How do you support the next generation of cybersecurity pros?

Take time to explain, include all new resources to a maximum amount of projects, technologies so they can develop and increase their knowledge. Always illustrate a decision or a choice with a previously lived experience and again take the time needed to share this experience with them, and always share with humility as this is is one of the keys for success in the cybersecurity world.

I like to assign a project that's just outside the junior's immediate ability, tell them they can do it, and provide assistance as needed. There's no learning like doing, and there's no confidence like that which arises from stretching out of safety while knowing that support is never out of reach. The few mentors who've done this with me in the past have made a significant difference in my life.

Empowering Future Cybersecurity Leaders: Cultivating a community of knowledge-sharing by imparting expertise and lived experiences to budding professionals. Implementing a mentor-coach approach that encourages holistic development and the nurturing of future leaders in cybersecurity. Offering vital resources and tools that augment skill sets and foster a culture of self-directed learning. Facilitating opportunities for hands-on experiences to cultivate practical problem-solving skills. Inspiring individuals to assume leadership roles, preparing them to be the vanguards in safeguarding cyberspace in the forthcoming era.

Understanding the difference between mentoring and coaching is necessary these days. Mentoring fosters long-term, holistic development, focusing on career and personal growth through shared wisdom and guidance. It shapes the mentee's career trajectory with a broad perspective. Whereas, coaching is structured and short-term, targeting specific skills, goals, and performance improvements with direct feedback. While mentoring offers broad life and career insights, coaching focuses on immediate effectiveness in specific tasks.

Mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is crucial in cultivating a resilient digital future. Its incumbent upon us as cyber professionals to share real-world experiences and foster a culture of continuous learning, seasoned experts empower emerging talents to navigate the evolving landscape, ensuring our collective digital security and innovation for years to come.

I would argue that any security professional that does not support diversity is ham-stringing their career. The key to a successful security team is to have a diverse set of cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences so you can have diversity of thought. Diversity of thought is a very powerful tool to solve complex problems. As a young engineer, I only had to be told once to stop mansplaining by another engineer. After listening to her perspective, I realized that I had been living in a box and could not see past the cardboard. You must become a believer to succeed.

Years ago, my colleague called to discuss her potential to work for my boss at the time. I encouraged her to apply based on our working relationship as well as her impressive attitude and ability. I mentioned that our need for greater gender diversity might help her chances. She responded that she didn't want to be hired as the best woman for the job; rather, she wanted it as the most qualified person. I told her that was a great answer, and I relayed it to my manager, who hired her! How's that for a win-win-win?

In cybersecurity, as a woman of color, I've observed the field's historical dominance by white men, limiting diversity. Promoting inclusion isn't just about fairness; it taps into untapped potential. Advocating for underrepresented groups enriches our industry, fosters innovation, and enhances cybersecurity's resilience.

Supporting the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is like cultivating a vibrant garden. By promoting diversity and inclusion, you create an environment where various plants like people of different backgrounds can flourish together. Just as a garden thrives with different types of flowers, your efforts ensure that cybersecurity benefits from a mix of perspectives and ideas. Imagine nurturing both sun-loving and shade-seeking plants – promoting diversity in the cybersecurity field enriches the overall ecosystem, fosters a stronger, and more resilient community.

While growing in my career, I took a shot at lecturing an Msc. program whilst not having an Msc to my name. The faculty was rather surprised at my confidence and after a few rounds of interviews, I became a lecturer teaching 4 cybersecurity units for two years. What did I learn? Students are the best at keeping your knowledge in check. You get exposed to diverse thoughts and principals which challenge your conventional thinking. If you are a cybersecurity professional, strive to teach even at a bootcamp, training session, university etc. Also dont shy aways from sharing your perspectives through blogposts, LinkedIn posts, and other avenues. Imposter syndrome might kick in but you will be amazed at how much you grow when you share.

My advice is to keep yourself updated with the latest trends, news, and developments in the field of cybersecurity. This will help you stay ahead of emerging threats and technologies. Pursue education and certifications: Consider obtaining relevant certifications and degrees in cybersecurity. Organizations such as ISACA, ISC2 ISSA, and The SANS Institute offer information about the profession, as well as certification and training options.

