LIZ PISNEY
MENTORING IN 2023: CREATING THE ‘PERFECT PAIR’ by Liz Pisney, Senior Director of Member Experience at ISACA The spotlight on today’s cybersecurity professionals
For this article I have interviewed both a mentor and
is blinding: the volume and variety of cyber attacks
mentee to gain insights into their experiences
are increasing, placing them under extreme pressure
and advice.
to protect the reputation and wellbeing of the organisations that employ them. These challenges are exacerbated by the widespread shortage of security professionals and a drive to increase gender diversity in the profession.
MEET AN ISACA MENTOR — SALESHNI SHARMA, DIRECTOR, REGIONAL INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER – ASIA PACIFIC, WR BERKLEY CORPORATION.
No wonder it is critical to develop connectedness and
Sharma is guiding five mentees so is well-qualified
mutual support among cybersecurity professionals.
to reflect on the importance and benefits of a mentoring program.
REINVENTING MENTORING At ISACA mentoring is making a comeback, and a
A driving factor for Sharma becoming a mentor
newly designed program is geared towards finding
was her own experience as a migrant starting out
the perfect pairing, or ‘mentor match’ as we like to
in the information security sector. She says this
call it. This program does much of the hard work by
would have been easier with a mentor. “But at that
recommending pairings between participants who
time there was no such program I was aware of,
have complementary qualities and enabling mentees
and staying in the information security industry
to filter potential mentors according to the criteria
was not easy. It requires continuous support,
most meaningful for them. Mentees initiate matches
learning and development, combined with lots
by sending a connection request to a carefully
of commitment.”
selected mentor who will then accept the request
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if they have the experience and insight to support
While Sharma was not formally mentored, she
the mentee’s journey. Since the program’s launch in
did have the opportunity to work with outstanding
mid‑2022 more than 1,800 participants representing
leaders from whom she learnt, which aided her career
114 countries have joined.
development. These experiences are reflected in
W O M E N I N S E C U R I T Y M A G A Z I N E
M A R C H • A P R I L 2023