New Security Leadership Style Needed for Stressed Workers

ISC2's Tara Wisniewski on Gathering Emotional Intelligence, Building Out Job Skills Prajeet Nair (@prajeetspeaks) • October 29, 2024

Tara Wisniewski, executive vice president, advocacy, global markets and member engagement, ISC2

Cybersecurity leaders face a critical convergence of challenges, with 75% of security professionals reporting the worst threat landscape they've experienced and 50% feeling behind on emerging technologies, according to recent ISC2 research. These pressures are creating unprecedented demands on security leadership, said Tara Wisniewski, executive vice president of advocacy, global markets and member engagement at ISC2.

"Emotional intelligence is becoming increasingly critical ... It's critical knowing that there's a skill shortage and that we need to focus on retention. And with that focus, you really need to make sure you have emotional intelligence so you can read how your teams are feeling, what they're thinking about, what they need to stay on top of their game," Wisniewski said.

To address this trifecta of challenges - skill shortage, emerging cyberthreats and technology gaps - security and business leaders need to embrace a new leadership approach focused on both technical and interpersonal skills.

Wisniewski urges leadership to focus on "not only continuous learning, but also making sure that [their teams] have strong communication skills so that they can engage with the business." "Then there's also making sure that they are doing the things they need to do to focus on self-care and mental health and well-being," she said.

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at the GovWare Conference and Exhibition 2024, Wisniewski also discussed:

How leaders can prepare teams for crisis response;
The role of networking in professional development;
Key regulatory changes expected in 2025.

Wisniewski leads ISC2's global advocacy program, member engagement, and diversity equity and inclusivity initiatives. With more than 25 years in nonprofit organizations, she specializes in public affairs, global market development and stakeholder engagement.