In this episode of “Life of a CISO,” hosted by Dr. Eric Cole, he discusses the journey from being an average Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to becoming a world-class CISO. Dr. Cole emphasizes the importance of changing one’s mindset and identity, moving from the perception of being average to recognizing the greatness within oneself. He emphasizes that being world-class doesn’t mean competing against others but rather striving to be the best version of oneself. Dr. Cole stresses the need for continuous growth, expansion, and thinking differently to achieve world-class status.
He also highlights key skills that world-class CISOs possess, including effective time management and decision-making. Dr. Cole advises CISOs to take control of their time, block out periods for focused work, and not succumb to constant firefighting and crisis management. He encourages them to make decisions proactively, even if some may turn out to be bad, as it’s the volume of good decisions that ultimately matters. Lastly, he underscores the importance of becoming a world-class communicator, adding value to every conversation and leaving a positive impression on colleagues and executives.
In this episode:
- 1:00– Introduction
- 2:00– Embracing World-Class Thinking and Acting
- 4:00– The Self-Imposed Prison of Mediocrity
- 6:00– Becoming the Next Version of Yourself
- 10:00– The Belief in Being World Class
- 15:00– Making Informed Decisions
- 18:00– The Benefit of Making Quick Decisions
- 20:00– Recognizing Your Power to Choose
