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I'm Jim, and I'm a lawyer.

But I don't write about legal topics.

I write about leadership and personal growth.

Why learn from me?

I bring an expertise you won’t find anywhere else online.

Besides leading teams in multiple law firms for years...

And starting two law practices from scratch...

In 2017 I branched out … I co-founded a telehealth website where we helped people overcome excess drinking through medication-assisted treatment and personal development coaching.

What’s the link to lawyering?

As a lawyer, I defend against injury cases that require a deep understanding of medicine and psychology. 

I’ve deposed over 300 doctors and mental health providers, diving into medical and psychological concepts at their level.

I transferred that skill set, along with years of solving problems for clients, into the wellness and personal growth space.

I applied my analytical skills, the same I use to dissect real-world, complex legal cases, to pick apart the science behind personal development.

I crafted not just medical solutions (through the doctors we contracted with) but also systemized, actionable, personal growth training for our patients.

And we didn’t just aim to restore patients to an average level of health...

We transformed their lives through growth-focused skills ⚡

Here are a few testimonials we received from patients that went through our program:

✅ “This program didn’t just change my habits - it gave me the confidence and clarity to control my life in ways I never thought possible."

✅ “Your support and coaching is invaluable. I’m so lucky to have you and Alcure. It has helped immensely.”

✅ “I especially wanted you to know that your videos alone were worth the first month. You do great work!”

✅ "Loved your videos on Life Hacks, Minimalism, and Gratitude.”

✅ “My future looks so much brighter! Thank you. I was skeptical, but now I’m proof that this approach works. I can’t wait to see where I go from here.”

After helping 400+ people (many during the pandemic) and generating over $500,000 in revenue, we wrapped up the project in 2023.

Now I’m onto new ventures.

Some more about me:

✅ Made over $500,000 in revenue with a telehealth website while maintaining a full-time law practice

✅ Thomson Reuters ranked Super Lawyer (2012-2025), top 5% in Southern California

✅ Invited speaker

⭐ Follow me and tap the 🔔 for my daily posts on clarity, growth and leadership 🔥

👁️ For deeper insights, sign up for my weekly newsletter, essential frameworks, below ⤵

Learn to lead yourself.
Learn to lead others.

James Kamanski

Everyone has a timeline in their head.
Most of that pressure comes from comparing your path to someone else’s.

But life does not unfold on a schedule.
Growth shows up at its own pace.

You can be:
+ lost at 22
+ broke at 28
+ unsure at 31
+ starting over at 35
+ finally rising at 38
+ finding your purpose at 42
and unstoppable at 47.

None of that means you failed.
It means you’re still becoming the person you’re supposed to be.

Progress is not linear.
Purpose takes time.
And greatness grows quietly before anyone else notices it.

✅ Trust your pace.
✅ Trust your path.
✅ You are not behind.

You’re building something worth waiting for.

Repost now with others
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Helping professionals master clarity, growth and leadership • Created a research-backed personal development course that helped 400+ people transform their health, wealth and relationships • Follow me for daily insights

Retention is cheaper than replacement.
Every time.

Hiring feels expensive.
But replacing great people costs far more.

Here’s what replacement actually includes ↓

→ Lost knowledge and context
→ Months of reduced productivity
→ Hiring fees and onboarding time
→ Team morale taking a hit
→ Leaders stretched thin filling gaps

Most exits do not happen because of money alone.
They happen because people feel unseen, unsupported, or exhausted.

Treating people well is not a perk.
It is a strategy.

✅ Fair pay.
✅ Respect.
✅ Room to grow.
✅ Clear expectations.

Do that consistently and your best people stop looking elsewhere.

The cheapest talent decision you can make is keeping the people who already believe in the work.

Credits: Rob Dance

Repost now with others
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The most underrated career skill?
Taking tough love without taking it personally.

Knowledge is everywhere.
Feedback is rare.

Because once people realize you can’t handle the truth,
they stop telling you the truth.

That’s when growth stops.

