Tech Billionaire Assaf Rappaport Discusses Gender Inequality in Cybersecurity

High-tech entrepreneur and billionaire Assaf Rappaport, co-founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm Wiz and a part-owner of Israel's Channel 13, appeared on the Kan 11 program "Meeting with Roni Kuban." During the interview, Rappaport, who is openly gay, addressed the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and the significant gender disparities within the Israeli tech industry, particularly in cybersecurity.

Rappaport stated that while being gay in the cybersecurity field presents difficulties, it is considerably harder for women. He noted that the industry is heavily male-dominated, with many professionals coming from military and security backgrounds. He suggested that the lack of visible female role models in leadership positions contributes to the problem, contrasting the number of interviews featuring men like himself with those featuring prominent women such as Merav Bahat, Einat Gaz, or Ronit Hershberg.

He elaborated on the subtle biases women encounter, citing an example where a male client meeting with a female sales representative or product manager at Wiz might face unspoken hesitation or discomfort due to ingrained "masculine codes" within the industry. Rappaport acknowledged that these issues often stem from a lack of awareness rather than intentional discrimination, but stressed the need for the sector to become more inclusive.

Rappaport, who lives in central Tel Aviv with his partner, also shared personal details. The couple welcomed twins born via surrogacy in the United States in May 2025. In February 2026, it was reported that Rappaport purchased approximately 8 dunams (about 2 acres) of land in the settlement of Reshon LeZion for approximately 40 million shekels to build an estate.