Cyber Leadership Institute + ISC2

cli:~$ CLI/ISC2 · Cyber Leadership Program for Women

Join the Elite: The Acclaimed Cyber Leadership Program Curated Exclusively for Women in Cyber

Step into your power with our transformative program designed exclusively for women in cyber security. It’s time to break free from the ordinary and elevate your career to extraordinary heights — meticulously crafted for women who are eager to forge their own paths, elevate their earning potential and nurture the inner strength required to chase after that sought-after promotion.

Whether you’re looking to advance rapidly into cyber security management or you’re an experienced leader seeking to enhance your skills and secure senior international positions, this program is tailored for you.

A supportive network of like-minded women, with insights endorsed by cyber security professionals from 60+ countries

Compete today, conquer tomorrow

In a field where the gap between top earners and others is widening, and “golden pensions” have become relics of the past, the question isn’t whether you can afford to join us — it’s whether you can afford not to.

While there may not be a one-size-fits-all training program that guarantees a higher salary or an instant promotion, understanding which skills to develop can be the key to unlocking your true earning potential and achieving your career aspirations.

Our approach is tailored for you: online tutorials, regular check-in calls, personalised 1:1 mentoring and access to hundreds of valuable toolkits. We focus on the exact skills that have propelled our own careers and those of our 5,000+ members, many of whom are women like you.

Join a dynamic community of ambitious women and gain invaluable insights from cyber security experts globally. Don’t miss this opportunity to not only advance your career, but to become the leader you are destined to be.

Are you ready to take the next step? Let our founders, Darren, Phil and Jan guide you on your journey from learner to leader.

The essentials

The next cohort

Each cohort is delivered virtually across eight weeks, at two to three hours per week, so it fits around the job you already have.

Places fill up quickly, so early registration is recommended.

8 weeksVirtual delivery, two to three hours every week
51 CPECredits earned on completion of the program
5,000+Members in the CLI community, many of them women like you
How it works

What the eight weeks include

  • 8 weeks duration. Two to three hours every week.
  • Digital online tutorials and calls via Zoom.
  • Access to 100’s premium templates and toolkits.
  • Weekly live Q&A calls.
  • Real world skills mentorship from distinguished leaders.
  • Participate in a live cyber crisis simulation.
  • Capstone project development, board presentation simulation and feedback.

A sample of what you’ll learn

Practical capabilities you can apply straight away — plus much more across the full eight weeks.

How to find top-paying roles and smash the interview

One-to-one mentorship helps you cut through the noise and outshine the competition.

Deliver a culture change program that’s measurable

Launch interactive workshops and feedback systems to foster collaboration and track progress.

Land a new role and deliver with confidence in the first 100 days

Exclusive access to strategy templates and methodologies proven to deliver real business value.

Program metrics designed to deliver confidence and sustainability

Step-by-step tutorials supported by practical metrics toolkits you can apply easily and measure your progress toward program goals.

Learn how to quickly craft a high-value cyber resilience strategy

Exclusive access to strategy templates and methodologies proven to deliver real business value.

Establish program sponsorship and agile governance

Using our adaptive model, you’ll be able to deliver with confidence and ensure key stakeholder engagement and buy-in.

Demonstrate value and unlock funding from stakeholders with ease

Exclusive access to strategy templates and methodologies proven to deliver real business value.

Budget design and allocation to deliver risk reduction outcomes

Proven funding and finance allocation methods to match control deployment and maturity, to sustainable risk reduction.

Course preview

Eight weeks, module by module

This is the full Cyber Leadership Program content, week by week — the same curriculum that has taken hundreds of cyber professionals into senior leadership roles.

01 Week 01

The role of a CISO / cyber leader

The cyber resilience mindset · Becoming a cyber executive: a CISO story · Essential lessons for success · Exploring the many types of CISO role · Finding your ideal CISO role · Building your personal brand, getting noticed and standing out · Preparing for and being successful at interviews · Essential tasks in your first 100 days as a CISO · Engaging as a business and enhancing your standing in the C-suite · Avoiding the common mistakes and building personal resilience.

02 Week 02

Developing a high value cyber resilience strategy

The approach and the basics · Fundamentals first: crown jewels and minimum controls · What is cyber resilience? · Which cybersecurity framework should you choose? · Developing a high value cyber resilience strategy · Assessing your current cyber resilience and getting visibility fast · Communicating the strategy to get stakeholder buy-in · Setting up for success and quick wins.

03 Week 03

Leading an enterprise-wide cyber risk aware culture

Developing a cyber savvy workforce · Delivering and measuring real behavioural change · Gamification applied to cyber awareness · Segmenting staff according to human risk exposure · Executive education and the leadership role in driving change · A CISO case study: global FinTech.

