In a break to figure out the next move. Open for discussion 🤝

Hi, I’m Hari Kumaran — creator, builder of Bogar AI, and host of THUS.

From starting as a courier boy to helping teams build products and systems, my journey has always been about turning ideas into something real.

I build tools and platforms that make technology feel more human — and help people share what they know through meaningful stories.

☕ Always open for good conversations about building and creating.

Hari Kumaran Raamalingam

Early Leadership & Career Pivot Strategist | Helping Non-Tech Professionals Lead in Tech | CEO @ Lateral Connect | Digital Transformation Advisor | Non-Executive Director

Most career advice still assumes a straight corporate ladder.
The reality? Careers today grow sideways before they grow upwards.

You don’t need another certificate or years of waiting for permission.

You need:

▪️A lateral career strategy that turns your 
     past experience into an advantage
▪️Mentorship that accelerates growth 
     instead of delaying it
▪️Leadership habits that scale as your 
     responsibility grows

I help ambitious professionals pivot with confidence - moving from non-tech backgrounds into cybersecurity, digital, and early leadership roles.

As CEO of Lateral Connect, I lead mentorship-driven programmes that combine: 

1️⃣ Structured career transition roadmaps for non-technical professionals
2️⃣ Early leadership coaching for first-time and aspiring leaders
3️⃣ Practical, employer-aligned upskilling that 
      leads to real outcomes in cyber and 
      digital roles

I’ve supported professionals to move:

▪️From HR into risk and governance
▪️From project management into cyber 
     leadership
▪️From marketing into digital and 
     transformation consulting

This isn’t about chasing titles.

It’s about building a career platform that creates options, credibility, and leadership opportunities.

📩 If you’re ready to pivot with clarity and confidence, DM me or explore Lateral Connect to get started.

Victoria Coker

How I’d enter cybersecurity, zero background

A lot of people DM me this 👇
“Victoria, I don’t have a degree.
No certifications.
No connections.

Can I still get into cybersecurity?”
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Only if you do it strategically.

If I had to start today with absolute zero cybersecurity experience, this is exactly what I’d do step by step.

Step 1: Pick ONE cybersecurity lane

Cybersecurity is not one job.
It’s an umbrella.
❌ “I want a cybersecurity job”
✅ “I want this cybersecurity role”
You can choose:
🔹 SOC Analyst (fastest entry)
🔹 GRC Analyst (non-technical path)
🔹 Network / App Security
🔹 Cloud Security

👉 Pick one lane.
👉 Go deep.
👉 Ignore the rest (for now).

Step 2: Skill up

This is where most beginners mess up.
They see:
❌ 10 certifications
❌ Expensive bootcamps
❌ Too much noise

Instead:
➡️ Start with one foundational cert (like Security+)
➡️ Pair it with hands-on labs

Step 3: Build proof, not promises

Recruiters don’t care what you say you know.
They care what you can show.
✅ Home lab write-ups
✅ GitHub repositories
✅ LinkedIn posts documenting learning
Your portfolio should speak before you do.

Step 4: Network like a human

Not “please refer me” messages.

Instead:
➡️ Share what you’re learning
➡️ Join cyber communities (LinkedIn, Discord)
➡️ Talk to people already in the field
You’re building visibility, not begging for favours.

Step 5: Apply strategically

Don’t spray resumes.
🎯 Target junior roles
🎯 Target smaller companies
🎯 Personalise messages

And yes, help desk roles count.
That’s how many cybersecurity careers actually start (including mine).

Bonus: Master fundamentals

If you know:
🧠 Linux
🌐 Networking
🗄️ Databases

You’re already ahead of most beginners.
Cybersecurity rewards focus + patience.
Not shortcuts.

♻️ Repost to support your network
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for authentic leadership & career growth

Non-Tech→Cyber in 5 Months | Cyber Career Coach & Mentor | Founder, Lateral Connect (NCSC-Assured, UKRLP) | Trusted by Skanska, Honeywell, Bupa & Virgin Money

“I don’t want to spend money on cyber courses yet.”