The people who rise the fastest aren’t the ones who know it all:
They’re the ones who can hear hard things and use them well.

They ask instead of defend.
They listen instead of react.
They improve instead of argue.

If you want to grow fast, don’t chase praise.
Seek honesty - even when it stings.

That’s where real development begins.

♻ Share this with others
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Credits: Adam Grant

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 the straight corporate ladder. But the truth? Careers today grow sideways before they grow upwards.

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

You need:

- A lateral career strategy that turns your past into a competitive advantage
- Mentorship that accelerates growth instead of delaying it
- Leadership habits that scale with every move you make

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

Through Lateral Connect, our mentorship-driven programmes combine:

1️⃣ Career transition roadmaps tailored for non-tech professionals
2️⃣ Early leadership coaching for first-time and aspiring managers
3️⃣ Practical upskilling that leads directly to outcomes in cyber and digital roles

I’ve guided:

🔹 HR leaders into risk management
🔹 Project managers into cyber leadership
🔹 Marketers into digital transformation consulting

This isn’t about chasing titles.
It’s about building a career platform that opens doors to leadership.

📩 Ready to pivot with confidence? DM me or visit Lateral Connect to start your transformation.

Victoria Coker

Growth feels lonely…

Until you realise it’s not loneliness, it’s alignment.

Not everyone is meant to grow with you, especially in cybersecurity, where your path often requires sharper boundaries, deeper focus, and a different level of responsibility.

As I’ve evolved in this field, I’ve noticed something unexpected:

Some people cheer.
Some people question.
Some people quietly pull back.

Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because you’re doing something different.

Here’s what to leave behind, and what to lean into:

Cybersecurity has a way of changing how you think, how you prioritise, and who you allow into your inner circle. And that shift can make others uncomfortable.

1. ❌ STOP letting others define your pace
↳ They don't have your vision, you do.

2. ✅ START honouring what your future requires
↳ Even if it means outgrowing old dynamics.

3. ❌ STOP explaining every decision
↳ Growth doesn’t need permission slips.

4. ✅ START trusting your internal “yes”
↳ Your intuition often knows before your confidence catches up.

5. ❌ STOP shrinking to maintain comfort
↳ Stability is not the same as progress.

6. ✅ START surrounding yourself with expanders
↳ People who stretch your thinking, not your limits.

Growth will cost you certain relationships.
But staying small will cost you yourself.
Choose you.

♻️ Repost to empower someone stepping into their next chapter
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for Cyber Career Change & Early Leadership
#AskVictoria Coker

Non-Tech to Cyber in 5 Mos | Be Career-Ready with Confidence | Founder @Lateral Connect (NCSC-Assured) | Supporting Talent Across Skanska, Honeywell, Bupa & Virgin Money

“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆” 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝟭

Am I too old to transition into cybersecurity?
This is the question I hear more than any other.
From people in their 30s.
Their 40s.
Their 50s.
Sometimes even in their 60s.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲:
“𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆... 𝗔𝗺 𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲?”

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱:
Cybersecurity isn’t an age game, it’s an experience game.
And the industry today is starving for exactly that: experience, maturity, judgment, and domain understanding.

Let’s start with what the numbers reveal.
Right now, cybersecurity has 𝟯.𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆.
Not beginner-only roles.
Not coding-only roles.
Not Silicon Valley tech roles.

𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
✔ Governance
✔ Risk
✔ Compliance
✔ Audit
✔ Vendor Security
✔ Privacy
✔ Incident Coordination
✔ Policy & Strategy
✔ Business Continuity
✔ Identity & Access
✔ Cyber Awareness
✔ Security Culture'

These roles don’t need to be “young.”
They need to be capable.
They need experience.
They need professionals who understand how real businesses operate.

And here’s where most people get it wrong:
You don’t transition into cybersecurity by starting from zero.
You transition by carrying your industry knowledge with you.
Cybersecurity is most powerful when it’s contextual. When it reflects the real-world environment a business operates in. 

