Podcast – The New CISO Podcast Episode 100: Six Mentorship Questions with Two Top Leaders
Podcast Transcript | Air Date September 21, 2023
Listen to Steve, Michael, and Mark discuss managing stress while diving head-first into challenging situations, as well as tips for maximizing the growth of junior team members:
Welcome Back (1:32)
Jumping in, Steve presses returning guests Mark and Michael on the most interesting career opportunities they didn’t take.
While in the navy, Mark received a call transferring him to Virginia for a promotion. Although he initially resisted, this transfer set him on a path to success.
Michael, on the other hand, turned down multiple promotions during his time in the Army. He decided early on that the military would not be his long-term career.
Sound Career Advice (13:04)
Determining when you feel fulfilled professionally allows you to make better career choices. Although our goals evolve, it’s important to reevaluate our priorities at different life stages.
From a leadership perspective, it’s valuable to not think of yourself as the most intelligent person in the room. Instead, surround yourself with people who can fill the gaps in your skillset. Leaders need their junior-level colleagues to succeed, and giving these employees real responsibilities allows them to transition into more significant roles.
Best Mentorship Books (21:30)
Mark and Michael share the books they would recommend to new and aspiring leaders. These books are worthwhile resources that help prepare CISOs for the leadership and management challenges they may face in high-level roles.
New To The Job (28:02)
Mark and Michael explore what CISOs should assess when joining a new team.
It’s essential to determine if you have good people who have lacked effective mentorship — or, if your organization needs to find new talent. Ultimately, you must ensure you have the right employees to succeed.
A key factor in determining a team members’ value is their willingness to help during times of crisis.
Owning A Crisis (35:40)
Steve presses Mark and Michael on their leadership perspective in a crisis.
Mark reflects on an experience involving the government, where one of his employees took ownership of their security breach. Mark is still in touch with this colleague today and credits his help resolving a high-level issue.
Michael reflects on a junior analyst who quickly worked his way up because he had a can-do attitude. He reiterates that taking work off of other’s plates is great career advice, as the people being helped will never forget.
Staying Grounded (40:46)
To close, Steve asks Mark and Michael a more individualized question — what helps them stay grounded during stressful times in the field?
For Mark, he admits that he’s not great at taking a step back from work. He is passionate about the business and understands a 9-5 clock would not work for most security professionals. He can manage his stress, but he knows he lacks life balance. As a form of relaxation, though, he keeps honey bees.
Michael encourages everyone to eliminate the preconceived notion that this path is like other jobs. Security professionals are all-in on their work and must decide what balance means to them. For Michael, he does meditation to center himself and regulate the physical manifestations of stress.
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