Fifth Third Bank

Mortgage Loan Originator

Truist

Senior Mortgage Loan Officer, Vice President, NMLSR # 546553

Regions Bank

As a  Senior Mortgage Loan Officer, I establish and maintain positive relationships with existing and potential customers. In addition, I promote and develop relationships with referral sources such as realtors, and other groups to generate mortgage leads.

Other responsibilities include:

♦ Interview applicants and requests appropriate credit documentation and specified information
for loan application.

♦ Analyze applicant’s financial status, credit and proposed property transaction to determine
appropriate loan program.

♦ Provide excellent customer service and solves customer-related problems quickly.

To learn more about my experience, please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Senior Mortgage Loan Officer, Vice President

Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC

Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is a nonprofit organization that has provided food for people at risk of hunger in our 34 county service area for over 35 years. The Food Bank serves a network of more than 800 partner agencies such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and programs for children and adults through 6 branches in Durham, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, Sandhills (Southern Pines) and Wilmington.

As a one of the Board of Director, our mission for the organization is, 'No One Goes Hungry in Central & Eastern North Carolina'.

OUR VALUES
♦ Nourished People
♦ Built Nutrition
♦ Built Solutions

OUR RESULT

✔ 70 million pounds of food and other essential items were distributed by year end (+5.6 million pounds). 
✔ 23.3 million pounds (37% of total) fresh produce distributed by year end. 
✔ We launched the Department of Community Health & Engagement in the fall of 2016.

To know more about our accomplishments in this organization, please feel free to connect with me and send me a message.

Board of Directors

Bank of America

Bank of America Corporation is a multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is ranked 2nd on the list of largest banks in the United States by assets.

I was recruited by Bank of America to sell and originate residential mortgage loans according to established policies, procedures, applicable legal, and regulatory guidelines..

♦ Ensured applications are completed accurately and contain required information and supporting documentation.Manages Customers’ expectations regarding processing times and closing dates.

♦ Generated referrals for mortgage sales opportunities and sales of other Company business line products.

♦ Developed plan to achieve sales goals with assistance from sales management.

Mortgage Loan Officer

In 2004, I joined Bank of America to open and process clients accounts, focusing on providing excellent customer service. In this role, I developed and maintained relationships with local real estate agents. 

♦ Promoted and sold bank products beneficial to clients

♦ Maintained strict confidentiality of bank records and information

♦ Created strategies to develop and expand existing customer sales

Personal Banker

With over 20 years in the financial industry as a Mortgage Loan Officer/VP, I've dedicated my career to serving healthcare professionals and high-net-worth individuals with specialized lending solutions that match their unique needs.

My expertise centers on two key areas:

📊 Physician & Healthcare Professional Lending

*Specialized loan programs designed for doctors, dentists, optometrists, veterinarians, and other medical professionals
*Deep understanding of physician compensation structures and student loan considerations
*Portfolio lending solutions that account for your unique financial situation
*Programs that minimize down payment requirements while maximizing borrowing potential

🏗️ Construction-to-Permanent Lending

*Guide clients through the entire building process, from lot purchase to final construction
*Streamlined single-close construction loans that convert to permanent financing
*Expert coordination with builders, architects, and other stakeholders
*Specialized construction draw management and timeline oversight
*Solutions for custom home building that match your vision

Our commitment to white-glove service throughout your journey sets my team apart. We understand that healthcare professionals and successful entrepreneurs have demanding schedules, so we've built our process to be efficient and respectful of your time. From initial consultation to closing, you'll have direct access to my expertise and regular updates on your loan's progress.
I believe in building relationships, not just processing loans. My goal is to be your trusted mortgage advisor for life, helping you make informed decisions about your real estate financing needs.

🤝 Let's connect if you're:

*A healthcare professional looking for specialized physician loan programs
*Planning to build your dream custom home
*Seeking portfolio lending solutions for unique situations
*Looking for a mortgage partner who understands your professional journey

Contact me directly to discuss how we can help you achieve your real estate financing goals.

Chris Roberts

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

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 “𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥”

Most people don’t “fail” to get into cybersecurity.
They just chase the wrong door.

If job boards made money from telling you the truth, you’d hear this everywhere. But they don’t, so you don’t.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲:
Cybersecurity has 3.5M unfilled roles globally, and most AREN’T technical. (ISC²)

𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝:
	•	A computer science degree
	•	10 tools on their CV
	•	“Hacker vibes”
	•	Or years of experience they don’t have

𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧?
People don’t have a skills problem.
They have a direction problem.

