saw parallels between physical and digital defense.
Research shows women bring distinct strengths to cybersecurity leadership: broader problem-solving perspectives, balanced risk assessment, and a stronger emphasis on ethics and collaboration—qualities that foster innovation, resilience, and trust. Teams with women in leadership are also more likely to adopt proactive strategies, improve risk prioritization, and close the communication gaps that often lead to breaches.
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