Leadership Laboratory

Leadership Lab: STI Degree Candidates' Leadership Essays

SANS Technology Institute's mission is to develop the leaders of the future for the information security industry. One of our admission requirements is that an applicant complete an essay describing leadership qualities they have demonstrated in the past.

Leadership Essay SANS Technology Institute

Apr 16th, 2008
By Brian Nolan
I have been fortunate in my career to have earned leadership roles at several organizations. I worked as a Systems Engineering Manager for a subsidiary of a Fortune 500 company, held technical lead positions at two global information security consulting firms, and currently serve as the Practice Leader and Principal Consultant of a successful information security services practice. In this essay, I will discuss the leadership qualities that I value most and describe how I have endeavored to demonstrate these attributes in my current position.

Effective leaders lead by example and inspire behavior with their daily actions. I frequently set personal goals that I strive to accomplish in the workplace. Many of these goals are related to this key leadership quality. I do my best to be a role model for professionalism and integrity. I attempt, through actions, to maintain a reputation as a technically proficient leader that is always willing to offer support in all of our initiatives. One of my goals in attaining the Master of Science Degree in Information Security Engineering from the SANS Technology Institute is to lead by example and inspire my team members and colleagues to continue to advance their own information security education.

Successful leaders encourage innovation and creativity. A cornerstone of my management style in leading our team is to instruct what to do, not how to do it. This skill can be particularly difficult for new leaders that are also successful practitioners of the roles they need to manage. I believe that allowing team members to devise their own solutions and then providing advice and mentoring is an effective approach to building skills, confidence, and trust.

Competent leaders build a team. A true team collaborates in common purpose to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of the individual members. In building our team, I have taken several initiatives to foster this cooperation. I am open with the team in sharing information such as revenue targets, sales progress, and challenges or issues concerning the practice. By keeping everyone informed, we are united in our goals and each able to contribute to achieving our shared objectives. I have implemented technology solutions to facilitate teamwork, such as company provided mobile devices with unlimited data/voice plans and a Jabber server to promote better team communication through instant messaging. I schedule weekly team meetings to share information and to discuss, as a group, the challenging problems and innovative solutions of our individual projects. Moreover, I understand the skills and expertise of each team member and schedule resources to effectively utilize competencies and combine resources to the benefit of our projects, our clients, and our team.

Proficient leaders prepare for success. From creating strategic growth and development plans for the consulting practice to designing security service methodologies and deliverables, I spend considerable time researching, learning and formulating strategies to achieve defined goals.

Accomplished leaders take care of people. As a practice leader, I want to empower others to develop professionally, succeed in their work, and advance their career. I take time to get to know everyone on our team and frequently discuss career ambitions and professional development. I ensure that sufficient training opportunities are provided and I encourage team members to select classes that will not only benefit the practice but also support their own long-term career plans. I offer our team members autonomy in their roles and the opportunity for personal growth. When there is positive feedback about the team, I assure that those involved are recognized for their contributions and receive the accolades. If there is criticism of the team, I take full responsibility. I am a strong supporter and vocal advocate of family as the first priority. To that end, I am extremely flexible with schedules and accommodations that favor family in our employees’ balance of family and work.

Great leaders seek self-improvement. I try to improve my leadership abilities through self-study, self-reflection, formal education, and communication. I understand the importance of this leadership quality and I am determined to always aspire to be a better leader.