A practical approach
I had a fantastic time on an international MBA exchange at one of the top universities in China, Fudan University in Shanghai, for the Global Network for Advanced Management program.
It was an chance to learn first hand about innovation in China and meet some amazing Executive MBA students from the world’s top business schools.
As a cyber security leader, I feel strongly about social issues related to human rights in the context of privacy, data protection and safe use of technology. I believe technology can be an enabler but also a potential cause of harm that needs to be considered.
I started volunteering with the CyberPeace Institute to leverage my cyber and technology skills to empower not-for-profit organisations to combat cyber threats and protect the communities they serve.
Negotiation is a core skill that can make or break your success as a CISO.
While technical expertise is important, it’s equally critical to recognise the value of negotiation skills in cyber security leadership. By developing and applying strong negotiation skills, you’ll be better equipped to lead your organisation in an increasingly complex and challenging cyber security landscape.
I recently completed a negotiations workshop by Filip Hron and highly recommend him as a facilitator and his book ‘Negotiations Evolved’. I particularly appreciate his focus on ethics and value creation.
In this blog, I outline how some of the skills can be applied to the cybersecurity context.
What supply and demand factors are influencing the current industry equilibrium? What types of economies are most relevant for firms in the industry? Will firms with large shares earn above-normal profits? Are the positions of incumbents “contestable”? Are these industries global or local? Does a firm’s success in one industry yield competitive advantages in others? Do the valuations of individual companies operating in these industries make sense? How will major technological changes, e.g., 5G and AI, affect the industry and individual firms? What regulatory and legal issues are most relevant?
These and many other questions were discussed during my semester exchange at the Yale School of Management as part of my Executive MBA program.
Following-up on my recent update on starting an Executive MBA, I wanted to share that I’ve reached a milestone in my learning journey; I’m half-way through with six modules completed.
I already wrote about Data Analytics and Decision Making and in this blog I’ll briefly summarise a few other courses I’ve completed and how some of the learnings can be applied to cyber security leadership.
I completed the Data Analytics and Decision Making course as part of my Executive MBA. In this blog, I summarise some of the insights and learnings that you can apply in your work too.
I recently completed a six week secondment, working in an Aboriginal community organisation on the Far West Coast of South Australia. I had the privilege to listen, learn and understand some of the challenges faced by Indigenous communities across Australia and apply my skills to contribute to their long-term success.
Transferring my knowledge and skills to these communities was a very enriching experience both personally and professionally and something I would like to continue being involved with in the future.
In this blog I would like to summarise my experience participating in this Jawun secondment.
I previously wrote about building security culture in the organisation, in this blog, I look at the security team itself and share some tips for CISOs to develop a culture of performance for their teams.
The CISO role can be stressful at times, so it’s important to have the right support network around you. The cyber security industry is still relatively small and some great communities have emerged around professional certification bodies and special interest groups.
Wherever you are in the world, it’s likely there will be a security meetup around you. And if there isn’t you should definitely start one! These social gatherings don’t have to be face-to-face – online and fully remote options also exist.
Over the years I’ve been fortunate to be a member of some outstanding security leadership communities. It’s very rewarding to be able to share your experience and also learn from your peers. Feel free to reach out if you’d like an introduction.
I had an opportunity to follow the Lean Silver Belt pathway of Cardiff University’s Lean Competency System and work with a coach to deliver measurable business process improvement in the workplace. This resulted in significant cost savings for the business and was supported by the official accreditation.
A lot of it is to do with the mindset: spotting inefficiencies, eliminating waste and continuous improvement are at the core of the approach. It’s also about applying these concepts and techniques to real world challenges.
Cyber Security Leadership 