Why It Matters

Leadership in cybersecurity is not optional. When something goes wrong, someone has to make decisions fast, keep the team focused, and communicate clearly up and down the chain. Technical skills get you in the room, but leadership is what makes you effective once you are there.

The Experience

As the Student SOC Lead at ODU’s Information Security office, I supervised a team of seven student analysts supporting real security operations for a university of over 25,000 users. I ran weekly training sessions, managed phishing alert triage, and handled active security incidents that required immediate escalation to university leadership. This was not a simulation. These were real alerts, real users, and real consequences.

What I Took Away

Leading this team taught me that good leadership in security means staying calm, communicating clearly, and knowing when to act and when to escalate. I grew a lot as a decision maker in this role, and I also learned that developing the people around you is just as important as solving the problem in front of you.