I hear this almost every week.

People connect with me and say:
→ “I want to get into cyber security.”
→ “But I don’t want to pay for courses right now.”
→ “I just want to be sure this is for me first.”

That hesitation is valid.
Cyber education has become expensive.

And beginners often don’t know what’s actually worth paying for.

Here’s the good news 👇
You don’t need to spend a single dollar to start building real cyber skills before 2026 ends.

If you’re serious about exploring cyber security, these 7 free resources are more than enough to begin:
➡ AWS Skill Builder
Learn cloud fundamentals directly from AWS.
Perfect if cloud security is on your radar.

➡ Microsoft Learn
Free, structured learning for Azure, security, and identity.
Great for cloud + enterprise environments.

➡ Security Blue Team (Free Courses)
Hands-on blue team basics.
SOC thinking, PowerShell, Python, fundamentals.

➡ TryHackMe – Free Learning Path
Beginner-friendly.
Real tools. Real labs. Zero pressure.

➡ TCM Academy – Free Tier
Linux, programming basics, help desk skills, soft skills.
Foundations matter more than people admit.

➡ Splunk Free Training
If SOC roles interest you, this is gold.
Learn how logs, alerts, and investigations actually work.

➡ KC7 Cyber
Gamified. Beginner-safe. Built by security professionals.
Perfect if you want to “think like a defender.”

⚠️ Now, an important reality check.

Free is a great starting point.
But free ≠ structured.
And there is a big difference.

Here’s what structured, paid programs do better 👇
1️⃣ Clear learning path (no guesswork, no overload)
2️⃣ Industry-aligned skills (not random topics)
3️⃣ Accountability & momentum (you actually finish)
4️⃣ Mentorship & feedback (not learning alone)
5️⃣ Career alignment (skills → roles → outcomes)

So yes, explore for free.
Test your interest.
Build clarity.

But when you’re serious about moving faster, deeper, and with direction,
structure matters.

Cyber security rewards intention.
Not impulse.

♻️ Repost to your network to support their growth
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for cyber career growth & authentic leadership

Most early-career cyber professionals don’t stall because they lack skill.

They stall because they stay silent.

I’ve watched talented analysts wait years for recognition, assuming results alone would speak for them.

They don’t.

Leaders are noticed because they communicate why their work matters.

If you can’t explain:
• the risk you reduced
• the decision you influenced
• the business impact you enabled

then your work stays invisible.

This isn’t arrogance.
It’s a responsibility.

Early leadership in cyber means learning how to speak in outcomes, not outputs.

Not:
“I configured controls.”

But:
“I reduced exposure and supported audit readiness.”

The moment you shift your language, your positioning changes.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
people who advance aren’t always the best technically - they’re the clearest strategically.

If growth feels slow, ask yourself:
Do people understand your thinking?

I mentor early-career professionals to build leadership signals before the title arrives.

Because leadership doesn’t begin at promotion.
It begins at perception.

If you’re navigating a cyber transition or early leadership role, complete the form and I’ll share honest guidance on your next steps: https://lnkd.in/eanPfvHT

♻️ Repost to help someone step up
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for cybersecurity transition and authentic early leadership
#AskVictoria Coker

How to enter cybersecurity for free

A lot of people keep asking me this 👇

“Victoria, how can I enter cybersecurity without spending money first?”
And honestly, I get it.
Layoffs everywhere.
Big tech hiring freezes.
Uncertainty in almost every role.
Yet…

🔐 Cybersecurity keeps hiring.
🔴 4.8 million unfilled cybersecurity roles globally
🔴 Hardly any mass layoffs in core cyber roles
🔴 Demand > supply, even in tough markets

So today, I want to share something specifically for students and early professionals who keep asking me for free resources.

But before that, one important truth 👇
➡️ I strongly believe structured learning gives you a long-term edge
➡️ But free resources are great to START
➡️ Especially to understand: Is cybersecurity really for me?