❌  They’re applying blindly.
❌  They’re picking roles they don’t understand.
❌ They’re learning random courses instead of market-ready skills.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞:
	•	Too many “ultimate cyber roadmaps”
	•	Influencers selling stress as strategy
	•	Companies listing “nice-to-have” skills as mandatory

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐲: 
Cybersecurity is a PEOPLE industry first, a TECH industry second.
-Risk.
-Policy.
-Governance.
-Awareness.
-Operations.

Those are leadership skills in disguise.

𝐒𝐨 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐢𝐧, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:

✅ Pick a lane: Governance, GRC, Awareness, Risk, SOC, Cloud etc 1 not 5.
✅ Learn the minimum viable skill set for that lane
✅ Build one small project or example that proves you understand the work

That’s it. Not a bootcamp buffet. Not a PhD in hacking.

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 → 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 → 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.

What’s the biggest myth about cybersecurity careers you used to believe?


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

#AskVictoriaCoker #cybersecurity #careerpivot

li_at

JSESSIONID

Cyber Security

Top Cyber Career Transition Coach | Upskilling Non-Tech Professionals for Cyber Roles | Founder @Lateral Connect (NCSC-Assured) | Supported Talent Across Skanska, Motorola, Bupa & Virgin Money

Protecting your peace isn’t weakness.

It’s how you make space for your best work.

Whether it’s an opportunity, a job, or even a relationship - nothing is worth trading your inner calm.

Challenges are part of life. But constantly sacrificing your wellbeing for short-term wins? That’s a debt you’ll always regret.

Here are 5 red flags it may be time to step away:

1️⃣ You start doubting your value
   
↳ When you question your worth, it’s already taking too much from you. Your value isn’t negotiable.

2️⃣ You shrink yourself to fit in
   
↳ If you have to hide parts of who you are or play small just to be accepted, the environment isn’t right.

3️⃣ Hope feels out of reach
    
↳ If the thought of another day fills you with more dread than excitement, it’s time to reflect on what you’re holding onto.

4️⃣ You no longer recognise yourself
    
↳ When the situation changes you in ways that make you feel lost, it’s time to realign with who you really are.

5️⃣ Your rest is stolen
    
↳ If sleepless nights and racing thoughts have become the norm, don’t ignore the signal. Peace is not optional.

Leaving doesn’t equal losing.
Sometimes, it’s the most courageous decision you’ll ever make.

You deserve spaces that honour your worth.
And a life that allows you to breathe fully.

♻️ Share this to remind someone to protect their peace
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for insights on career growth, leadership, and balance

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲

In leadership, we often celebrate availability, the leader who’s always reachable, always responding, always ready to fix things.

But what we rarely talk about is the quiet discipline that sustains real leadership over time: boundaries.

When I first stepped into leadership, I believed saying “yes” was the key to being effective.

✅ Yes to new projects.
✅ Yes to longer hours.
✅ Yes to helping, even when my plate was already full.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝, 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭. 💔

Because without boundaries, even the most passionate leader burns out.

You lose focus, clarity, and eventually, the purpose that made you want to lead in the first place.

Boundaries don’t mean being unavailable. They mean 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍, 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕.

They protect your decision-making, your creativity, and your ability to lead with empathy instead of exhaustion.

Strong leaders aren’t defined by how much they take on
but by how clearly they define what truly matters.

💡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧:
Boundaries aren’t limits, they’re leadership tools.

They protect your time so you can protect your team’s direction.
Because when everything demands your attention, the real skill is knowing what doesn’t deserve it.

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

Courage isn’t the absence of fear.

It’s deciding fear won’t win today.

I wrote that on a Post-it and stuck it next to my desk.
Not because I needed new wisdom, but because sometimes we need reminders, not reinvention.

Fear still shows up.
Before a big decision.
Before a conversation that matters.
Before stepping into a new chapter.

But courage shows up too, quietly, consistently, and often without applause.

