5 ways Black women can advance from tech expert to executive leader in cybersecurity

Written by Dora Mensah There comes a moment in your career when simply being the person with the right answer is no longer enough. You can be the one leadership turns to when an assessment is off track, when a risk needs to be explained, or when a complex compliance issue needs to be solved, and still realize that being technically indispensable is not the same as being ready for leadership. For many Black women in cybersecurity, that feeling is all too familiar.

We assess risk, examine vulnerabilities, lead audits, interpret regulations, manage remediation, and help organizations make high-stakes decisions. The challenge is making sure that work is recognized for what it truly is: leadership. After nearly a decade working in cybersecurity governance, risk, and compliance, especially in complex public-sector environments, I realized that advancing required something different from me.

I did not need to leave my technical expertise behind. I needed to learn how to turn it into influence. I think about that shift through what I call the SCALE Framework: Speak the language of business, Capture your impact, Articulate at the executive level, Leverage sponsorship, and Execute at the next level now.

S — Speak the Language of Business Finding a technical issue is only part of the job. Leaders need to understand what that issue means for the organization. A vulnerability is not just a vulnerability.

It could mean operational disruption, regulatory exposure, financial loss, reputational harm, or even an inability to deliver essential services. A control weakness is not simply a failed control. It may indicate that the organization is carrying more risk than leadership realizes.

Instead of stopping at “this control is ineffective,” explain what could happen if it is not fixed, how serious the exposure is, and what decision leadership needs to make. That is the difference between reporting a problem and shaping a decision. Before your next leadership briefing, ask yourself: if I removed the technical language, could I still explain why this matters to the business?

If not, keep translating. Technical excellence can make you indispensable. Strategic influence makes your value visible.

C — Capture Your Impact There is a difference between what you do and the impact you create. “Conducted security assessments” describes a responsibility. “Led assessments across multiple systems, identified recurring control weaknesses, and helped improve readiness and remediation timelines” shows impact.

Keep track of the problems you solved, the processes you improved, the risks you reduced, the teams you influenced, and the decisions you helped shape. This matters especially for Black women who often carry significant responsibility without receiving equal recognition. You cannot always control who notices your work.

You can control whether you know how to describe its value. Create an impact document and update it regularly. Record measurable results whenever possible: assessments completed, systems supported, timelines improved, teams led, processes created, or risks reduced.

Do not wait until an interview, performance review, or promotion conversation to remember what you have accomplished. A — Articulate at the Executive Level Technical credibility may get you into the room. Communication determines whether people listen once you are there.

Executive communication is not about sounding more impressive. It is about being clear, confident, and concise. Senior leaders usually want to know three things: What is happening?

Why does it matter? What do you recommend? You should know the technical details and be ready to defend your analysis, but you do not need to lead with every detail you know.

Lead with the message. Before entering a senior-level meeting, ask yourself: if I only had two minutes, what would leadership absolutely need to understand? Executive presence is not about sounding important.

It is about making complex issues understandable enough for people to act on them. L — Leverage Sponsorship Mentorship matters, but mentorship and sponsorship are not the same. A mentor offers guidance.

A sponsor says your name when you are not in the room. Sponsors recommend you for opportunities, introduce you to decision-makers, advocate for your potential, and put you forward for assignments that increase your visibility. Sometimes, especially as Black women, we assume advancement requires another certification, another degree, or another credential.

Education matters. I have invested heavily in mine. But there comes a point when the question shifts from “What else do I need to prove?” to “Who knows what I can do?” Build relationships with leaders who can see how you think, solve problems, and lead.

Do excellent work. Build trust. Take on meaningful assignments.

Ask thoughtful questions. Let people see you operate beyond the limits of your job description. Sponsorship grows where credibility, visibility, and relationships meet.

Your next promotion may not depend on knowing more. It may depend on more people understanding the value of what you already know. E — Execute at the Next Level Now Do not wait for a promotion before you start leading.

Volunteer to lead the project. Mentor someone newer to the field. Improve the broken process.

Facilitate the difficult meeting. Bring teams together. Present the recommendation.

Take ownership when the path forward is unclear. At some point in your career, your value is measured by more than how well you handle your own work. It is also measured by your ability to create clarity, develop people, influence decisions, and move the organization forward.

Ask yourself: what am I doing in my current role that shows I can operate at the next level? If that answer is hard to find, look for an opportunity to lead now. It’s Time to SCALE For Black women in cybersecurity, the next level may not require becoming more technically capable.

Many of us already are. The next move may be learning how to position that capability differently. Speak the language of business.

Capture your impact. Articulate at the executive level. Leverage sponsorship.

Execute at the next level now. That is how we SCALE. A seat at the table matters.

But a seat alone is not the goal. The goal is to influence the conversation, shape the decision, lead the people, and help determine what happens next. For Black women in cybersecurity who have spent years proving we can do the work, the next season may not be about proving we belong.

It is about leading like we already know we do. RELATED CONTENT: Shaq Gets Serious About Cybersecurity After Getting Hacked