Now let’s talk about how you can enter cybersecurity for free 👇

Start with hands-on learning (not theory)
One of the best free platforms to begin is TryHackMe.
Why?
→ No setup
→ No boring slides
→ Browser-based
→ You actually do the work

You learn by:
🧠 Investigating real-world attacks
🛡️ Defending systems
💻 Hacking machines legally (ethical hacking)

They even have:
➡️ Beginner paths
➡️ Security Analyst Level 1
➡️ Penetration Tester tracks
➡️ Gamified learning
➡️ Badges & progress tracking

🌍 6M+ learners globally

You don’t just watch cybersecurity.
You practice it.

And yes, many rooms are completely free.

🌍 Why cybersecurity is worth it

🔴 Global market expected to double by 2030
🔴 Countries like Australia, UK, Canada, Germany list cybersecurity as a shortage skill
🔴 English is often enough (even in non-English countries)

But here’s the part most people ignore 👇
❌ Basic cybersecurity = crowded
✅ Skilled cybersecurity = rare & powerful

That’s where structured learning matters.

Free resources help you:
✔️ Explore
✔️ Understand the field
✔️ Test your interest

But structured programs help you:
➡️ Build depth
➡️ Avoid random learning
➡️ Become employable faster

So yes, start free.
But don’t stay unstructured forever.
That’s how you turn curiosity into a career.

♻️ Repost to your network to support their growth
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for cyber career growth & authentic leadership

The moment you’re born, a lot is already decided for you.

Your name.
Your gender.
Your nationality.

Soon after, decisions quietly pile up.
Which school you should go to.
What stream makes sense.
Which degree is “safe.”

Before you even learn how to question life, life is already answering on your behalf.

And most of us… comply.
We walk the path our peers walk.
We choose what sounds respectable.

We stay on autopilot, not because we’re lazy, but because awareness comes later.

That’s why I find something fascinating about people who consciously choose again.

Especially those who decide to pivot, restart, or transition careers.
When someone tells me, “I chose this path intentionally,” I know something powerful is already working in their favor.

Choice creates ownership.
Ownership creates commitment.

If you can do decently well in a career you never consciously picked…
Imagine how you’d perform in a space you chose with clarity.

A space aligned with your curiosity.
Your long-term thinking.
Your values.

This is exactly why I often see people thrive when they step into a field they opt into, rather than inherit.
Not because the field is easy.
But because the decision was deliberate.
And deliberate decisions change how you show up.

So if you’re someone who feels a quiet nudge this year 
To explore.
To reskill.

To question the script handed to you.

Listen to it.

You don’t need permission to want more for yourself.
You don’t need a dramatic reason to choose again.

Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is say:
“This time, I decide.”

If 2026 is the year you stop running on autopilot and start choosing consciously 

Do it.
Your future self will thank you.

Cyber & Digital Career Strategist | Non-Tech → Technical & Leadership Roles | Founder, Lateral Connect (NCSC-assured, ISO Lead Auditor, CISMP, ISC CC, NCFE)

7 Skills You Already Have That Make You Strong in Cybersecurity

Most people think cybersecurity starts with code.

It doesn’t.

It starts with judgement.

With how you think under pressure.
With how you respond when information is incomplete.
With how you navigate complexity when there isn’t a clear answer.

That’s why many of the strongest professionals in cyber didn’t start in tech.

They came from operations.
HR.
Finance.
Customer support.
Law.
Teaching.

What they brought wasn’t syntax.

It was signal.

Here are 7 skills you may already have:

1️⃣ Self-Awareness
You know your blind spots.
In cyber, knowing what you don’t know prevents risk.

2️⃣ Communication
You simplify complexity.
Cyber lives at the intersection of tech and business.

3️⃣ Decision-Making
You act without perfect information.
Cyber rarely offers certainty.

4️⃣ Resilience
You recover fast.
Incidents test response, not ego.

5️⃣ Ownership
You don’t wait to be told.
Leadership shows up before titles.