Supporting the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is like a knowledge exchange at a potluck dinner. You bring your seasoned recipes like expertise and best practices to share with others, offering a variety of flavors to the gathering. In return, you get to taste new dishes like emerging trends, technologies, and threats brought by others, expanding your culinary horizons. Just as a potluck benefits from diverse contributions, the cybersecurity community thrives when seasoned professionals teach and learn from the fresh perspectives of the next generation, creating a richer and more dynamic knowledge feast.

As a mentor, you are pivotal in guiding individuals embarking on their journey in this expansive field. I've discovered that one of the most effective ways to nurture their skills and ignite their passion is by opening doors to my network. By showcasing the diversity within cybersecurity beyond my specialization in GRC, I provide them with valuable exposure and opportunities to explore various facets of the industry. This approach broadens their horizons and instills the resilience and adaptability essential for success in this dynamic field.

It's essential to share insights with budding professionals while embracing new trends they introduce. Utilizing platforms like workshops, webinars, and social media for this purpose is a smart move, ensuring a diverse and engaging learning experience. This reciprocal learning not only benefits individuals at all levels but also strengthens the collective knowledge base in cybersecurity, a field where staying ahead of the curve is paramount.

Engaging and inspiring is key factor for new generations willing to join the cyber field. That's why I share a lot on LinkedIn as well, triggering discussions, bringing point of view, but also pushing readers to check more sources and more opinions. Pop the bubble ! Cyber security is a very wide field, with lot of theoretical and practical activities, allowing anyone to find a great fit for them. There is a need for awareness, and get more people aware of the need of privacy and security by design and by default. It's about building a safe future, it's about protecting freedom. That's why I support next generation when they join the network. I won't do their research, or give everything on a plate, but rather, give them the tools for it.

Not to forget, public speaking (events/conferences/workshops/webinars/seminars), storytelling (Tedx or other similar), and other engagement methodologies like attending events and hackathons are vital for their growth and inspiring others too.

Supporting the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is like being a guide on a stargazing adventure. You point out the constellations like opportunities and challenges in cybersecurity, and share captivating stories of the night sky like impact and value of cybersecurity. By igniting their curiosity and showcasing the beauty of the cosmos, you inspire them to grab their telescopes like pursue goals, and explore the vast universe of cybersecurity. Just as a thrilling stargazing event captivates aspiring astronomers, your engagement and inspiration set the stage for the next generation to reach for the stars in their cybersecurity journey.

Becoming a cybersecurity expert and opinion leader demands significant effort, dedication, and extensive experience in handling diverse situations, problem-solving, and security challenges. Training a skilled cybersecurity workforce is costly and challenging. Selecting interested, intelligent, and talented young individuals with patience and perseverance is a highly effective approach. They should undergo comprehensive short and long-term training programs to acquire the necessary knowledge for active engagement and effective participation in the cybersecurity field.

Engaging and inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is crucial for fostering passion and purpose. By showcasing the impact of cybersecurity through stories, events, and awards, we can motivate them to pursue their goals. Helping them understand the opportunities and challenges in the field not only guides their aspirations but also contributes to building a motivated and resilient cybersecurity workforce for the future.

Accountability is an absolute key. While each of us should be able to sort what matters from the messages, it is also key to cut the BS and bring true spreaking. Not everything is shiny, and warning the next generation about struggles we face, and challenges,will help them do better and learn from our experience. Ethic is critical, there is no place for liars and deception in the good guys side !

Cybersecurity sometimes attracts young people that see it as glamorous to paint a bit outside the lines. Given that there are some quite substantial players in the field, that can become dangerous and life-altering quickly. The history of hacking is full of examples. That‘s why it‘s so important to mentor young researchers and support them in understanding which mistakes others made and what the (unintended) results were. Helping the upcoming generation to understand safe research, the law, scope and realities plus a modicum of common sense is paramount to protect and nourish them.

Upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in cybersecurity is paramount. Demonstrating integrity, accountability, and adherence to legal norms not only sets a positive example but also builds trust and credibility in the field. Educating the next generation on ethical considerations equips them to navigate the complexities of cybersecurity responsibly, ensuring a foundation of trustworthiness and ethical decision-making.

Absolutely, modeling and upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in cybersecurity is crucial for building trust and credibility within the industry. By demonstrating integrity, honesty, and accountability in our work, we set a positive example for the next generation of professionals to follow. Educating them on ethical dilemmas, risks, and responsibilities empowers them to make informed and ethical decisions, ultimately contributing to a safer and more secure digital environment. This commitment to ethical conduct not only strengthens individual reputations but also enhances the overall integrity of the cybersecurity field.

Exchanging with others, connecting, discovering other point of views is absolutely critical ! We can't be a good security person if we don't verify and make our own ideas of what's presented to us. Connecting with people from different cultures, different experiences, even the ones that are not aligned with what you think, is allowing you to develop critical thinking. No one holds the ultimate truth, we build it everyday. In this, connecting with people, collaborating as you can, will bring you way more than you imagine.

Supporting the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is like being a matchmaker at a community garden. You help them plant seeds of collaboration by introducing them to fellow gardeners like cybersecurity professionals, and providing access to shared tools and resources. Just as different plants thrive together, your efforts to connect and collaborate create a garden where everyone contributes their strengths to address common issues, like protecting against garden pests like cybersecurity threats. The synergy from this collaborative garden fosters a stronger, more resilient cybersecurity community.

Collaboration in the field of cybersecurity has been absolutely crucial in my life. It's not just about individual expertise; it's about the collective strength of a team. Working closely with colleagues, sharing insights, and pooling knowledge has allowed us to tackle complex security challenges effectively. It's through collaboration that we've stayed ahead of evolving threats and protected our digital world.

Building connections and fostering collaboration with the next generation of cybersecurity professionals is pivotal. Introducing them to networks and resources, and working together on projects, not only expands their opportunities but also cultivates synergy and impact within the cybersecurity community. This collaborative approach contributes to a stronger, more interconnected field, promoting shared knowledge and addressing common challenges effectively.

Giving people a path into cyber is what helps take away the fog. When I was a mentor for college students we put them into a farm system that help them find jobs out of college. We start them learning from the hardware level certifications, then networking, then servers and then cyber. You can't jump into cyber if you don't have basic understanding of each concept. My interns would graduate with jobs every time.

As I frequently emphasize, the field of cybersecurity is highly specialized, and perpetual learning, innovation, and collaboration will form an integral part of the daily lives of future cybersecurity professionals. To cultivate the next generation of experts, hands-on experience is paramount. This entails offering internships and projects to aspiring cybersecurity professionals and involving them in real-world security challenges. This practical involvement enables them to grasp the consequences of security issues and develop effective solutions.

Tailor educational programs to industry trends. Offer hands-on internships and mentorship. Collaborate with institutions for relevant curricula. Engage with the cybersecurity community. Prioritize diversity and inclusion. Adopting to these strategies will help and support future cybersecurity pros.

Imagine a limitless world of innovation, where we shape industries collectively. ?? Yet, in today's fast-changing landscape, local and regional opportunities remain scarce. Despite widespread internet access, barriers like language, politics, visas, and sanctions limit our potential. Tech organizations, especially big ones, can help boost regional capacity and raise awareness about crucial topics like cybersecurity. I'm eager to contribute and hope to see more such efforts. Together, we can empower individuals, transform regions, and connect the world. ????? What's your take on this? How is it in your city? Share your thoughts. #Together4DigitalSecurity #Security #Digital

Even though there are many disciplines within Cybersecurity, the lines are constantly blurring. As a leader, something that you can do is provide opportunities for your team members and those adjacent, to cross-train and collaborate on efforts that may be slightly outside their areas of specialization. You will do a great service to your people, your organization and the future of Cybersecurity. As more mundane tasks get automated or taken over by AI, a holistic perspective and approach to Cybersecurity becomes more valuable.