Here are 7 things I remind myself when fear tries to lead the way:

1. Fear is information
    Ask: What is this feeling trying to tell me?

2. Your body reacts before your confidence does
    Breathe first, act second.

3. Courage is built through repetition
    Do the small scary thing today.

4. You don’t need certainty to move
    Take one clear step, not ten perfect ones.

5. Fear grows in silence
    Say it out loud; name it, shrink it.

6. You’ve survived every difficult moment so far
    Evidence beats emotion.

7. Momentum builds self-belief
    Celebrate progress, not perfection.

Courage isn’t loud.
Sometimes it’s just choosing not to let fear make the final decision.

 What’s one quote that’s been staying with you lately?

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸

We spend millions on tools…but only minutes on the people who actually use them.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽.

Because despite what the industry sells, the biggest weakness in security isn’t outdated tech, it’s untrained instincts, unclear habits, and uncertain decisions made in real time by real humans.

Most breaches don’t begin with a sophisticated attacker.
They begin with hesitation, embarrassment, overconfidence, or fear.

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

The truth most leaders avoid is this:
You don’t fix security culture by teaching people more.
You fix it by helping them behave differently.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁:
	1.	People understand the risk
	2.	They feel responsible for the outcome
	3.	They’re confident enough to take action

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 “𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲”. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

A set of cues, expectations, and tiny daily behaviours that compound quietly over time.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝘁:
✅ People report early.
✅ They ask before they act.
✅ They flag concerns without fear.
✅ And they do the right thing even when no one is watching.

You can’t force that through compliance.
You build it through clarity, consistency, and human psychology.

🧭 𝟲 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻-𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

𝟭. 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆

When someone clicks a phishing link, ask:
“What made this convincing?”
Not: “Why didn’t you spot it?”

𝟮. 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 “𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿” 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲

Most people want to do the right thing, they just don’t know the exact steps.

𝟯. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿

Fear paralyses.
Confidence creates faster reporting, quicker escalation, and fewer cover-ups.

𝟰. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼-𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀

When managers lock screens, question links, and report incidents openly, teams follow without being told.

𝟱. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲

If people can ask “Is this normal?” without judgement, you’ve already reduced 70% of silent risks.

𝟲. 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

Why it matters.
Who it protects.
How it impacts customers, data, and trust.
Culture is built on meaning, not manuals.

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

𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤

Most people believe cybersecurity is about high-tech defences and complex tools.

Truth is, you’re more likely to be safe by doing simple, smart things every day than by buying the “latest solution”.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 (𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐀) 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮:

🧠 𝟏. 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐌𝐅𝐀)
This single switch locks the door for most hackers.
No tech gimmicks, just a smart habit.

🔄 𝟐. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝
Yes, those annoying update prompts matter.
Every patch closes a door that attackers could walk through.

👀 𝟑. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
Emails, texts or unfamiliar links often hide threats.
Pause. Check the sender. Consider if you were expecting it.

🧾 𝟒. 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚
Ransomware hits people who have no recovery plan.
If you lose files, you still win, because you planned ahead.

🔄 𝟓. 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐞
Regularly remove unused apps and limit permissions. 
Cleaner devices reduce attack surfaces significantly.

𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝖻𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝗇𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗅𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀.
𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗋𝖾𝗊𝗎𝗂𝗋𝖾 𝗇𝗈 𝖽𝖾𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖾, 𝗇𝗈 𝖼𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇.
𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀: 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗅.

In an era where devices outnumber people and attackers multiply daily, your behaviour becomes your strongest defence.

If you’re curious about how to move beyond “safe habits” into a meaningful cyber career, especially if you don’t come from tech, I’d be happy to walk you through your next step.

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

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

🌱 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐈𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐲.

But staying in the same place can be even scarier.
We don’t talk enough about the quiet fear of comfort.
The kind that keeps you in roles you’ve outgrown,
surrounded by familiarity,
but disconnected from growth.

I remember that feeling, the mix of comfort and discomfort.
Knowing something inside me had shifted,
but not knowing what to do with it.
Everyone tells you to “𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐩.”

But they rarely tell you that you’ll second-guess it a hundred times.
That even progress can feel like loss when you’re leaving a version of yourself behind.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡?
Every big change begins with fear.

But so does every meaningful chapter of your life.
When I finally moved forward, it wasn’t because the fear disappeared.
It was because I realised staying still would cost me more than trying.
I decided to trust myself more than my comfort zone.

If you’re standing at that crossroads, uncertain, overthinking, maybe waiting for the “right time” this is your reminder:

Growth doesn’t wait for confidence.
It builds it.

✨ 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩.
𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐰.