6️⃣ Adaptability
You adjust quickly.
Threat landscapes don’t stay still.

7️⃣ Integrity
You protect trust.
And cybersecurity exists to defend it.

If this feels familiar, you’re not starting from zero.

You’re not replacing yourself.

You’re repositioning yourself.

Cybersecurity isn’t a personality type.

It’s a behavioural standard.

And many of you already meet it.

♻️ Repost to support career changers into cyber
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for structured cybersecurity growth and early 
      leadership authority

Cyber leadership isn’t about knowing everything.

It’s about being trusted with uncertainty.

Early in your career, you’re rewarded for answers.
Later, you’re evaluated on judgement.

That transition catches many people off guard.

I’ve seen professionals panic when they’re no longer given step-by-step instructions.
When ambiguity increases.
When decisions matter more than execution.

That’s not failure, it’s progression.

Senior leaders don’t expect perfection.
They expect reasoning.

Can you explain trade-offs?
Can you justify risk?
Can you recommend next best actions?

Those are leadership skills, not soft skills.

If you wait to feel “ready” before stepping into that space, you’ll wait too long.

The people who grow fastest practise leadership before they’re asked.

If you’re strong technically but unsure how to move forward, the answer isn’t another tool.

It’s developing confidence in decision-making and communication.

I work with early-career cyber professionals to build leadership readiness intentionally, not accidentally.

Because in cyber, trust is promoted faster than talent.

If you want clarity on your cyber or leadership journey, complete the form and I’ll be in touch: https://lnkd.in/eanPfvHT

♻️ Repost to support future leaders
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for cybersecurity transition and authentic early  
      leadership
#AskVictoriaVictoria Coker

💣 TRUTH BOMB

Your career doesn’t slow down at 40–60.
It gets underused.

By this stage, you’ve:
• Seen systems fail
• Managed real risk
• Made decisions with consequences
• Learned what actually works, not what sounds good in decks

This should be your prime.

Yet this is exactly when most careers quietly flatten.
Not because experience expires.
But because ambition gets conditioned out.

No one spends 20+ years in IT, tech, or operations aiming for average.
Yet many end up there.
Not because they failed.
But because they adjusted.
They stop asking uncomfortable questions.
They start rationalising stagnation.
“The market is tough.”
“Ageism is real.”
“I should just be grateful I’m employed.”

After working with thousands of mid-to-senior professionals, here’s the uncomfortable truth:
It’s not your capability.
It’s the system you stayed loyal to.
Be dependable.
Don’t rock the boat.
Wait your turn.
That mindset works early.
It quietly caps you later.

The professionals who break through at 45, 50, 60 aren’t louder.
They’re not chasing trends either.

They make one strategic shift early:
They move closer to risk, security, and decision-making.
That’s why cybersecurity has become a powerful second-act career for experienced professionals.
Not because it’s “hot.”

But because it rewards:
• Pattern recognition
• Risk thinking
• Systems awareness
• Judgment under pressure

If you’ve spent 15+ years in IT, tech, infrastructure, operations, or delivery,and still feel underutilised
the problem isn’t effort.
It’s positioning.

Cybersecurity doesn’t erase your past.
It monetises it differently.
You don’t need to start over.
You need to stop playing small in the wrong lane.

♻️ Repost this for someone who still has decades of impact left.
🔔 Follow for strategic, senior-level cyber career thinking.

This isn’t about hustle.
It’s about choosing the right leverage point, before the system chooses for you.

Should you get into Cyber Security in 2026? ⚠️

Should you get into Cyber Security in 2026?
Or has AI already taken over everything? 

This question keeps coming up in my DMs.
And honestly?
The fear is understandable.
AI is everywhere.
People are pivoting fast.
And cybersecurity suddenly feels… uncertain.

But here’s the part most people miss 👇
Cybersecurity isn’t being replaced.
It’s being redefined.
AI didn’t reduce the need for security.
It multiplied it.

