“All progress starts with telling the truth.” (D. Sullivan) I keep coming back to this quote. Because in my work coaching cybersecurity professionals, I’ve noticed something. The question that tends to paralyse people the most isn’t “Am I ready?” It’s this one: “What do I actually want?” And it’s terrifying. Not because the answer doesn’t […]
“What Do I Actually Want?” The scariest cybersecurity career question Read More »
Redundancy is one of those things that nobody thinks will happen to them until it does.
And when it does, it is rarely just a practical problem. Yes, there is the immediate reality of finding a new role, updating the CV, working out the finances. But underneath all of that there is a knock to your confidence and you might be left wondering: was it me?
In cybersecurity that question can feel particularly sharp. This is a field where people invest enormous amounts of time, energy and money into building their expertise. Where certifications, experience and reputation feel like they should count for something. And then one day they call you into a room and tell you the role no longer exists.
How to recover from a career setback in cybersecurity Read More »
I have seen many cybersecurity professionals end up with so much on their plate that they simply cannot manage it all. And when I look at how they got there the pattern is almost always the same. They said yes. And then yes again. And then yes again after that. This is not a time
Boundaries in cybersecurity: how to protect your capacity Read More »
You worked hard, you got all the certs, you know your stuff. Surely, you will be the next in line for promotion in your cybersecurity job, right?
To a point, that is true. Technical credibility matters and nobody is going to promote someone who doesn’t know what they are doing.
But sometimes that is not enough, I see many competent people stay in the same place, where it is convenient (to others!) that they stay. Basically you become so good at your job that it’s best for everyone that you keep doing that and only that.
So what is actually going on?
Three things you need to get promoted in cybersecurity Read More »
“I’m not sure I’m the right person for this role.”
“I feel like I’m winging it.”
“They’re going to find me out eventually.”
If you’ve ever had these thoughts and believed them, they are typical examples of your impostor syndrome talking.
You are not an imposter. You are learning. Read More »
One of my clients is the most multipassionate person I have ever come across 🙂
She has a solid cybersecurity role, she is amazing at what she does and she enjoys that too. On the side, she has many interests and loves to try new things that most of the time don’t fit neatly inside a job description. She signed up for coaching with a question that I suspect many of you have asked yourselves at some point:
“Is there a way to do more than one thing… and actually get paid for it?”
The answer is yes. And there’s even a name for it.
Building a Portfolio Career in Cybersecurity: A Guide for Multipassionate Professionals Read More »
I came across this quote yesterday: “All progress starts with telling the truth” (D. Sullivan). This struck a chord with me, as I realise that until you can state and face the truth, there will be no change possible for you, your life, your career, your team, and your company. What is really, really going
Seeking for the truth, in your cybersecurity career Read More »
If you work in cybersecurity, you know how important and career-defining it can be to have a mentor.
But…once you have found a mentor, then what?
Mentors are full of useful knowledge and experiences. Some of this knowledge and experience will be irrelevant to you at a certain stage of your career. Some will be priceless and will spur you forward.
Do not assume, anyway, that a mentor knows that…
Making the most of mentors in cybersecurity Read More »
After taking a frantic call from a client on the verge of burnout, I was reflecting on how hard it is for cybersecurity professionals to really disconnect. It’s the nature of the job, yes… However, society as a whole has an important role to play in this. Today more than ever we are obsessed with being
Do we have a solitude deprivation problem in cybersecurity? Read More »
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.“I don’t much care where—” said Alice.“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.“—so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.“Oh, you’re sure
What can “Alice in Wonderland” teach us about cybersecurity careers. Read More »