♻️ Repost to help new leaders reframe failure
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for authentic leadership & career growth
#AskVictoriaCoker #CareerChange #GrowthMindset #Courage

I used to think leadership meant having all the answers.

Then one book reminded me, it’s actually about better questions.

“The Fearless Organization” by Amy Edmondson changed how I understand leadership.
Not by pushing harder.
Not by striving for perfection.
Not by pretending to be fearless.

But by leading with curiosity, intention, and psychological safety.

The truth is, people don’t grow in environments where they’re afraid to be wrong.
They grow when they feel invited to contribute, challenge, and explore without judgment.

This book shaped the way I mentor, coach, and build teams today.
It reinforced something I now teach inside my Early Leadership Accelerator, that leadership isn’t about removing fear.
It’s about creating spaces where people feel safe enough to move through it.

Here are 5 takeaways that changed how I lead, and what to do with them:

1️⃣ Safety builds performance. → Begin meetings with: “What perspectives haven’t we heard yet?”

2️⃣ Curiosity unlocks solutions. → Before giving advice, ask one more question.

3️⃣ Silence signals something. → Proactively invite quieter voices to share.

4️⃣ Mistakes are data. → Replace blame with: “What can this teach us?”

5️⃣ Clarity builds trust. → Share the “why,” not just the “what.”

What book quietly changed how you lead?

We call them “leadership mistakes.”

But they’re actually growth accelerators.

When I first stepped into a leadership role, I thought mistakes meant weakness.
I tried to avoid them, triple-checking everything, staying cautious, chasing perfection.
But in this field, perfection is impossible.

The irony?
Every “mistake” became the exact lesson that built my credibility, resilience, and influence.

The missed communication that taught me the value of clarity.
The project setback that showed me how to lead under pressure.
The overreaction that reminded me to respond, not react.

Cybersecurity leadership isn’t about avoiding risk, it’s about managing it with grace and accountability.

Because growth doesn’t come from flawless execution.
It comes from reflection, adjustment, and transparency when things don’t go as planned.

Mistakes don’t disqualify you from leadership, they prove you’re doing the work that matters.

Here are 7 “mistakes” every leader makes, and why they’re essential to growth:

1️⃣ Humility:
❌ Admitting you don’t know makes you look inexperienced.
✅ Admitting gaps models humility, trust, and collaborative problem-solving.

2️⃣ Confidence:
❌ Hiring talent stronger than you makes you seem less capable.
✅ Strong hires raise standards and strengthen the entire team.

3️⃣ Risk:
❌ Accepting a challenge you’re unsure of risks falling short.
✅ Uncertainty fuels learning, adaptability, and faster personal growth.

4️⃣ Accountability:
❌ Owning your team’s mistakes may damage your personal image.
✅ Accountability builds loyalty, respect, and long-term leadership credibility.

5️⃣ Integrity:
❌ Questioning a senior decision could be seen as disruptive.
✅ Thoughtful challenge demonstrates courage, integrity, and authentic leadership.

6️⃣ Maturity:
❌ Admitting when you’re wrong feels like losing authority.
✅ Owning mistakes builds credibility, trust, and authentic maturity.

7️⃣ Alignment:
❌ Turning down opportunities might look like lacking ambition or drive.
✅ Saying no shows clarity, fit, and focus on long-term growth.

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

𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠.

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞.

Most people still imagine cybersecurity as screens of code, dark dashboards, and “tech people” doing technical things.

But when you look closely, cybersecurity is simply this:

👉 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬, 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
stolen data
financial loss
ransomware
disrupted businesses
or compromised personal information

And because our world is now more connected than ever, one truth has become unavoidable:

There are more devices than people, and more attackers than defenders.

𝐒𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬:

🔹 𝟏. 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞
Strong passwords.
Safer clicks.
Awareness.
Team habits.
Everything begins with human behaviour, not software.

🔹 𝟐. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬
Clear frameworks for identifying, protecting, responding, and recovering.
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is a great example: it turns chaos into structured action.

🔹 𝟑. 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲
Firewalls, anti-malware, DNS filtering, email security, cloud protection.
Tools matter, but only when people and processes know how to use them.