Every AI system still needs:
• Secure data
• Protected infrastructure
• Threat detection
• Human judgment under pressure

That’s where cyber professionals come in.
Yes, some tasks are automated now.
Log analysis.
Alert triage.
Routine monitoring.
But automation doesn’t eliminate roles.

It elevates them.
The demand is shifting toward:
🔹 Cloud security
🔹 AI model security
🔹 Threat intelligence
🔹 Incident response
🔹 GRC & risk leadership

And let’s talk reality 

Cybersecurity still offers:
• Strong salary growth
• Global demand
• Long-term stability
• Career mobility across industries

But here’s the honest truth 👀

Cybersecurity in 2026 isn’t for people who want comfort.
It’s for people who can adapt.
The tools will change.
The threats will evolve.
The learning never stops.

What stays constant?
🛡️ Protecting systems
🔐 Protecting data
👥 Protecting people

So should you get into cybersecurity in 2026?

Yes.
If you’re willing to grow with it.
Curious to hear your thoughts,

Is AI pushing you toward cyber… or away from it? 💬

The biggest mistake career changers make in cybersecurity?

Trying to look like someone they’re not.

I see professionals downplay their past all the time.
They remove non-tech roles from CVs.
They hide leadership experience.
They apologise for not being “technical enough.”

That’s the wrong strategy.

Cybersecurity teams don’t just protect systems.
They protect organisations.

That means understanding people, process, risk, communication, and decision-making.

When career changers try to mimic junior technical profiles, they lose their edge.
When they translate their experience instead, they stand out.

Hiring managers don’t want clones.
They want perspective.

The candidates who succeed aren’t the ones who know the most tools.
They’re the ones who explain impact clearly and ask the right questions.

If you’re pivoting into cyber, stop shrinking your background.
It’s not baggage, it’s leverage.

The shift isn’t “become technical.”
It’s “become credible in context.”

I support career changers in reframing their experience so interviews feel like conversations, not interrogations.

Cyber careers aren’t built by erasing your past.
They’re built by using it properly.

If you want to move from uncertainty to a credible cyber path, start with the form below https://lnkd.in/eanPfvHT 

♻️ Repost if this reframes cyber for you
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for cybersecurity transition and authentic early leadership
#AskVictoriaVictoria Coker

“You’re qualified. So why is nobody calling you back?”

“You’ve worked hard. So why does your career still feel stuck?”

I hear this every single week from talented professionals, people who have the experience, the work ethic, the ambition… but still aren’t landing interviews.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth:

It’s rarely about your capability.
It’s about how your capability is positioned.

Most people apply with CVs that sound like job descriptions, not outcomes.
They talk about responsibilities, not results.
They highlight tasks, not value.
And in a competitive market, that is the difference between “seen” and “ignored.”

If you’re transitioning into cybersecurity (or trying to move up in your current field), your experience matters, but only if you translate it into language employers understand.

My newsletter breaks it down simply:

1) Why qualified people still get overlooked
2) The hidden gaps recruiters see instantly
3) How to reposition your experience so it finally lands interviews
4) The 3-step formula I teach my career transition clients
5) If you’ve been applying with no progress, this will help you shift momentum.

Check it out there: https://lnkd.in/edYtunYf

10 signs you already belong in Cyber Security
(even if you don’t have a tech background yet)

Cybersecurity isn’t just about code.
Or tools.
Or certifications.

It’s about how you think when things can go wrong.
→ Under pressure
→ With incomplete information
→ When responsibility is real

Most people assume cyber is only for engineers.
If you didn’t start with computer science, you’re “late.”

That belief is wrong.

Some of the strongest cyber professionals today come from HR, operations, finance, law, compliance, customer support, even teaching.

Why?

Because cyber doesn’t start with keyboards.
It starts with patterns of behavior.

• You question assumptions instead of blindly following process
• You notice risk before it becomes visible
• You care about trust, boundaries, and accountability
• You document things because “memory isn’t control”
• You stay calm when others panic

That’s not beginner energy.
That’s cyber energy.

