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CYBERSECURITY
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Leadership Principles for the Cybersecurity Professional
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eadership is at the core of all success and failure in business. During a time of crisis, the critical strengths of leaders, such as compassion and agility, are pushed front and center for all to see. Some organizations will thrive while others will struggle and much of it is based on the decisions and actions of leaders. Every organization needs good leaders, especially when things get tough. So, it’s important to keep developing your own skills as a leader, as well as grooming the next generation of leaders. In cybersecurity, it’s not uncommon for technologists to manage teams. I have been lucky to work for technologists who not only have a good perspective on leadership but can practice what they preach. However, the more common refrain is that technologists understand technology but not people, that they tend to be technically competent but lack the social and emotional skills required for effective leadership. This presents a challenge in cybersecurity. As a field that demands specific knowledge and deep expertise, technologists are the natural choice when it comes to lead-
SMARTSMB / June 2020
M.K. Palmore, Field Chief Security Officer at Palo Alto Networks discusses some key tips for people in leadership roles of cybersecurity ership. For non-technologists, it might seem daunting and they can feel overrun by the complexity of constant technological advances. But here’s the funny thing about leadership — if you give me a skilled leader I could put him or her in charge in nearly any scenario and the outcome would likely be promising. A skilled leader knows how to motivate a team, inspire people, solve problems, delegate tasks, and be the captain of the ship providing confidence and a sense of community. Of course, domain-specific expertise still matters. In leading people with technical skills, they need to know that you have a grasp of the concepts before they will accept your vision and strategy. That part falls on you. In addition to evolving your leadership capabilities, you must pay attention to honing your technical skills. Leaders are not born. They are forged through deep experience and have two overriding characteristics: They are consistently self-aware, and always seeking to improve their skills in leading people. For technologists seeking to become better leaders, or non-technologists seeking to lead better in cybersecuri-