When these three work together, security becomes proactive, not reactive. And here’s why this matters for your career:

Cybersecurity has become one of the most important, stable, and human-centric fields in the world, and it’s no longer reserved for technical backgrounds.
- The industry needs thinkers.
- Communicators.
- Problem-solvers.
- Policy-minded professionals.
- Leaders who can make sense of risk for real people.

With 𝟑.𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, the timing couldn’t be clearer:
There has never been a better moment to transition into cybersecurity, especially if you come from a non-technical background.

Curious where your skills fit in?
I’m happy to help you explore the pathways.

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

Cybersecurity: More Human Than You Think

Too many leaders chase results without direction.

But the best leaders know:
Clarity and alignment protect more than systems, they protect people.

Early in my career, I thought leadership meant pushing for results and closing every ticket fast.
I chased metrics.
I measured only outcomes.
And I assumed everyone understood the “why.”

But cybersecurity isn’t just technical, it’s behavioural.
People don’t just follow policies.
They follow clarity, purpose, and trust.

When teams understand why their work matters, they protect better, communicate faster, and make smarter decisions under pressure.

That’s why I use the G.O.A.L. framework:

1) G = Guide the Bigger Vision
❓Have I shared direction? 
❓Do they see role?
✅Clarity sustains motivation. 
✅Tasks connect to vision.

2) O = Outline Clear Expectations
❓Do I define success? 
❓Do I welcome curiosity?
✅Standards prevent confusion. 
✅Curiosity fuels innovation.

3) A = Acknowledge Team Progress
❓Do I celebrate wins? 
❓Do I empower ownership?
✅ Recognition builds momentum. 
✅ Empowerment drives accountability.

4) L = Listen, Learn, Adapt
❓Do I hear feedback? 
❓Do I adjust plans?
✅ Feedback strengthens leaders. 
✅ Flexibility shows strength.

Great leaders don’t just set goals.
They align people to achieve them.

👉 What part of G.O.A.L. do you think leaders overlook most?
♻️ Repost to remind others they are enough
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for more leadership + mentorship insights
#AskVictoria Coker

Career transitions made possible | From no-tech to cybersecurity leader | Founder @ Lateral Connect | Empowering people to grow, lead & get hired | Skanska, Motorola, Bupa, Virgin Money

Your skills aren’t wasted, they’re waiting.

Every pivot starts with one small cyber step.

You don’t need to “start over” to work in cybersecurity.
Your admin, finance, operations, or IT experience already solves the same problems, risk, process, communication, trust.

Cyber needs thinkers, builders, and connectors, not just coders.
Leadership begins when you learn to see your skills through a cyber lens.

Start small. Stay curious.
Your pivot is already in motion.

Here are 9 Ways to Pivot into Cyber (Without Feeling Anxious):

1) Transfer What You Know
    Your admin, finance, or project experience already solves problems 
    cybersecurity needs daily.

 • Map old skills to new roles
 • Reframe tasks as risk management

2) Learn the Language
   Cyber has its own terms, but you’ve learned new jargon before.

 • Follow UK NCSC learning paths
 • Join beginner-friendly cyber forums

3) Build Micro-Confidence
    Small wins create lasting confidence and momentum.

 • Complete one mini lab weekly
 • Share progress posts on LinkedIn

4) Network with Purpose
    Quiet professionals thrive through authentic, intentional connections.

  • Attend one virtual event monthly
  • Follow 5 industry mentors online

5) Find a Mentor
    Guidance turns confusion into clarity and structure.

 • Seek mentors via Lateral Connect
 • Join local cyber mentoring programmes

6) Build Visible Proof
    Show what you can do, not just what you know.

 • Create a cybersecurity portfolio
 • Post “before and after” learning reflections

7) Align Your Story
    Your story matters. it’s your credibility and brand.

 • Reframe résumé bullet points
 • Practice your 2-minute pivot story

8) Lead Where You Are
    Leadership starts long before your title changes.

  • Volunteer for small cyber projects
  • Model composure under pressure

9) Keep the Momentum
    Every pivot has uncertainty, but persistence always beats perfection.    

 • Learn, apply, reflect, repeat
 • Stay connected to your community

♻️ Repost to remind someone their past experience still matters.
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for early leadership & career pivot insights.

 #AskVictoriaCoker #CareerChange #CyberSecurity #Leadership #Mentorship #LateralCareers #CyberLeadership

9 Ways to Pivot into Cyber (Without Feeling Anxious)

No experience doesn’t mean no potential,

It just means no direction yet.