Cybersecurity needs people who ask:
→ “What happens if this fails?”
→ “Who is responsible here?”
→ “What’s the worst-case scenario?”

It needs people who understand that security isn’t about control.
It’s about protecting systems, people, and decisions.

If you see yourself in the signs in this carousel, you’re not starting from zero.

You’re already thinking like someone in the field.
And if more than a few points make you pause…

That feeling isn’t random.
It isn’t curiosity.
It’s alignment.

👉 If you keep telling yourself, “I’m not technical enough” then let’s have a chat. Fill the form below and I will show you that you belong in cyber. 

Because cyber doesn’t need more tools.
It needs more thinkers.

♻️ Repost if someone needs this reminder today
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for cyber career growth & authentic leadership

Most cyber professionals don’t fail because they lack skill.

They stall because leadership requires a different signal set.

You can design complex architectures.
You can lead incident response calls.
You can explain risk better than most people in the room.

Yet when leadership roles open up…
You’re “not quite ready.”

Not because you’re weak - but because you’re still being read as technical support, not strategic ownership.

Early cyber leadership isn’t about:
 • knowing more frameworks
 • collecting more certifications
 • being the loudest voice

It’s about:

 • how you frame risk to non-technical leaders
 • how you make decisions under ambiguity
 • how safe people feel escalating problems to you

Most cyber professionals are never taught this.
They’re promoted into leadership without being developed for it.

And that’s why so many leave leadership roles burnt out, sidelined, or quietly exited.

Strong cyber leaders aren’t accidental.
They’re designed, tested, and coached.

If you’re serious about stepping into - and staying in - cyber leadership:
Stop preparing like an engineer.

Start thinking like a leader who carries accountability.

That shift changes everything.

♻️ Repost to your network to support their growth
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for cyber career growth & authentic leadership
#AskVictoria Coker

HABITS TO ACCELERATE STUDENT’S SUCCESS IN CYBER

Most students think cybersecurity success starts with tools.

Certifications.
Technical depth.

Those matter, but they’re not where careers actually accelerate.
What I see, again and again, is that the fastest-moving students don’t win because they know more.

They win because they behave differently.
Cybersecurity is not just a technical field.
It’s a decision-making field, a trust field, and a discipline field.

The students who thrive build habits early, long before their first role.
They ask better questions instead of rushing for answers.
They document their thinking, not just their outcomes.
They get comfortable being confused, and stay curious instead of discouraged.

🔐 Cyber doesn’t reward panic.
It rewards clarity under pressure.

I’ve watched non-technical students outperform technical ones simply because they learned how to:
• Think in risk, not fear
• Communicate clearly, not impressively
• Learn steadily, not frantically

Progress in cyber is rarely dramatic.
It’s quiet.
Consistent.
Compounding.

The students who succeed don’t wait to “feel ready.”
They build credibility through habits, daily, weekly, intentionally.

If you’re a student wondering whether you’re cut out for cybersecurity, here’s the truth:
You don’t need to transform overnight.
You need to show up correctly.

And when your habits align with how cybersecurity actually works,
the career follows.
🧠 Skills can be taught.
⚙️ Tools can be learned.

But habits?
Those are what separate potential from progress.

Women in Tech Law & Cybersecurity Law
Where the Real Value Is Being Created

I recently had a conversation with Gita that stayed with me long after we wrapped up.

Not because of titles.
Not because of credentials.

But because of the clarity she has about where tech law and cybersecurity law are actually heading, especially for women shaping this space. 💡

For brief context (and it matters):
Gita is a recognised Rising Star in UK tech, privacy, and data protection law. She works at the intersection of law, finance, AI, and regulation, advising both industry and government.
Impressive résumé.

But that wasn’t the real takeaway.
It was the insight.

We spoke about a question many legal professionals quietly wrestle with:
How do lawyers actually add value inside tech and cybersecurity teams?

Her answer was refreshingly practical.
The role of a legal advisor today isn’t just to interpret regulations or flag risks after something goes wrong. ⚠️

It’s to bridge worlds.

