Monica Talks Cyber

2017: I left toxic ex-marriage
2018: I met my now husband
2019: I landed my first CISO-role
2020: I founded Monica Talks Cyber
2021: Sadly, I was diagnosed with cancer
2022: But I got a second chance to live life
2023: I was awarded top No. 3 CISO in EMEA
2024: After 7 years of togetherness, we got married (twice)

Throughout all these years, ups and downs, including almost coming close to death, I wasn’t scared. For the first time, because of my life partner, I knew there was no ‘me’.

While choosing him may be the best decision I ever made in my life,
Throughout all of this, I realised:

- Every life decision was co-made.
- Every aspect of life was co-created.
- No matter which part, personal or professional.

Through my last 7 years,
This is my no. 1 career and life advice to you.

Choose your life partner very wisely.

Take your damn time.
Understand yourself first.
Understand your core values and pick wisely.

It will be the most important career and life decision you’ll ever make in your lifetime.

P.S. I have some great news for you all, for my community, to accelerate your career and life in ai, cybersecurity and leadership, that I'll be sharing soon. Subscribe at www.monicatalkscyber.com/ to be the first ones to hear, as you kick-start your 2025! 🥳

#career #life #leadership #lifegoals #2025 #goals#dreams#motivation

1 year ago | [YT] | 5

Monica Talks Cyber

8 years ago, I applied to only 3 jobs in Norway from Germany.
I could only apply to three due to language constraints.
However, my success rate was a 100% percent.
All three companies wanted to employee me.
All three gave me a verbal or written offer.
I accepted one of them and moved.

How did I get a 100% success rate despite only having extremely limited options and whilst applying from abroad as an immigrant with zero Norwegian language skills at the time?

Here's what I did:
Step 1. Didn't take 'no' for an answer
Step 2. Tailored my resume to 'stand out'
Step 3. Showcased my 'global' experience and value
Step 4. Showed my commitment to learn a new language
Step 5. Made myself an 'easy' choice despite not being Norwegian

Over my time in Norway so far, as an immigrant, I:
- Became a CISO
- Founded Monica Talks Cyber
- Became a keynote speaker with global presence
- Went from security leader to top no. 3 CISO in EMEA
- Learnt Norwegian in spoken/written (as my fifth language)

There are always solutions.
They may not be obvious.
They mat not be easy.
But they do exist.
For you to find.

The limitations are mostly in your mind.
Unlock your mind to unlock your potential.
Then no one can stop your growth, not even you.

🚨 Want to 10x your career and break into security leadership?

🚀 I am ECSTATIC to share my "The Ultimate Guide to Break into Security Leadership" will LAUNCH on May 12.

Here's what you'll get:

✅ My decade long and proven framework to nail that interview
✅ A practical guide with actionable insights from 20 years of experience
✅ Why right now is the best time to work in cybersecurity and become a leader
✅ Why security leadership is 5% technology, 5% risk management and 90% negotiation
✅ The framework I used to go from hacker to CISO with proven, actionable and no bs tips (and how you can do it too)

Those on the waiting list or subscribed to monicatalkscyber (dot) com will be the first ones to hear about it. Add your email today to the waiting list. See Featured Section or comment below.

What's been your biggest challenge switching jobs, industries or countries?

#cybersecurity #leadership #ciso

2 years ago | [YT] | 1

Monica Talks Cyber

8 years ago I lost complete control.


Over the last 8 years, this is what you saw:

- I won multiple awards
- I built my community (and growing)
- I moved and built a life in a new country
- I became an international keynote speaker
- I got my first CISO role & never looked back
- I moved from hacker to CISO in just four years
- I opened my company & built my brand on my terms
- I became the top no. 3 security leader across entire EMEA

But what you didn’t see is that throughout those very years:

- One of the recruiters almost convinced me to not leave a toxic workplace
- One of the ex-employers stopped me from building MonicaTalksCyber
- One of the ex-managers warned me to “stay in your lane”


As a result of all that, I suffered from
- crippling self-doubt
- lack of belief in myself at times
- lack of control of over things that mattered



Truth is these feelings never go away entirely.
Lack of self-belief at times is normal.
Not always having control is normal.
But letting it stop you is a choice.
It’s. Your. Choice.


As you continue your week, here are 3 ways I broke my pattern of self-doubt and became a leader, despite struggles (so can you):


🤯 No. 3 will blow your mind

/1 Rejections are redirections - Use them as your fuel

You were put through challenges and rejections for a reason. That reason is simple. It’s your damn opportunity to rise up to the challenge, build resilience and forge your path forward.

Do not waste that rejection.
Use it as an opportunity.
Use it as your fuel.