We talk a lot about experience, as if it’s the golden ticket to opportunity.
But experience isn’t something we’re born with.
It’s something we earn after we’ve taken the first uncertain steps.

Every mentor, leader, and expert you admire once stood exactly where you might be now, at the intersection of uncertainty and ambition.
No map. No confidence. Just a quiet belief that they could figure it out.

The truth is:
“No experience” doesn’t mean you’re unqualified.
It simply means you haven’t yet found your direction, your unique path where curiosity meets opportunity.

And that’s actually exciting.

Because direction can be discovered.
Potential can be developed.
And experience? It naturally follows action.

When you stop waiting for the “right time” or the “perfect qualifications” and start experimenting, you begin to build something powerful: momentum.
1️⃣ The first project you take on might not be perfect.
2️⃣ The first role you try might not be your forever fit.
3️⃣ The first attempt might even fail.

But each step teaches you something.
Each detour reveals what energizes you, and what doesn’t.
Each small win gives you a clearer view of your path forward.

So, if you’re standing at that glowing crossroads, wondering whether to take the next step, remember:

You don’t need experience to start.
You just need a little courage to choose direction over doubt.

Because once you move, you’ll look back and realise, the “no experience” version of you was simply the beginning of potential in motion.

✨ Keep going. The path gets clearer as you walk.

♻️ Repost to remind others they are enough.
 ➕ Follow Victoria Coker for more leadership + mentorship insights.

#CareerGrowth #Mindset #Motivation #Leadership #Potential #Direction #PersonalDevelopment #CareerAdvice #GrowthMindset

Growth rarely looks glamorous.

It looks like late nights, quiet learning, and showing up before anyone’s watching.

When I first started pivoting my career, I thought growth would feel like momentum.
But most of it felt… slow.
Unseen.
Ordinary.

The truth is, growth hides in repetition, in consistency, and in every small step that doesn’t get applause.

You won’t always see the progress right away.
But one day, the things that once felt confusing will feel natural.
The connections will click.
And people will start calling “prepared” what you built in private.

This isn’t just true for cybersecurity, it’s true for every field built on trust and skill.

Keep going.
Your slow season isn’t wasted, it’s working.

Here are 9 Truths About Growth (and Why it Feels Slow First):

1. The Still Season
 ↳ You’re not qualified enough yet to make the transition.
 ↳ You’re building foundations, mindset, awareness, and credibility.

2. The Repetition Phase
 ↳ You’re stuck reviewing the same frameworks and concepts again.
 ↳You’re mastering fluency in the language of cybersecurity.

3. The Quiet Work
 ↳ You’re not visible or vocal enough to get noticed in cyber.
 ↳ You’re absorbing, observing, and documenting what you learn.

4. The Comparison Trap
 ↳ Others are advancing faster because they’re “more technical.”
 ↳ You’re building depth, not speed.

5. What everyone thinks
 ↳ Learning a new tool or passing one course isn’t enough.
 ↳ Every small step builds credibility.

6. The Slow Burn
 ↳ You’re behind because your pivot feels longer than expected.
 ↳ You’re aligning skill, strategy, and story.

7. The Unseen Discipline
 ↳ You “lucked into” an opportunity once you get traction.
 ↳ You built your credibility quietly, networking, learning, applying.

8. The Turning Point
 ↳ You suddenly became successful in cybersecurity.
 ↳ You weren’t discovered, you were ready.

9. The Recognition Moment
 ↳ You landed a cyber role because of timing or connections.
 ↳ You built your credibility through patience, proof, and persistence.

💡 Growth looks boring before it looks impressive.

♻️ Repost to remind someone: quiet progress still counts.
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for insights on leadership, career pivots, and growth.

 #AskVictoriaCoker #CareerPivot #Leadership #GrowthMindset

9 Truths About Growth in Cyber (Why it Feels Slow First)

They said quiet people don’t lead.

But in cybersecurity, silence isn’t weakness, it’s a strategy. 

Quiet professionals bring clarity, focus, and precision when it matters most.
They lead through calm decision-making, thoughtful action, and trust, not noise.

Your observation catches threats early.
Your composure builds confidence.
Your preparation prevents mistakes.

You don’t need to be loud to lead, you just need to be steady, smart, and seen.

