Why Does Cybersecurity Mentorship Matter?

On this episode, Steve speaks with Sandro Buccianeri, CISO of the ABSA Group, about finding a mentor early on in your career, why he chose to use his security experience to help others, and an initiative he’s leading in South Africa, to uplift the people from marginalized groups in South Africa through cybersecurity training.

The ABSA Cybersecurity Academy

The Absa Cybersecurity Academy was founded to help address the worldwide cybersecurity skills shortage. The programme is an externally focused, corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at empowering marginalised South African youths to become certified cybersecurity specialists. Addressing the global shortage of cybersecurity professionals is an urgent challenge and provides a unique opportunity to make a difference. This skills shortage must be filled to support the projected growth in the world’s cybersecurity sector over the next couple of years, but the talent pool is simply not keeping pace.

Young South Africans from marginalised backgrounds are hungry for opportunities to develop skills that will result in employment. They are often unable to access tertiary education due to financial circumstances and without education, their future is bleak and the cycle of poverty continues. Given the enormous need for skilled cybersecurity professionals locally and globally, we saw the opportunity to truly make a difference and change lives.

Learn more about the Academy here. 

Sandro and Steve also tackle topics like:

• Taking care of your mental health, and that of your team
• Building corporate relationships
• What NOT to expect in a boardroom

Sandro Bucchianeri

Sandro Bucchianeri is an award-winning, globally experienced Security Executive with over two decades of security experience. He has managed globally dispersed teams and successfully delivered strategic, transformational programmes virtually. In addition to Risk & Securities and Legal & Compliance expertise, he is an innovator and strategically minded leader at heart. As a recognized thought & transformational leader in Cybersecurity, Sandro is called on as a keynote speaker and collaborator across the world and plays an integral role in the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Cybersecurity and in the past, the Payment Card Industry’s (PCI) Board of Advisors.

Learn more on LinkedIn