/2 No one cares about you - It's OK to not be in the spotlight

You are not at the center of everyone else's attention, whether you want it or not. You are not in the spotlight for others. Even when others may put you down, they do that and move on. You are not the constant attention of other people. No one cares.

It's not about being negative.
It's about freeing your mindset.
No one cares except you, so do you.


/3 External validation is like a blackhole - Do not let it suck you in

External validation creates a continuous vicious cycle. Need for more validation leads to insecure behavior which needs further validation which leads to further insecurities until it consumes you like a blackhole. Getting others’ perspective is one thing.

But no one, literally no one else, knows you 100%.
The only person you need to be listening to is yourself.
The only person you are truly in competition with is yourself.


🚀 In the UPCOMING LAUNCH of The 10x Circle newsletter, I’ll show you, 7 ways to take BACK control over your career and life ON YOUR TERMS.

🌟 Want in? Simply add your email to monicatalkscyber (dot) com. It's FREE.

#leadership #cybersecurity #lifehack

2 years ago | [YT] | 2

Monica Talks Cyber

I am constantly pitched services.
But 99% of marketing totally sucks!
It's mostly "buy from me" in a noisy world.

But guess what...?

People do not buy products.
People do not even buy solutions.
People buy what satisfies their emotional needs.

So here’s a little reality check:

NO ONE cares about your products except you.

Ultimately, people want to satisfy one or more key emotional needs:
- Variety
- Growth
- Certainty
- Connection
- Significance
- Contribution

That’s true also for cybersecurity.

Think about it?

Businesses does NOT care about EDR, MDR, XDR, WAF, SASE, CASB, or any other jargons, buzzwords, bells or whistles.

Business cares about, for example:

- A level of certainty to be able to defend when cyber-attacked
- Increase in business growth due to more stable business
- Better and stronger connections to customers

The BIGGEST mistake we make in cybersecurity marketing?

Telling your customers they NEED this product.

Instead:
- Share a story
- Provide an experience
- Satisfy an emotional need

...and then you can use your product or your service as a means to do it.

#cybersecurity #marketinghack #leadership

2 years ago | [YT] | 1

Monica Talks Cyber

Every business needs an AI strategy.

Every business needs a short-term AI roadmap.

Every business needs to understand risks vs. opportunities.

The problem is: 👇


Most businesses are using AI without knowing:


- What’s the purpose?
- What problems should AI solve?
- What specific outcomes should AI generate?
- What AI use cases are relevant for the business?
- What are the business opportunities vs. risks of using AI?

Unless you answer those questions above, you cannot:
- Innovate
- Ensure ethical use
- Promote transparency
- Implement accountability
- Manage biases and other risks

Everyone wants to innovate.
Everyone wants to be the leading change. BUT…

New AI tool ≠ Innovation

Every business needs to:
- Define their AI strategy today
- Answer those questions in it
- Implement the roadmap

#aistrategy #innovation #artificialintelligence

2 years ago | [YT] | 4

Monica Talks Cyber

I didn't post last week as the world celebrated IWD.
Truth is IWD is not just about one day.
It’s not about an annual reminder.

It is about a global movement.

A movement for change.

Change that we need:

- Pay equity for all genders
- Transparency in salary range
- Actual reduction in gender pay gap
- Better representation because it matters
- DEI as good business model and not a PR stunt
- Ambitious women treated as a gift and not a threat
- Motherhood as an acknowledged role on the resume

Stop treating IWD as some gimmick.

“Oh, we need to be on this train”
“This will be great for our PR”
“We need better optics”
“Need better quota”
“DEI is trendy”

Rather:

Build diversity,
Promote equity,
Inspire inclusion,
BECAUSE IT MATTERS.

As we celebrate IWD every day, every year, let’s make that change happen.

What do you wish changed in 2024? 👇

In April, I am launching my “The Ultimate Guide to Security Leadership”. Pre-book your spot at monicatalkscyber.com. Check bio ‪@MonicaTalksCyber‬.

#internationalwomensday2024 #inspireinclusion #leadershipbyexample

2 years ago | [YT] | 3

Monica Talks Cyber

I was a shy kid my entire childhood.

I was bullied.
I was boycotted.
I ate alone for years.
I didn't really have a voice.
I stayed alone and silent out of fear.
I couldn’t have ever imagined being a successful speaker.

It took me years to gather myself.
It took me years to build self-awareness.
It took me years to realize that my voice mattered.
Not just for myself but for those around me, in this industry and society.

Even though it took me time, through curiosity and grit, I finally found my voice.

That is why today, I speak. I share. I storytell.

Curiosity and grit can take you places no plane can.

These helped me:
- Break into technology and cybersecurity.
- Build my career path of my choice.
- Find my voice and my passion.