Your calm focus is your cyber superpower. 🧠💪

Let’s break 7 myths that hold quiet professionals back (and what really makes them powerful):

1️⃣ Loud = Leader
 Noise fades. Calm endures. True leaders think, decide, and act with clarity.
🧠 Steady confidence > constant volume.

2️⃣ Quiet = Shy
 Observation isn’t hesitation, it’s awareness.
🎯 You see risks others miss.

3️⃣ Low Energy = Low Ambition
 Composure in chaos is gold in cyber.
🔥 Your calm focus drives real progress.

4️⃣ Not Team Players
 Trust, not talk, builds the strongest teams.
🤝 Reliability makes you indispensable.

5️⃣ Lack Initiative
 Preparation is initiative.
🛠️ Quiet precision beats noisy reaction every time.

6️⃣ Poor Communicators
 Clarity is your communication edge.
💬 You simplify complexity, that’s leadership.

7️⃣ Invisible Talent
 You don’t need to shout to shine.
🌟 Impact speaks louder than presence.

♻️ Repost to remind someone leadership starts with self.
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for early leadership + career pivot insights.

 #AskVictoriaCoker #CyberLeadership #CareerChange #IntrovertsInTech #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #CyberSecurity

7 Myths About Quiet People (Hidden Cyber Superpowers)

𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐈 𝐀𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡

When I first thought about moving into tech, I hesitated.

❌ I didn’t have a computer science degree.
❌ I wasn’t a coder.
❌ And I definitely didn’t “look” like what people imagined a cybersecurity professional should look like.

So for a long time, I told myself the same story so many of my clients tell me now:
“I’m not technical enough.”

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝.

I was leading a cross-functional team through a major change initiative, balancing deadlines, managing risks, calming chaos, and translating complexity into action.

And it hit me. 💥

Those were the very skills cybersecurity teams needed most:
➡️ The ability to manage uncertainty.
➡️ The empathy to guide people through change.
➡️ The leadership makes complex decisions clear.

That was my turning point.
I didn’t need to “start over.”

I just needed to translate what I already had into a new context.
That shift changed everything, and it’s the reason I now help other professionals make their own pivot with clarity and confidence.

🧭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝:
You don’t “enter” tech by becoming someone new.
You grow into it by recognising the strengths you already bring.

𝟑 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡:

✅ 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬.
Communication, problem-solving, and risk management are core to tech leadership, not side skills.

✅ 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.
Look for roles that blend your expertise with tech (e.g., compliance, operations, governance, or training).

✅ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞.
Learn the frameworks, terms, and trends, but don’t let jargon intimidate you. The best tech leaders are translators, not technicians.

If you’re standing where I once stood, curious, capable, and doubting, remember this:

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭.

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

#AskVictoriaCoker #WomenInTech #CybersecurityLeadership #CareerChange

You Belong In Tech 

I wasn’t expecting this at all.

And honestly… I’m still processing it.

I’ve just been nominated for the WomenTech Network Global Awards - Community Award, and my first reaction was genuine surprise.

Because this nomination isn’t really about me.
It’s about the people who believed in this mission long before it made sense on paper.

My team.
Our mentors.
Our learners.

Every single person who trusted Lateral Connect when it was just an idea, a hope… and a lot of hard work.

There were days I questioned everything, days I thought,
“Maybe I should just pack it up and say at least I tried.”

But every time I reached that point, I reminded myself why I started:

5 things I tell myself often:
1️⃣ You’re building pathways you didn’t have.
2️⃣ One learner’s breakthrough makes every challenge worth it.
3️⃣ Impact takes time - momentum takes belief.
4️⃣ Purpose is louder than fear.
5️⃣ If even one person’s life changes, you’ve already succeeded.

This nomination is a reflection of the community we’ve built, not the award itself.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can vote using the link in the comments.

But truly, being nominated is already more than enough.

Thank you.
Victoria

Women in Tech Community Award

𝟓 𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭

Your first leadership role in tech is exciting, until reality sets in.
Suddenly, what made you successful as an individual contributor starts working against you.

You were promoted for your skills.

But now, your success depends on your ability to unlearn.
Here’s what every first-time manager in tech needs to let go of 👇

1️⃣ 𝐃𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.
Leadership isn’t about proving your value by doing more, it’s about creating value through others. If you’re still the busiest person in the room, you’re not leading, you’re over-functioning.