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
– A finance professional strengthens fintech security.
– A logistics manager boosts supply chain resilience.
– An HR lead improves insider-risk culture.
– A lawyer brings governance, compliance, and privacy mastery.
– A teacher enriches cyber awareness training.
– A healthcare worker offers deep patient-data insight.

Cybersecurity is not a silo.

It is an intersection, a crossroads of every industry you’ve ever worked in.'
Your experience is not a weakness.
It’s your competitive edge.
And often, it’s the one thing missing in cybersecurity teams today.

♻️ Repost to help new leaders refram career transition
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for authentic leadership & career growth

#AskVictoriaCoker # Careertransition #CybersecurityLeadership #CareerChange

𝗗𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆-𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁?

Everyone says “just get an entry-level cybersecurity job!”
But when you look at job portals, you see this:
𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆-𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 → 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝟯–𝟱 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 + 𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 + 𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗣

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵?
Do real beginner-friendly cyber roles exist?
Yes, but not how most people imagine.
Let’s break it down.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁
Cybersecurity is exploding.
3.5+ million unfilled jobs by 2025
Massive demand across every sector
New attacks, new tech, new threats → nonstop growth

🔥 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆-𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲
These roles do exist, but companies don’t always label them well.
Real beginner-friendly paths:
→ SOC Analyst
→ GRC Analyst
→ Security Analyst
→ Cybersecurity Specialist (generalist)
→ Security Awareness Coordinator
→ Vulnerability Management Assistant
→ Cybersecurity Sales Support / Sales Engineer

Yes, even sales is a legit cyber entry-point and pays insanely well.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻:
Monitoring alerts
Running scanners
Writing reports
Following playbooks
Supporting compliance
Helping security teams
Learning on the job
You’re not expected to reverse malware or hack satellites.
You’re expected to learn fast, think logically, and follow processes.

🔥 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗼 (𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁)
Depending on the role, you might:
→ Review alerts in a SOC
→ Run vulnerability scans
→ Analyze suspicious activity
→ Support incident responders
→ Write or update policies (GRC)
→ Train employees on security basics
→ Configure basic tools (firewall, EDR, SIEM)
→ Research new threats
→ Report findings to the business

This is the REAL work, not Hollywood hacking.

🔥 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘆: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁
Contrary to what people think…
entry-level cybersecurity pays well.
✔ $60,000 – $110,000/year (U.S.)
Your location + industry affects this.
Finance pays more than education.
Cities pay more than small towns.

🔥 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱
Forget the noise.
You truly need only 3 things:
1️⃣ Basic IT + Networking Fundamentals
(What is an IP, DNS, OSI layers, basic troubleshooting)

2️⃣ One Beginner Certification
Start with:
✔ Security+
✔ Network+
✔ CC (ISC2)
These alone can open doors.

3️⃣ Demonstrated Hands-On Effort (Even Without a Job)
Build experience from home:
TryHackMe
Blue Team Labs
HackTheBox
Splunk free labs
AWS free tier
Wireshark exercises

🔥 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆
Entry-level cyber roles DO exist.
But you must know where to look, how to position yourself, and how to build proof of skills before you land the job.

♻️ Repost to help new leaders reframe failure
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for authentic leadership & career growth
#AskVictoriaCoker #LeadershipDevelopment #TechLeadership #CareerGrowth

5 Truths About Entry-Level Cyber Jobs

Growing hurts when others don’t grow too.

And pushback comes from unexpected people.

It’s rarely malice.
It’s human nature.

Growth disrupts familiarity.
Your evolution reminds people of their hesitation.
Your courage mirrors their fear.

And without meaning to, they try to keep you where they feel comfortable, not where you are meant to go.

Here are 5 grounding principles that protect your growth, especially during a career change or leadership leap:

1. Protect Your Energy
↳ Notice who expands your thinking vs. who drains it.
↳ Boundaries create space for growth, not distance.

2. Move Quietly, Not Secretly
↳You don’t need to justify ambition.
↳Your results will speak with more clarity than explanations ever will.