04 Week 04

Building and leading a world class cyber function

The role of the CISO in functional design · Establishing a function and building capability · Functional designs for industry sector, regional coverage and size · Matching talent and developing skills.

05 Week 05

Stakeholder management

Who are our stakeholders? · Building trust and maintaining sustainable relationships · Effective board and executive communication · Getting the whole organisation engaged · Communicating with the extended ecosystem.

06 Week 06

Embedding agile cyber governance

Why strong cyber risk governance matters now more than ever · Why cyber governance is still difficult · Establishing a cross-functional cyber risk governance committee · Getting board cyber risk reporting right · The Active Cyber Risk Profile · Measuring what matters: board cyber risk metrics · Simulating plausible cyber breach scenarios · The cyber assurance program · Tightening supply chain cyber governance.

07 Week 07

Maintaining resilience and operational excellence

Sustaining resilience during constant change · Keeping up the momentum · How do we know? Tracking and monitoring · Keeping on top of the ever changing threat landscape · Adapting our cyber strategies to new and emerging threats · Ensuring resilience during major organisational change · Cyber resilience in mergers and acquisitions · Continuous testing and learning · Preparing for and running your own cyber exercise.

08 Week 08

Maximising your impact and influence as a leader

Creating an environment built on trust and safety · Developing a cyber function operating strategy · Introducing the Cyber Leadership Framework© · Executive coaching, advancing your skills and your career.

Watch the previews

A taste of every week of the program

A short tutorial excerpt from each of the eight weekly modules, so you know exactly what to expect before you enrol.

Week 1: The role of a CISO / cyber leader

Week 2: Developing a high-value cyber resilience strategy

Week 3: Leading an enterprise-wide cyber risk-aware culture

Week 4: Building and leading a world-class cyber function

Week 5: Stakeholder management

Week 6: Embedding agile cyber governance

Week 7: Maintaining resilience and operational excellence

Week 8: Maximising your impact and influence as a leader

Your digital accreditation

Your digital mark of excellence

The Cyber Leadership Program is fully CPD accredited, offering you qualifications that officially contribute to your continuous professional development.

This accreditation underscores the program’s rigour and relevance, solidifying your commitment to the industry. Together with your Credly badge, elevate your professional presence in a competitive landscape, stand out from the crowd and showcase your expertise anywhere online — be it LinkedIn, your digital resume or your email signature. It’s not just a symbol, it’s your digital mark of excellence, used by thousands of household global brands.

The Cyber Leadership Hub, where the program, mentoring and toolkits are delivered

Your career advancement support platform

All our training programs, including mentoring and the resources that support career advancement, are delivered to you on a digital platform: the Cyber Leadership Hub — access anytime, anywhere, via the web or your mobile device.

Available on iOS and Android as the Cyber Leaders app.

Distinguished leaders delivering the programs

Learn from leaders who have done the job

You will learn from a stellar panel of distinguished global leaders who’ve been there, done it — and from real world skills mentorship throughout the eight weeks.

Your faculty is made up of accomplished cybersecurity and business leaders who have built, transformed and led security functions across some of the world’s most demanding organisations.

Phil Zongo

Phil Zongo

CEO & Co-Founder

Three-time bestselling author, named one of the Top 7 Global Cyber Leaders in 2023 by Security Magazine and ISACA. Member of the Forbes Business Council and listed in the Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent. Co-author of The Cyber Leadership Imperative.

Darren Argyle

Darren Argyle

Chairman & Co-Founder

Four-time Group CISO at S&P Global, Qantas, Standard Chartered and IBM. Ranked among the Top 100 CISOs globally and Top 30 in Australia by SC Magazine and CSO, and named Innovator of the Year by the SANS Institute. Co-author of The Cyber Leadership Imperative.

Julie Chatman

Julie Chatman

Faculty Member

Former Associate Partner at McKinsey, with leadership roles at the FBI, Deloitte and GSK. Over 13 years building enterprise security programs and advising Fortune 100 executives on cyber risk management.

What our customers say

Join over 5,000+ members

After training and educating thousands of cyber security professionals and executives in more than 60 countries, we are confident you are going to love your learning experience and gain the skills, confidence and relationships you need to take your career to the next level.

★★★★★

The Cyber Leadership Program was a real turning point for me. Coming from enterprise banking, I’ve always understood risk and governance, but this program helped me see cybersecurity through a broader leadership lens. The lessons on board communication, stakeholder influence, and building cyber-resilient cultures have shaped how I now advise organizations.

Lester Chng
Lester Chng Senior Cyber Security Advisor – Education | Canada
★★★★★

What I appreciated most was the facilitation, keeping participants out of the weeds and focused on business translation. It was the perfect blend to help technical professionals upskill into business leaders, with a curriculum that was both manageable and accountable.