To translate technical and cyber risks into language
 that management and boards understand. 

To connect legal frameworks with real, 
on-the-ground operational decisions.

To help secure sponsorship, funding, and 
buy-in for compliance programs and 
stronger security measures, before things break. 

In other words:
Legal professionals become enablers, not blockers.
They help engineers, security teams, and 
product leaders 
understand how legal frameworks 
apply to what they’re building.

They turn “This is risky” into:

👉 “This is why it matters, and this is what we do next.”

This is where I see a powerful opportunity.
Particularly for women in tech law 
and cybersecurity law. 
The future belongs to those who can
 translate complexity into clarity.

And risk into strategy.

And that role?
It’s only going to become more critical from here.

How to Negotiate a Higher Salary in Cybersecurity

One question I hear often is:
“What’s the best way to negotiate a higher salary in cybersecurity?”

The answer starts much earlier than the offer letter. 💡

If you’re entering a new company, the biggest mistake 
you can make is going in blind. Before discussing numbers, 
you need clarity on the internal structure. What are the role 
levels? What does seniority actually look like here? 
What responsibilities sit behind each title?

Many professionals end up accepting a lower role 
than they deserve, not because they lack skills, 
but because they didn’t ask the right questions early enough.
Salary negotiation isn’t just about money.

It’s about positioning.

You also need to know how to sell yourself, clearly, not loudly.

Can you explain the value you bring beyond tasks?
Can you articulate how your work reduces risk, strengthens security posture, protects revenue, or saves the business from costly incidents?

When you can explain your impact in business terms, negotiation becomes far more effective. 

It’s also important to ask thoughtful questions.
About growth paths.
About expectations.
About how success is measured.

Cybersecurity professionals are not just technical hires.
They are risk mitigators.
Business enablers.
Trust builders. 

When you understand where you truly fit, and can communicate that confidently, negotiating for more stops feeling awkward.

It starts feeling strategic.

And that’s when you stop settling for less than you’re worth.

The Work We Do Matters. 

More than most people realise.

Lateral Connect didn’t start as a business plan.

It started as frustration.

Watching talented professionals told they “don’t fit” because they don’t code.

Watching early leaders shrink because no one explained how influence actually works.

Watching capable people drift…
because no one mapped the path clearly.

Cybersecurity doesn’t have a talent shortage.

It has a clarity shortage.

So we built a structure where there was confusion.

▪️A 5-Month Cyber Training & Mentoring Programme:
     for those who need a safe but rigorous entry point.

▪️A 5-Week Career Accelerator:
    for those who need confidence, clarity, and communication.

▪️A 5-Week Early Leadership Accelerator:
    for those ready to move from execution to authority.

But what makes me proud isn’t accreditation.

It’s a transformation.

The person who thought they were “too non-technical.”

The analyst who realised leadership isn’t about volume - it’s about judgement.

The career changer who stopped shrinking and started signalling.

That’s the work.

And it compounds.

Because when one person accelerates, they open doors for others.
That’s how industries shift.

♻️ Repost to elevate emerging cyber leaders
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for structured cybersecurity growth and early    
      leadership authority

You aren’t here to be liked.

You’re here to be respected.

Don’t be easy.
Be hard.

Be righteous about what you believe in and what you’re building.
Don’t shrink yourself to make others comfortable.
Don’t let people bend you, dilute you, or turn you into something forgettable.

Don’t be a doormat.
Be a pointed nail.
They’ll remember you. 🔨

Here’s the truth most people don’t like hearing:
Some of the best decisions in life are not easy.

They’re uncomfortable.
They’re scary.
They make your stomach turn a little.

A good life lives after that discomfort.
It can look like studying a new course in your 40s or 50s.

Paying for coaching you technically “can’t afford,” but deeply want to learn from.

Transitioning careers because you know you’ve outgrown where you are.
Real life begins the moment you jump towards the fear, not away from it.
I speak to people every day who want to move into fields like cybersecurity.
And honestly?

