What’s the best career decision you’ve ever made?
Saying “yes” to a leadership role on a project I felt completely unqualified for, without which I would not have discovered cybersecurity. My best career moves have been far less about planning than about saying “yes” to opportunities that presented themselves unexpectedly, even when they made me uncomfortable or a little afraid.
As you think about the next steps in your career, what are the most important actions you plan to take?
Much has been made about the difference between management and leadership. I think a key stage in any manager’s career is the shift from pure orchestration of resources and activities, with minor improvements on the margins, to a more transformational and generative role that inspires individuals to come together with fresh strategies to meet the moment. For me, talking with more leaders I admire at the company and in the larger world is part of cracking the transition, as is making the time for more formal learning opportunities (as I would with any technical skill) and [critically] continuing to receive feedback from and communicate openly with my team.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
As a security professional, I really enjoy the pace of change. Cybersecurity is sort of an overlay atop every other area within IT, which means there is always something new to learn and different colleagues throughout the organization to learn with.
As a people manager and a general person, I love enabling people to be the best versions of themselves. Every opportunity I can create for someone to admire their own handiwork marks a good day for me!
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