3. Document Your Wins
↳ Write down every small breakthrough.
↳ Growth becomes real when you can see the evidence.

4. Surround Yourself With Elevators
↳ Find mentors, peers, and communities who pull you upward, not sideways.

5. Back Yourself Relentlessly
↳ Your intuition is data.
↳ Trust it before waiting for validation.

The people who are meant for you won’t be threatened by your rise, they’ll rise with you.
Don’t shrink your potential to fit someone else’s comfort.

♻️ Repost to empower someone who’s outgrowing their environment
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for Cyber Career Change & Early Leadership
#AskVictoria Coker

“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆” 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝟮

Why Mid-Career Professionals Thrive in Cybersecurity?
If you’re older, you’re not “too late.”

You’re exactly the kind of professional cybersecurity needs more of.

Why?

Because the traits that matter most in this field don’t come from age, they come from lived experience.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗱-𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀:

🔹 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Years of decision-making sharpen your risk-awareness. You’ve seen failures, crises, mistakes, and recoveries, which makes you far better at understanding what real risk looks like.

🔹 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁
Cybersecurity isn’t just protecting systems, it’s protecting business processes. You already understand how your industry works. That’s an advantage no certification can teach.

🔹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀
Cybersecurity is cross-functional and people-driven. Explaining risk to non-technical teams takes maturity, clarity, and influence, strengths mid-career professionals naturally have.

🔹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
Security work demands calm, credibility, and strategic thinking. These are qualities that improve with age, not youth.

🔹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀
Problem-solving, documentation, operations, project management, stakeholder handling, these skills matter more than writing code.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀:
– GRC Analyst
– Cyber Risk Specialist
– Information Security Manager
– Compliance Officer
– Privacy Analyst
– Incident Response Coordinator
– Security Program Manager

These jobs do not reward youth.
They reward understanding.

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁?

1️⃣ Choose your lane
Do you enjoy policies? Risk? Compliance? Governance? Investigations? Operations? Training?

2️⃣ Identify your transferable strengths
Most professionals already possess:
• Documentation skills
• Risk thinking
• Communication
• Coordination
• Domain expertise
• Analytical reasoning

3️⃣ Add the right cybersecurity layer
– GRC: CRISC, CISM
– Governance/Audit: CISA
– Compliance: ISO/PCI/GDPR
– Foundations: Security+
– Leadership: CISSP (with experience)

4️⃣ Position yourself as a bridge
Don’t introduce yourself as a “beginner.”
Introduce yourself as someone who brings industry expertise + cybersecurity insight, the exact combination employers hire immediately.

Cybersecurity doesn’t need more “young talent.”
It needs diverse, experienced, mature thinkers who understand how real businesses operate.

You are not too old.
You are too valuable to sit on the side-lines.

And if you want guidance on choosing your lane, mapping your skills, or planning your transition, I help people do this every day.
Just reach out, your cybersecurity chapter can start today.

I don’t attend many events,

but this one mattered.

GRC has been one of my core disciplines for over a decade, and when AJ Yawn the VP of GRC Engineering at Compyl personally reached out, I knew I needed to be there. Not just because of the content (which was excellent), but because of the intention behind it.

Cybersecurity is vast.
It’s complex.
And for many people, it’s overwhelming.

So when someone takes the time to break things down, educate with clarity, and create a space where the community can actually learn, not just listen… you show up. You support them, you show up!

AJ has always led with generosity and practical insight, and this event was no exception. The discussions around modern GRC, automation, and operational resilience were not just informative, they were genuinely actionable.

But more than anything, I attended because community matters.
Leaders who simplify the hard things make the industry better for everyone.
Thank you, AJ, for teaching, sharing, and creating rooms where people feel included, not intimidated.