Sometimes, after the call, I end up offering discounts.
Not because they asked.
But because I’m in awe of their fire. 🔥
Their willingness to jump.
To bet on themselves.
To choose growth over comfort.

What breaks my heart is this:
Most people never even get on the call.
“Oh, it’s a paid course.”
“I don’t want to talk.”
“It sounds expensive.”
“I’ll skip.”

At least take the first step.
Calls don’t charge money.
Curiosity doesn’t cost you anything.
Exposure itself teaches you something.

80% quit before things even start.
15% chase knowledge.
Less than 5% go all in.

That’s why the top is never crowded.
And the bottom always is.

And the hardest truth?

Most people stay there not because of luck.
But because of their own decisions.

Choose harder.
Choose braver.
Choose yourself.

Looking for a credible start in cybersecurity?
Use the form to learn how our training and mentoring works.

Form link: https://lnkd.in/eanPfvHT

It’s harsh, but this is the truth!!

💡 One of the hardest decisions you’ll ever make isn’t career-related.
It’s mindset-related.

It’s the moment you consciously decide to pay for your education.
Not because someone forced you.
Not because it was “cheap.”
But because you chose it.

👉 This is where most people hesitate.
We live in a strange contradiction.

We can:
📱 Buy the latest iPhone on EMI
🛍️ Spend impulsively
🎟️ Lose money to a scam
🚗 Upgrade lifestyles quietly

But when it comes to education 
suddenly, we want it free.
Especially in cybersecurity.
“I’ll just learn from YouTube.”
“I’ll figure it out on my own.”
“Why pay when information is everywhere?”
And yes, information is everywhere.
But transformation isn’t.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth 👇

Every person I’ve seen who consciously invests in their learning enters the field with an edge.

Not because they spent money.

But because of what that decision signals:
➡️ Commitment
➡️ Accountability
➡️ Skin in the game

In cybersecurity, mindset matters as much as skill.
The field demands:
• Continuous learning
• Structured thinking
• Long-term patience
• Comfort with uncertainty

People who invest intentionally tend to:
→ Take learning seriously
→ Show up consistently
→ Finish what they start
→ Respect the process

And no, this isn’t about expensive courses or blind spending.
It’s about intentional choice.

We rarely question paying EMIs for gadgets that depreciate.
But we overthink investing in education that compounds for years.

That gap?

That’s not financial.
It’s psychological.

Cybersecurity doesn’t reward shortcuts.
It rewards people who decide deliberately.
Sometimes, the real upgrade isn’t your laptop.

It’s your mindset toward learning.
✨ Not everything valuable is free.
✨ And not everything paid is wasteful.
✨ The difference is conscious choice.

That choice alone already puts you ahead.

If you want to move from uncertainty to a credible cyber path, start with the form below.

Form link: https://lnkd.in/eanPfvHT

AI social platform hacked in minutes

Researchers exploited Moltbook’s misconfiguration in just ~3 minutes, exposing email addresses, private DMs & 1.5 million API tokens.

Last week, Wiz security researchers showcased how rapidly an insecure system can be compromised. Moltbook - a growing AI agent social platform - allowed attackers to breach its backend in under three minutes. The vulnerability wasn’t zero-day magic; it was a simple backend misconfiguration. 

This incident highlights two important trends: 
1) as platforms integrate rapidly developed AI tech, core security hygiene must not be deprioritised; and 
2) API tokens and auth flaws are still low-effort, high-impact attack vectors. 

Many cybersecurity professionals are underestimating how credential and configuration hygiene straight up makes or breaks a platform’s security posture. If we can’t enforce basics like proper authentication flow or secure defaults, flashy AI features won’t save us.

Things to highlight:

• The balance between rapid product iteration and secure engineering.
• The role of automated discovery tools in modern pentesting.
• Why AI integrations require pre-deployment security gating.

Link is in the comment section: 

♻️ Repost to challenge AI security assumptions
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