Ter Govang
Ter Govang Chief Security Officer – Critical Infrastructure | Canada
★★★★★

For a long time, I believed I understood what it takes to succeed as a CISO in large enterprises. But I sensed blind spots existed in my perspective. The 8-week program helped clarify those gaps, giving me a more holistic view of cybersecurity leadership and the confidence to take the next step.

Farrel Folley
Farrel Folley Head of OT Cybersecurity Services | Germany
Next cohort dates to be announced

Register for the women’s cohort

Join a dynamic community of ambitious women, take the next step in your career and become the leader you were meant to be.

Members US$795 for the full program
Non-members US$995Excluding applicable GST or VAT
Places are still available, but they fill up quickly — early registration is recommended.

Your enrolment includes

  • Self-paced online tutorials and weekly live Q&A calls via Zoom
  • Personalised 1:1 mentoring from distinguished leaders
  • Access to hundreds of premium templates and toolkits
  • A live cyber crisis simulation
  • Capstone project development, board presentation simulation and feedback
  • 51 CPE credits and a Credly digital badge on completion
  • A supportive global network of women in cyber
  • If you aren’t deeply satisfied within the first 30 days, we’ll give you a full refund
  • Small cohorts so everyone gets 1:1 support
  • Deferral or re-enrolment in the next cohort at no extra cost
Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know

What kind of professional should enrol into the program?

We have designed the Cyber Leadership Program to help cyber security professionals at any stage of their career, but specifically those who are looking to accelerate their careers into senior leadership roles. We also work with experienced CISOs seeking to boost their credibility in board rooms or executive committees through sharper strategy design, executive communication and influencing skills. Current roles often include a senior IT professional switching into a cyber security leadership role, a technical cyber security professional accelerating towards senior leadership, a head of information security or IT security manager looking for their first CISO role, a newly appointed cyber leader working on their first 100-day plan, a senior executive accountable for cybersecurity, or a cyber security consultant seeking to sharpen their conversations with CISOs and executives.

What experience is required and are there any prerequisites?

No leadership skills are required to enter the course, but there is an expectation that you have a background and experience in the world of cyber security and/or information technology. If you’re unsure, schedule a call.

Where are you located?

Our headquarters is located right in the heart of the central business district in Sydney, Australia, where our Chairman, Darren Argyle, currently resides. Our CEO, Phil Zongo, is based on the Gold Coast, Australia.

Can my employer pay for the course?

Yes — some CLP attendees formally request their employers fund their participation in the CLP. You however must familiarise yourself with your company employee training policy in this regard. To help make your life easier, we have drafted an email capturing most of the information employers often request, which you can download.

Are the program fees tax deductible?

Whether the program fees are tax deductible will depend on the tax legislation in your country and your personal circumstances. In some countries a tax deduction may be available for some or all of the program fee. For example, in Australia self-education expenses may be deductible if the education has a sufficient connection to your current employment. We recommend that you speak to your tax accountant or advisor to determine whether a tax deduction will be available.

What are my payment options — when do I have to pay?

Full payment — via credit card or bank transfer — must be received before the program start date. If you would like to arrange for a payment plan, please speak to your enrolment officer about available options.

Are there any scholarships for this course?

Yes. At the Cyber Leadership Institute, we are dedicated to empowering the next generation of cybersecurity leaders — see our scholarship programs to learn more.

How long is the program?

The learning content is self-paced, and we have carefully designed it to fit your busy schedule. We, however, recommend completing the program within the standard eight weeks to maximise the value of weekly collaborations with fellow participants.

What happens if I am unable to complete the program in 8 weeks?

If, for any reason, you are unable to complete the program in the recommended eight weeks, you can request a deferral at no extra cost. Alternatively, you can ask to be re-enrolled into the next class, should it suit you. If your employer has paid for your course, you may need to seek their approval first.

How do you deliver the program?

We have designed the CLP to cater for busy cyber security and technology professionals. All learning happens online so that participants can watch the pre-recorded modules in their own time, at a pace comfortable for them. Transcripts for all online videos are also available for those who prefer reading. We host highly interactive Zoom calls where participants ask pressing questions and openly share career-defining mistakes and success stories in a safe environment. If you miss any of these calls, you can request a complete voice recording or transcript. If you have a question specific to Phil, Darren or Jan at any stage over the eight-week program, you can contact them via WhatsApp or email.

How many hours per week?

Participants should devote an average of 4–5 hours per week to earn their CLP badge: two hours to go through online lectures, two hours to complete the strategy competition project and one hour to attend the Zoom calls.

What time is the Zoom call?