Also, I had the opportunity to finally meet, the one and only Princess David Okoro 🫠 🥰 

Looking forward to the next one AJ Yawn

𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲

Cybersecurity Doesn’t Just Protect Economies, It Fuels Them.
We often talk about cybersecurity as a cost.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀:
The US saw only a 0.3% GDP dip in 2025.
During the pandemic?
GDP fell 8.9% in one quarter.
A massive portion of that disruption came from weak cyber readiness.

𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟰 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

1️⃣ 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Every sector, from healthcare to finance, relies on uninterrupted operations.

2️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀
R&D, AI models, intellectual property, one breach can set industries back years.

3️⃣ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Security analysts, engineers, incident responders, GRC professionals, demand is skyrocketing.

4️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Strong cyber posture reduces systemic risk, stabilises supply chains, and increases investor confidence.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁?
Cybersecurity is no longer a defensive role.
It’s an economic enabler.
And the countries that invest in cyber readiness today will be the economic leaders of the next decade.

Is your organisation treating cybersecurity as a cost, or as a growth strategy?

♻️ Repost to help new leaders reframe failure
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𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲

No one prepares you for this part of career growth…

And yet, it’s the part that shapes you the most.”

No one prepares you for this part of career growth…
And yet, it’s the part that shapes you the most.

Most people talk about the skills you need to succeed.
But very few talk about the inner work,  the mindset, the resilience, the emotional stability,  that actually carries you through career transitions, leadership challenges, and pivot points.

When I stepped into both cybersecurity and leadership roles, I expected complexity, intelligence, frameworks, strategy.
What I didn’t expect was the cultural shock, the self-doubt, or the emotional resilience required to navigate spaces that weren’t built with people like me in mind.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Your confidence grows before your career does.
2. Your clarity sharpens before your role changes.
3. And your emotional intelligence becomes your competitive advantage 
    long before your technical knowledge catches up.

Whether you're pivoting into cyber, stepping into leadership, or trying to regain confidence after a tough season, remember this:
Your growth is happening even when you don’t see the results yet.

Keep going.
Your future self is already proud of you.

♻️ Repost to help someone keep going when it feels heavy
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 9 Underrated Cybersecurity Career Fact.pdf

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟓 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫

Most people assume cybersecurity only has two paths:
Pen Tester or SOC Analyst.

But that belief hides dozens of beginner-friendly roles people never discover.

And the real problem?
They don’t know what these roles actually do, what’s great about them, or what the downsides are, so they never choose the job that truly fits them.

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝟱 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿-𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿.

1️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 (𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺)

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼:
Monitor alerts, investigate suspicious activity, stop active attacks, escalate threats, document incidents.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
You’re the frontline defender, real-time investigations, high adrenaline, and meaningful impact.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
Cyber attackers don’t work 9–5.
Holidays, weekends, evenings, incidents come when they come.

2️⃣ 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼:
Find out how an attack happened, what the attacker touched, and whether they’re still inside the network.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
Deep-dive analysis, investigating clues, solving technical puzzles.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
Forensics can take hours or days, and sometimes you still don’t find the exact cause.

3️⃣ 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼:
Build and maintain security systems, firewalls, endpoint tools, cloud security, identity management, etc.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
You get to architect, design, and build solutions that protect entire environments.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
You often rely on other teams (IT, infrastructure).
And sometimes business priorities delay essential fixes.

4️⃣ 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 (𝗣𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 / 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿)

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼:
Simulate attacks, exploit vulnerabilities, test defences, and help organisations understand their weak points.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
It’s exciting, hands-on, creative, and you get paid to “hack” legally.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
Every successful exploit must be documented clearly.
And many beginners don’t enjoy the writing/reporting part.

5️⃣ 𝗩𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼:
Scan systems, identify weaknesses, assess risk levels, and work with teams to ensure patches are applied.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
You get a complete, top-down view of an organisation’s entire environment.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁:
Not every team patches quickly, which means constant follow-ups and occasional frustration.

Cybersecurity is a hallway full of unlocked rooms.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁?
Don’t choose the role that sounds popular.
Choose the one that matches how you think.
Which one of these 5 cyber roles fits you best?

