Tanya Janca
Application Security Expert, Entrepreneur, and Advocate
Tanya Janca is the best-selling author of ‘Alice and Bob Learn Secure Coding’, and ‘Alice and Bob Learn Application Security’. Over her 28-year IT career she has won countless awards (including OWASP Lifetime Distinguished Member and Hacker of the Year), spoken all over the planet, and is a prolific blogger. Tanya has trained thousands of software developers and IT security professionals, via her online academies (We Hack Purple and Semgrep Academy), and her live training programs. Having performed counter-terrorism, led security for the 52nd Canadian general election, developed or secured countless applications, Tanya Janca is widely considered an international authority on the security of software.
On a personal level, Tanya enjoys gardening, travel, and spending time with friends and family.
English is Tanya’s first language, mais elle parle aussi couramment le français.
Experience
Secure Coding Trainer (2020 – Present)
Tanya Janca is the founder and primary instructor at SheHacksPurple Training, an initiative dedicated to providing live security training for software developers and security professionals. Her courses cover a wide array of topics, including securing web applications, APIs, mobile platforms, and serverless architectures, with deep dives into various programming languages and frameworks. Janca’s teaching methodology emphasizes long-term knowledge retention through micro-breaks, recall exercises, cheat sheets, quizzes, and practical application of concepts. Her engaging presentation style, infused with humour, makes complex security topics accessible and enjoyable for learners.
Developer Relations – Semgrep (2023 – present)
In this role, Tanya is responsible for increasing awareness and adoption of Semgrep’s vision and products among the application security (AppSec) community, speaking at industry events on their behalf, and growing the Semgrep community .
CEO and Founder – We Hack Purple (2020-2023)
We Hack Purple was an online learning academy and community focused on teaching secure software development practices. In this role, she was responsible for creating and delivering educational content, organizing community events, and fostering a collaborative environment for individuals interested in application security. Under her leadership, We Hack Purple offered courses on topics such as secure coding, DevSecOps, and cloud security, aiming to make application security knowledge more accessible to a broader audience.
In August 2023, We Hack Purple merged with Semgrep, where Tanya took on the role of Head of Education and Community. This transition allowed her to expand her educational initiatives and offer more free content, events, and training to the application security community.
Senior Cloud Advocate – Microsoft (2018-2019)
Tanya focused on application security within the Developer Relations team. In this role, she acted as a bridge between Microsoft’s security tools and the broader developer community, advocating for secure coding practices and helping developers integrate security into their workflows.
Janca’s responsibilities included creating educational content, delivering talks at international conferences, writing technical blogs, and engaging directly with developers to raise awareness about security best practices. Her unique background as both a software developer and a security professional allowed her to effectively communicate complex security concepts in a relatable way.
During her time at Microsoft, she played a key role in shaping how the company approached developer education around cloud security, and helped build a more security-conscious developer community.
Application Security – Canadian Government (2014-2018)
Software Developer – Canadian Government (2004-2014)
Software Developer – Private Industry (2000-2004) – Full time, various roles
Software Developer – Private Industry (1997-2000) – Part time
Education
Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology
Computer Science Disploma
1998 – 2001
Alliance Francaise
Learned to speak, read, and write fluent French.
2010 – 2010
Skills
Technical Training & Education
Founded We Hack Purple, Semgrep Academy, and SheHacksPurple Training, creating accessible, high-impact courses for developers and security professionals across the globe.
Public Speaking
Award-winning speaker with hundreds of international talks delivered, known for making technical content approachable, entertaining, and actionable.
Entrepreneurship
Most notable, founded We Hack Purple, successfully scaling it from a solo venture into a recognized brand and community hub in the application security space, leading to its acquisition by Semgrep. Previous business ventures include, property management, live events (concerts), independent music label, and most recently a small scale organic farm.
Secure Coding and Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL/SDLC)
Deep understanding of integrating security into code, as well as every stage of the software lifecycle, advising teams on embedding security into DevOps pipelines, projects, and systems.
Leadership & Strategy
Demonstrated leadership in founding companies, directing educational initiatives, and aligning community goals with business outcomes (e.g., post-We Hack Purple acquisition by Semgrep).
Business Development and Go To Market
Experienced in forging partnerships, negotiating contracts, and identifying growth opportunities. Developing and leading marketing and sales programs, brand building, fundraising, and operational management.
Contact Tanya for business opportunities via her business website contact page.
Tanya Janca 