Because of the global reach of our program, we have no pre-set times for our Zoom calls. Once the enrolment for a specific class is finalised, we organise the weekly Zoom calls, considering various time zones.

How long will I have access to the videos and materials?

Upon completing the CLP, you will have full access to the program content (online lectures and transcripts) for a standard twelve months. Furthermore, with active membership you will retain full access to the Cyber Leadership Hub — an online repository of hundreds of high-quality strategy toolkits, playbooks, frameworks and more — giving you full ammunition to thrive in your cyber leadership role.

How long have you been running the course?

The three co-founders (with combined experience spanning more than 70 years) have been practicing and teaching these proven leadership principles for decades. That said, our first formal CLP cohort graduated in February 2020.

How will people know I’ve completed the program?

Once you have fulfilled the CLP requirements, you will receive a Credly digital badge that you can use to showcase your solid grasp of cyber leadership essentials on LinkedIn or other platforms that matter to you. Credly, trusted by many large global brands, hosts the largest and most connected digital credential network.

Are there many exams, assignments or tests?

There is no standard exam or test at the end of CLP. To receive their CLP digital badge, however, participants must complete the cyber strategy competition project. Over the course of the eight weeks, each participant develops a comprehensive cyber security strategy with detailed mentorship directly from Phil, Jan or Darren. During week 7, we select three finalists and invite them to pitch their strategies to the entire cohort during the last Zoom call. The winner receives an additional two-year Premium Membership, valued at over US$1,000.

Can you guarantee me a CISO role?

The Cyber Leadership Program will equip you with the leadership skills and confidence required to land a CISO interview and nail it. Obviously, no program can guarantee a CISO role. Still, the CLP will give you powerful tools to accelerate your path to the C-suite and thrive, as well as grant access to the fastest-growing private global network of cyber leaders who share career and business opportunities.

How can CLP bolster my career options?

You will gain powerful tools to accelerate your path to the C-suite and thrive, as well as access to the fastest-growing private global network of cyber leaders who share career and business opportunities. For further information on how the CLP can bolster your career, speak to our friendly consultants.

What if in week one I feel the program is not for me?

If you aren’t deeply satisfied with the first 30 days of our industry-leading course, simply let us know, and we’ll give you a full refund.

Are there still positions available in the upcoming enrolment?

Yes, but they fill up quickly. Early registration is recommended to secure your slot.

Tell me about the registration process and costs — how do I get my name added to the list?

To guarantee your spot, you need to register and follow the prompts. For more information regarding the Cyber Leadership Program, download our course prospectus or speak to one of our enrolment officers and we can secure your spot.

I have registered. What happens next?

Once you have registered, you will gain access to the course materials that you can peruse before the course commences. You will receive information via your nominated form of contact regarding start dates and scheduled Zoom calls. If you have further questions, schedule a call with one of our friendly consultants.

How do I access my course?

The course will be delivered via an online e-learning platform accessible from your desktop or mobile device, wherever you are. Once you have successfully registered, you will receive instructions on how to access the content.

How many students are in a cohort — who will be my classmates?

Cohort sizes vary, but we keep cohorts small to provide comprehensive 1:1 support. Your classmates could come from anywhere around the world. You will meet your cohort in the kick-off Zoom call and begin to build connections.

When and how often will my cohort meet?

Depending on time zones, there are usually two Zoom sessions per week that are offered. You will meet weekly with those from your cohort that join your nominated Zoom session.

What time do classes meet?

Classes meet via weekly Zoom calls to facilitate learning. Because of the global reach of our program, we have no pre-set times. Once the enrolment for a specific class is finalised, we organise the weekly Zoom calls, considering various time zones.

What if I can’t start the class on the date it’s scheduled to begin?

The program is self-paced and carefully designed to fit into your busy schedule. We recommend completing it within the standard eight weeks to maximise the value of weekly collaborations with fellow participants. If you are unable to attend any or most of the scheduled Zoom calls, please speak to our friendly consultants to discuss options. We offer deferral and rescheduling of enrolment at no extra cost should you need it — just reach out to Emily Evans, our Community Management Specialist in the Hub.

What should I do if I’m away for a few days?

As the program is self-paced, you may be able to stay on top of the course work or catch up as required. You can access the course content anytime, anywhere. Please speak to one of our consultants or Emily Evans in the Hub if you will be away during the program and you expect it to impact your learning.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions?

If you cannot find the answer to your question in these FAQs, please schedule a complimentary call with one of our friendly consultants.

Download your course prospectus

Please complete the form below to get more details about the Cyber Leadership Program.

  • The full week-by-week module list
  • How the mentoring, live Q&A calls and capstone project work
  • Fees, cohort dates and employer-funding guidance

Our team responds within 1 business day.