On the lighter side of things , we ask the industry experts what makes them tick . . . .

I don ’ t have a specific achievement in my career that I would call the ‘ most memorable ’, but I would say that some of my best moments have been through mentoring others . It ’ s really satisfying to see my teams succeed and it ’ s something I never tire of . Their success is undoubtedly down to their own hard work of course , but it ’ s pretty satisfying to know you ’ ve helped them to get where they ’ re going , albeit slightly .

What first made you think of a career in technology ?

I ’ ve always had an interest in IT and technology and , looking back , my enjoyment in taking on the defensive roles in the school cricket and football teams led me to where I am today . Cybersecurity is a merging of both defence and technology , and so was a natural fit for me . Saying that , for those looking to move into the industry , I would advise them to not purely focus on cybersecurity . Instead , it ’ s vital they get a solid understanding of how business works . Doing this will allow them to become better rounded cybersecurity professionals .

What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position ?

After years of trial and error , my preferred management style is that of a ‘ coach ’. I ’ m passionate about enabling

my teams , giving them the experience and space , they need to develop , and coaching them through challenges . The management style of holding on to power and not delegating , to me , stifles team creativity and passion , and isn ’ t something I ’ ve ever bought into .

What do you think is the current hot technology talking point ?

Technology is such a vast field , and there are so many hot topics in the sector – that ’ s what makes it so exciting . That , and all the transformation which has come from the pandemic , have really sped up the industry . Specifically looking at cybersecurity though , I would have to say identity . Previously conversations around identity focused more on enablement , but

Workers have a lot more freedom and can sign up to new platforms and services without the usual approval processes . This ‘ shadow IT ’ phenomenon has become a huge challenge for security teams and is putting potentially sensitive business data at risk .

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