Cybersecurity Teams, Influence & Legacy Course

Editorial Take

Advancing Women in Tech (AWIT) brings a fresh, much-needed perspective to cybersecurity leadership with this Coursera offering. While most technical courses focus on tools and threats, this one zeroes in on the human side—how to lead, influence, and leave a lasting mark in the field. With sponsorship from 1Password and Microsoft, the course carries strong industry credibility and real-world relevance.

Standout Strengths

• Industry-Leading Instructors: Learn from Steve Zalewski (ex-CISO, Levi Strauss), Nancy Wang (CEO of AWIT and SVP at 1Password), Renee Gottman (ex-CISO, Coca-Cola), and other seasoned leaders. Their real-world experiences provide actionable insights you won’t find in textbooks.
• Focus on Influence & Leadership: Unlike typical cybersecurity courses, this one teaches how to influence peers and executives. You’ll learn communication tactics, negotiation skills, and how to advocate for security at the executive level—critical for career advancement.
• Team-Building Frameworks: The course dives into psychological safety, inclusive hiring, and conflict resolution—skills essential for building resilient, diverse security teams. These modules are especially valuable for managers transitioning into leadership roles.
• Legacy & Career Trajectory: It encourages reflection on long-term impact, helping professionals define their values and create a personal roadmap. This focus on legacy is rare and deeply motivating for mid-career learners.
• Gender-Inclusive Leadership: As an AWIT initiative, the course emphasizes diversity and inclusion, offering strategies to support underrepresented groups. This aligns with modern organizational values and ESG goals.
• Real-World Case Studies: Interviews and scenarios from top CISOs ground the content in reality. Learners gain exposure to how leaders navigated crises, built trust, and drove change in large enterprises.

Honest Limitations

• Light on Technical Content: If you’re looking for hands-on security tools or technical deep dives, this isn’t the course. It’s purely leadership-focused, which may disappoint those expecting a blend of technical and soft skills.
• Limited Course Depth: At just 8 weeks, the material moves quickly. Complex topics like team dynamics or legacy-building deserve more time and interaction for full mastery and reflection.
• No Free Audit Option: The course is only available through paid enrollment, limiting accessibility. This may deter learners who prefer to sample content before paying.
• Assessment Quality: Peer-reviewed assignments may lack consistency in feedback quality. Without direct instructor input, learners might miss nuanced guidance on leadership development.

How to Get the Most Out of It

• Study cadence: Dedicate 4–5 hours weekly to fully engage with videos, readings, and reflection exercises. Consistent pacing ensures deeper absorption of leadership concepts and frameworks.
• Parallel project: Apply lessons by drafting a personal leadership action plan. Use each module to refine your goals, influence strategy, and team vision for real-world implementation.
• Note-taking: Capture key quotes and insights from guest leaders. These serve as future references when navigating leadership challenges or mentoring others.
• Community: Join the discussion forums to exchange ideas with peers. Engaging with diverse perspectives enhances your understanding of inclusive leadership practices.
• Practice: Role-play influence scenarios with colleagues—like pitching a security initiative to leadership. Practice builds confidence and refines communication skills.
• Consistency: Complete assignments on time to stay in sync with cohort discussions. Delayed participation reduces networking and feedback opportunities.

Supplementary Resources

• Book: 'The First 90 Days' by Michael Watkins complements the course by offering onboarding and leadership transition strategies for new roles.
• Tool: Use 1Password’s team features to explore secure collaboration—tying into the sponsor’s real-world application of security leadership.
• Follow-up: Enroll in AWIT’s other programs or events to continue building community and mentorship networks beyond the course.
• Reference: Review Microsoft’s cybersecurity leadership whitepapers to deepen understanding of enterprise security governance and strategy.

Common Pitfalls

• Pitfall: Treating this as a passive course. Without active reflection and application, the leadership concepts remain theoretical. Engage fully to gain real value.
• Pitfall: Expecting technical certifications. This course doesn’t prepare you for CISSP or CISM—focus instead on soft skills and strategic thinking.
• Pitfall: Skipping peer interactions. The discussion boards are where diverse leadership perspectives emerge. Isolating yourself limits growth and networking potential.

Time & Money ROI

• Time: Eight weeks is manageable for working professionals. The investment pays off in clearer career direction and enhanced leadership confidence.
• Cost-to-value: While not free, the access to top-tier instructors and frameworks justifies the fee—especially for those targeting leadership roles.
• Certificate: The credential adds value to LinkedIn and resumes, signaling leadership initiative to employers in cybersecurity and tech.
• Alternative: Free leadership content exists, but few offer this caliber of instructor access and structured curriculum focused on women and inclusion.

Editorial Verdict

This course fills a critical gap in the cybersecurity education landscape. Most training focuses on tools, threats, and compliance—but not on how to lead people, influence decisions, or build a legacy. AWIT, backed by 1Password and Microsoft, delivers a compelling, human-centered curriculum that empowers professionals to grow beyond technical roles. The inclusion of high-profile CISOs and a focus on diversity makes it especially valuable for underrepresented groups in tech.

While it won’t teach you penetration testing or firewall configuration, it excels in the soft skills that define great leaders. The course is best suited for mid-career professionals aiming for management or executive roles. Despite the lack of a free audit option and limited technical depth, the content is well-structured, inspiring, and actionable. For those ready to elevate their impact, this course is a strategic investment in long-term career growth and leadership influence.