♻️ Repost to help new leaders reframe failure
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#AskVictoriaCoker

Just one day left before the WomenTech Network Global Awards 2025 winners are announced, and I’m still humbled to be a finalist for the Community Award.
 
Thank you to everyone who has voted already, your support truly means everything. 

This nomination represents the thousands of people changing careers, rebuilding their confidence, and stepping into cybersecurity through our programmes, people who remind me daily why I started Lateral Connect.

Whether I win or not, the mission remains the same
 ✨ Make cybersecurity accessible
 ✨ Create real, meaningful opportunities
 ✨ Support those starting from scratch
 ✨ Build leaders, not just job titles

If you haven’t voted yet and would like to support, the link is in the comments.
Thank you again, truly. 💙

Women in Tech - Global Awards - Finalist

𝗬𝗼𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝐚 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝐬𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁𝘀.

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲.

Funny, right?
Different names.
Same role.
Same work.

𝘈 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵: 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 “𝘤𝘺𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘵” 𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘱 70–80% 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘚𝘖𝘊, 𝘕𝘖𝘊, 𝘐𝘚𝘖𝘊, 𝘊𝘚𝘖𝘊, 𝘐𝘙... 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘴, 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘣.

𝗬𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿:
→ “Perfect” titles
→ Long lists of requirements
→ Fancy tools they can’t access
→ Certifications they think they “must” get
→ Job descriptions packed with buzzwords

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵?

The work is almost always the same: monitor, detect, investigate, document.
Because cyber defense is predictable.
Alerts come in.
You analyze.
You find the root cause.
You escalate or resolve.
You write it down.
And then you do it again.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀:
→ Feeling lost reading job postings
→ Confusion around 10 different titles
→ Imposter syndrome from bloated requirement lists
→ Passing certs but failing hands-on tasks
→ Fear of tools you’ve never actually used

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲:
Copy-pasted JDs.
HR buzzwords.
Expectation overload.
Tool obsession.
“Entry-level unicorn” listings.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗿:
→ Learn basic networking (everything starts here)
→ Build one small SOC lab (EDR + SIEM + logs)
→ Practice detection + documentation (the real job)
→ Understand MDR/MSSP workflows (where most beginners start)
→ Learn one or two common tools, not ten

Real learning compounds slowly.
Skill takes time.
Clarity beats chaos.

What’s one SOC skill you can practice today, instead of searching for the “perfect” job title?

♻️ Repost to help new leaders reframe failure
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𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁

We’ve all met people who say:
“I wish I knew YouTube would explode.”
“I wish I started on Instagram before it became saturated.”
“I wish I learned video editing before it became a must-have skill.”

Everyone wishes they got the head start… once the opportunity is already gone.

So let me give you a real head start today. One that is still early, still underserved, and still wide open.

𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆.

This is the 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲, and unlike most trends, this isn’t speculation. It’s backed by data, demand, and global urgency.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆:
• Cybercrime is expected to cost $9.2 trillion in 2024.
• The global cybersecurity workforce gap is 3.4 million unfilled roles (ISC2).
• 70% of organisations report they can’t hire cybersecurity talent fast enough.
• Women hold only 24% of cyber roles, an enormous untapped opportunity.

This field is not “getting big in the future.”
It is already big.
But it will get crowded. And fast.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴:
You do not need a tech degree, coding background, or engineering experience to get into cybersecurity.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺:
✅ Finance
✅ HR
✅ Operations
✅ Retail
✅ Healthcare
✅ Education
✅ Hospitality

The catch isn’t your background.
The catch is whether you take the step before everyone else wakes up to this opportunity.

I’ve helped more than 1000 non-tech professionals transition into cybersecurity, many of them starting from scratch and now thriving in roles they never imagined.

𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿:
A field with massive demand, real stability, global mobility, and a talent gap the world is desperate to fill.

If you’ve ever wished you got in early, this is your moment.

Let’s talk about how you can transition smoothly, even with zero technical experience.

♻️ Repost to help new leaders reframe failure
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