2️⃣ 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬.
In tech, expertise gets outdated fast. Your real strength as a leader? Asking smarter questions, not giving faster answers.

3️⃣ 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦.
Chasing “perfect” delays innovation. Great leaders know when “good enough to test” is better than “flawless but late.”

4️⃣ 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬.
Stop tracking outputs; start shaping impact. Your team doesn’t need a checklist, they need clarity.

5️⃣ 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.
Titles can assign responsibility, but they don’t earn respect. Trust, empathy, and consistency do.

🧭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡?
Leadership isn’t a linear promotion, it’s an identity shift.
You’re not being asked to add more, you’re being asked to lead differently.

And that begins with unlearning.

𝐓𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟑 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲:

✅ 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠.
When a team member comes with a problem, ask, “What do you think we should do?” You’ll build confidence and decision ownership fast.

✅ 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲.
15 minutes every Friday to ask yourself:
“What did I control that I should’ve delegated?”
Small awareness creates lasting change.

✅ 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭.
Your team needs direction more than reassurance. Be honest, specific, and kind, in that order.

At Lateral Connect, we help first-time tech managers grow into calm, confident leaders who can guide change, not just manage it.

 If you’re stepping into leadership, remember: your biggest leap isn’t upwards, it’s inward.

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

#AskVictoriaCoker #LeadershipDevelopment #TechLeadership #CareerGrowth

𝟓 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐫𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡

Let’s be real, “cybersecurity” sounds scary if you don’t speak tech.
But here’s the twist: most of the fear? Totally made up.

After guiding professionals from HR, marketing, and project management into cybersecurity leadership, I’ve seen the same 5 myths hold people back again and again.

𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 👇

1️⃣ “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞.”

No, you need curiosity, analytical thinking, and the ability to solve problems. Many successful cybersecurity leaders started in business, operations, and even education.

2️⃣ “𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.”

Only a small portion of roles involve coding. The field is vast, from risk management to governance, policy, training, and leadership.

3️⃣ “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡.”

Career pivots don’t follow a linear path anymore. With the right roadmap and mentorship, professionals at any stage can reposition themselves.

4️⃣ “𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐨.”

Absolutely not. Your past experience, managing people, processes, or projects, is your competitive advantage. You just need to frame it strategically.

5️⃣ “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.”

That’s changing, fast. More women and non-technical professionals are leading cybersecurity initiatives across major industries today.

💡 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡:
Cybersecurity needs diverse thinkers, not just tech experts.
If you can connect dots, manage risk, and lead people, there’s space for you.

I’ve helped marketers become security consultants, and HR leaders become risk managers.

Your pivot is not only possible, it’s powerful.

✨ Ready to explore what your path could look like?

Let’s talk, I’ll help you turn your existing experience into a launchpad for your next chapter.

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

#AskVictoriaCoker #CybersecurityCareers #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerChange

5 Cyber Lies That're Keeping You From Entering Tech

Your first leadership role isn’t about managing people.

It’s about managing yourself.

When I transitioned into leadership, I thought the hardest part would be guiding a team.

Turns out, the toughest part was managing me:
 -  My energy
 - My mindset
 - My habits

Because before anyone trusts you to lead them, they need to see you can lead yourself.

Here are 7 Self-Management Habits That Build Leadership (Before You Lead Anyone Else):

1️⃣ Set Boundaries:
↳ Protect time and energy to stay focused and consistent.

2️⃣ Manage Emotions:
↳ Regulate stress and reactions; calm leaders build trust fast.

3️⃣ Prioritise Wisely:
↳ Not everything is urgent, focus on what drives outcomes.

4️⃣ Seek Feedback:
↳ Growth accelerates when you spot and address blind spots.

5️⃣  Shift Mindset:
↳ Progress over perfection builds confidence and resilience.

6️⃣ Own Accountability:
↳ Taking responsibility builds credibility before formal authority.

7️⃣ Nurture Habits:
↳ Reflection, rest, and renewal sharpen clarity and focus.

8️⃣ Practice Reflection:
↳ Regularly pause to review choices and lessons; self-awareness sharpens future leadership decisions.

Leadership doesn’t start with a title.
It starts with habits you practice every day.

💡 Which of these habits do you think new leaders overlook most?

♻️ Repost to remind someone leadership starts with self
➕ Follow Victoria Coker for more early leadership + career pivot insights
#AskVictoriaCoker

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