Barbara, Head of Cyber Defense Center, about role concepts and her own role as a female manager
Radar Cyber Security’s Cyber Defense Center is headed by a woman. It was a moment of joy about greater diversity in management when the computer science graduate was appointed Head of Cyber Defense Center (also known as Security Operations Center). However, this has not always been the case during her career, as she tells us among other things.
There is no such thing as a typical workday for the Head of Cyber Defense Center (“CDC”). Every day presents new challenges and, in Barbara’s case, also tasks outside the traditional job profile. This is exactly what drives her:
“I like having to think outside the box, and also becoming immerged or getting involved in topics that are not my particular specialism. Being a passionate “lifelong learner”, I find it not only exciting, but also important that people never stop broadening their horizon, thus obtaining an ever-increasing understanding for the bigger picture.”
Further training means a lot to her, not only for herself, but also for her staff.
As Head of CDC, Barbara manages two areas comprised by cybersecurity experts responsible for providing Radar Cyber Security’s core services: Chief Security Analysts and CDC Operations. On top of this, incident response such as findings, tracking and task force tasks are also handled through the Cyber Defense Center. In her executive function, she sets great store by strict process flows and operating procedures, which is a must in this kind of working environment. Moreover, Barbara is very keen to offer the members of her teams ongoing further training and perspectives for the future with regard to their individual professional development. In addition to managing her teams, she also coordinates all cross-departmental projects:
“The best thing about my job is that I can use all my practical experience from IT management to initiate and guide changes within an ambitious and dynamic company. All in all, very extensive responsibilities.”
Her goal is to deliver the required quality within the scheduled timeframe without exceeding the budget, and this is also what she recommends students she teaches at a university of applied sciences. Moreover Barbara has a very special message to all the women who aspire to excel in a technical profession or a managerial position:
“It is still a fact even today that the skills of female managers in technology companies or women working in technical professions – this also includes IT – are put to the question because of their gender. According to my personal experience, this started already with how I was treated by my teachers at the university. Don’t let them discourage you – rather, use that as a motivation! After a bad day, get up, straighten your crown and carry on – this is part of every success story.”
