‘I wanted to help enable the business while increasing security awareness and strengthening its security posture. I was looking for the knowledge and confidence to become more effective.’

An inspiring and challenging programme

Combining the Cybersecurity Leadership Academy with a full-time job can be demanding. Nevertheless, Charlotte has greatly enjoyed the programme so far. ‘The lectures are inspiring and motivating, while the course material is challenging and interesting. My classmates are very supportive. I also learn from their experiences, diverse career stories and the different study tools they share.’

Challenging your mindset

The programme content was the main reason for enrolling, and it has lived up to expectations. However, the lectures have offered more than knowledge alone. ‘The lecturers have asked bigger questions and challenged both my thinking and my responses. This applies not only to the topics we discuss, but also to the mindset, questions and approaches we use when dealing with uncertainty and resilience in cybersecurity.’

Communicating more effectively

The programme has already changed how Charlotte communicates at work. ‘I regularly find myself rewriting and adapting my communication. I am now very conscious of who I am communicating with, the language I use, the explanation I provide and the decision that is required. My thinking is shifting.’

Learning from industry leaders

For Charlotte, the programme’s value lies in the combination of academic knowledge and practical expertise. ‘For me, it represents a change in mindset. The lecturers are industry leaders with practical, real-life experience. It is therefore not only an academic programme: you learn from people with leading expertise in their fields.’ The different elements come together around a shared objective. ‘Ultimately, it is about enabling organisations to achieve their business goals while remaining secure.’

Cybersecurity leadership at every level

Charlotte recommends the Cybersecurity Leadership Academy to cybersecurity professionals and anyone responsible for implementing cybersecurity strategies or programmes. ‘The programme focuses on leadership through to board level. As a project manager, I benefit from the strategic thinking, the understanding of every organisational level and learning how to use language that people throughout an organisation can understand.’

‘Anyone implementing cybersecurity strategies or programmes can make a significant difference with these insights.’