To bring these real-world stories to YOU, along with my experiences and learnings, is my mission.

Check my keynotes on youtube @monicatalkscyber.

#cybersecurity #technology #personalgrowth

3 years ago | [YT] | 11

Monica Talks Cyber

Cybersecurity today isn't the same as two decades ago.

It didn't even exist in that sense.

Advices from two decades ago won't bring you much further.

If we wish to fight against cybercrime,
build the next generation of great talent,
we need to think differently. Together.

I've been asked by so many from my community,
How do we break into cybersecurity?
How do we break into leadership?
How do we build our career further, faster?

While the hard (subject-matter) skills might help you "do" the job,
it's soft (people) skills that will take your career further, fastest.

Guess what? I've listened, enthusiastically and deeply to my community.

My podcast show is being revamped with new look and conversations
& coming out with new episodes of Monica Talks Cyber.

🎉 The NEW listening experience will include not only subject-matter topics but also
discussions, stories and engaging conversations on:
soft skills, tips and hacks on career growth in technology, cybersecurity and leadership.

The Monica Talks Cyber Podcast Experience: The fastest, easiest and an engaging way to build and grow your career in cybersecurity and leadership.

🥳️ We just crossed 6500+ downloads while still just half way still into the season 2.
→ Missed the latest conversation?
↓ Tune in to Monica Talks Cyber on my youtube channel, apple, spotify or anywhere to listen to podcast.

🎙 Let the engaging conversations begin! ❤️️

#cybersecurity #technology #leadership

3 years ago | [YT] | 10

Monica Talks Cyber

NO NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO YES

You may get 1000 rejections but remember

ALL IT TAKES IS ONE YES!

Keep giving it your best.
Keep working smarter.
Keep being consistent.
Keep moving forward.
Keep progressing.

Rejections are just redirections.
Keep going.
All it takes is ONE YES.

→ No matter whether you have 0 years or 20 years of experience, want to turn an opportunity into a resounding yes?

↓ Here are my 7 key tips to stand out in any interview.

#cybersecurity #hiring #technology

3 years ago | [YT] | 8

Monica Talks Cyber

As I turn a year older, I reflect upon my 15+ years in technology & cybersecurity.
Here are my top 15 life lessons from my 15+ years:

1. Empathy is your best friend. Empathize with your/others’ vulnerabilities and struggles, just like you’d do for your best friend. Be your best friend.

2. Saying “Yes” always is like digging your own grave. Knowing rather when to say “No” is better for your career/life. You can set right priorities & be more effective.

3. Storytelling is a highly underrated skill in tech/cybersec. Whether you are interviewing to break into the industry or have decades of experience, you’ll need storytelling throughout your career.

4. Effective communication skills are critical, whether you’re a leader or an engineer. If you can’t explain it effectively & simply, you’ve lost your audience.

5. No matter which path you take to success, curiosity & consistency will always be the prerequisites in taking you farther.

6. Confidence isn’t about faking it. It’s about understanding, acknowledging & working with your vulnerabilities, while being empathetic towards yourself. Read point 1 again.

7. Persistence pays off. If you want something badly, just dreaming doesn’t help. Continuously working towards it, failing at it, learning from it, updating your methods for your next attempt & retrying pays off.

8. Rejection is your second best friend. All the times I’ve been rejected in life & career, looking back I am more certain every day that those rejections led me to something better & bigger. The key: Not giving up & being open to endless possibilities. That’s when the magic happens.

9. If you are miserable in a relationship, quit it. Whether it’s after 3 weeks, 3 months or 3 years. It doesn’t matter. No relationship, private or professional, is worth your physical/mental health.

10. The “mistakes” you’ll make in your 20s & 30s is the biggest gift you can give yourself. In just a decade or two, you’d have gained experience & learnings that’ll help you for the rest of your long life. Take risks. Make mistakes. You’ll be glad.

11. Think of yourself as an athlete, independent of the level you are at. Think of yourself as someone who trains, & not someone who just needs to check it off.

12. Prioritize your sleep. Doesn’t matter if you are an evening person, a morning person, an entrepreneur, a salaried employee, give your body enough sleep. You’ll be thankful.

13. Building a solid network pays off exponentially, both in your career & life. Networking is about deep connections that you build & grow with. Build your network & build it wisely.

14. External validation is your worst enemy. No one found happiness in life or career by leaning-in on external validations. Lean-in rather towards integrity as your guiding compass.

15. Your time is your most valuable asset. Use it wisely. Always ask yourself, how you'd spend it, whom you’d spend it with & what you’d spend it on.

Follow ‪@MonicaTalksCyber‬ for tips and hacks on #careergrowth, #technology, #cybersecurity & leadership.

3 years ago | [YT] | 10