Defend Your Time: How CISOs can Bridge the Technical and Leadership Gap
Welcome back to “Defend Your Time,” the podcast dedicated to helping you get stronger security, more value, and fewer headaches out of your Microsoft security investments. Listen and subscribe through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
In the rapidly evolving realm of IT and security, leadership is not just about possessing technical expertise. In this episode, Gavriella Schuster and Gareth Lindahl-Wise discuss how security leaders can bridge the gap between technical prowess and business leadership acumen to become strategic influencers within their organizations.
The Evolution of the CISO Role
The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role was initially focused almost entirely on security. But the role has evolved. Today’s CISO need to understand and align with business strategy. The role requires a transition from merely reacting to security threats to proactively contributing to business objectives.
As technical leaders emerge from technical backgrounds, the transition to broader organizational influence can often be daunting. Technical backgrounds don’t always provide upcoming leaders with the opportunity to develop soft skills such as stakeholder management and influencing across functions. Successful leaders can bridge this gap by educating themselves in business dynamics and leadership strategies, often through mentorship, external training, or internal organizational initiatives.
The Role of Mentors, Driving Strategic Influence, and Scaling Through Delegation
Mentorship can play a crucial role in guiding new CISOs through this transition – particularly around strategic thinking, influence skills, and stakeholder management.
Mentors can help upcoming leaders adopt a broader organizational perspective, focusing on influence over direct control. This shift not only empowers CISOs to prioritize organizational needs over merely technical concerns but also helps them to better align security initiatives with business goals.
Another practical strategy to build strategic influence includes developing relationships with key stakeholders. By regularly engaging with these stakeholders, CISOs can better understand their priorities and successfully position potential security issues in ways that resonate with business goals.
One persistent challenge for technical leaders is managing their time to effectively balance tactical and strategic responsibilities. Critically assess which responsibilities can be delegated or outsourced, thus freeing up time to focus on broader strategic initiatives. Determine which tasks can be managed by others and seek external partnerships where necessary.
