Women Who Lead, Do, and Change: Yevheniia Broshevan

Yevheniia Broshevan is a Forbes “30 Under 30” recognised ethical hacker, crypto-entrepreneur, and the Co-Founder & CEO of Hacken – a blockchain security and compliance powerhouse.

Tell us a bit about yourself, your background, and your current role. 

I am the Co-Founder and CEO of Hacken, an end-to-end blockchain security and compliance partner trusted by more than 1,500 adopters worldwide. My journey began in university labs where I worked on risk modelling for nuclear power plants and applied cryptography to real-world threats. In 2014, I discovered Bitcoin and became involved in early Ripple and Stellar projects. That experience led me to launch Hacken in 2017 with a clear mission to make Web3 safer.

Biggest win, biggest lesson

One of my proudest achievements has been growing Hacken from a small Ukrainian startup into a global leader in blockchain security. We navigated a pandemic, several crypto market cycles, and even the realities of war while continuing to serve our clients and strengthen the industry. Through this journey, I have learned that quality and resilience are more powerful than speed. Success, both in business and in security, comes from being proactive rather than reactive.

Have you faced any career challenges?

There have been moments of significant challenge. During the crypto winter and the COVID-19 pandemic, demand across the industry dropped sharply. Instead of retreating, we used this period to rethink our strategy, focus on transparency, and rebuild Hacken’s positioning. We emerged stronger, with a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer roadmap for growth. That experience taught me that setbacks can become opportunities for reinvention when approached with focus and determination.

Where do you still see gaps or barriers for women in digital, and what one action would accelerate change?

I am deeply committed to closing the gaps for women in digital. There is still underrepresentation at the founder and executive level, a lack of visible role models, and credibility hurdles that women face in this industry. At Hacken, women make up around 50 percent of our leadership team, and I believe meaningful change starts with sponsorship, visibility, and accountability. We must put more women on stage, in decision-making roles, and at the centre of industry standards so that the next generation sees what is possible.

If you had five minutes with a woman just starting her digital career, what would you tell her to focus on first?

My advice to women starting their careers in digital is to stop waiting for permission. Begin contributing, share your work openly, and build a strong circle of mentors, peers, and communities. Growth accelerates when you surround yourself with people who push you forward, and confidence comes from outcomes, not titles.

What do you think companies can do to support career progress for women working in digital roles?

For companies, progress requires intention. Businesses should set clear growth paths, combine mentorship with sponsorship, and hire based on potential as much as experience. Flexibility should be treated as standard, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts must be tied to business outcomes rather than treated as side initiatives.

What three digital tools or platforms could you not run your work without?

On the operational side:

• Jira for tracking complex projects.
• Confluence for centralising knowledge.
• LinkedIn as a signal channel to stay connected with industry peers and developments.  

In the next 12 months, which emerging trend or shift should our community keep on their radar?

Looking ahead, I believe access control failures will continue to be the leading cause of security breaches, which means companies must govern keys and roles as if their survival depends on it. AI security is also moving from theory into reality as new risks around large language models and autonomous agents emerge. Meanwhile, global regulation is accelerating with frameworks such as MiCA, DORA, and the EU AI Act, and security and compliance are converging into a single operating model. At Hacken, we are committed to leading in this space and supporting the next generation of innovators as they build securely.