Hacking Cybersecurity Leadership: An Interactive Training to Strengthen Skills for Leading Teams & Multi-Team Systems
Training Overview
Hacking Cybersecurity Leadership is a highly interactive, two-day leadership training at CSA XCON 2026, designed to strengthen the human foundations of cybersecurity by equipping leaders to sustain, motivate, and protect the people behind the technology.
Cybersecurity is not a finite technical problem it is an infinite, human-driven game played by teams and multi-team systems operating under constant pressure. While organizations invest heavily in tools and platforms, insufficient focus on human motivation, resilience, and collaboration leads to burnout, attrition, and reduced effectiveness.
Drawing on the largest social-behavioral cybersecurity research program to date, this training provides leaders with evidence-based tools to build resilient teams, reduce burnout, and improve performance across complex cybersecurity environments.
About the Training at CSA XCON 2026
This training goes beyond traditional leadership theory. It is designed as a sandbox experience, where participants actively practice leadership behaviors using 12 analog collaboration tools in facilitated exercises.
Key highlights include:
- Human-centered leadership for cybersecurity teams
- Focus on motivation, resilience, and sustainable performance
- Practical tools designed for immediate workplace application
- Research-backed frameworks validated across global CSIRT & SOC environments
- Assured by the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
The training connects real cybersecurity challenges with experiential, non-technical exercises that challenge leadership habits and unlock growth.
What You Will Learn
Leading Cybersecurity Multi-Team Systems
- Understanding cybersecurity as an infinite, team-based system
- Organizing and setting direction in dynamic, high-pressure environments
- Leading across teams, functions, and organizational boundaries
Motivation, Burnout & Resilience
- Social-behavioral drivers of burnout in cybersecurity
- Balancing autonomy, purpose, and connection
- Building individual and system-level resilience
- Reducing stress while maintaining operational effectiveness
12 Evidence-Based Analog Leadership Tools
- Communication and collaboration tools designed for complex systems
- Practical methods to support individuals, teams, and leaders themselves
- Tools that scale from team-lead to CISO-level leadership
Implementation & Transfer to the Workplace
- Frameworks for introducing leadership tools into real environments
- Increasing buy-in and engagement across teams
- Translating soft-skill learning into concrete organizational change
Training Experience & Expectations
- Highly interactive and discussion-driven
- Small-group exercises and facilitated reflection
- Non-technical, human-focused learning environment
- Safe space to experiment with leadership behaviors
- Immediate applicability to real cybersecurity organizations
Participants leave with practical leadership tools, not abstract theory.
Key Takeaways
- A framework for proactively organizing and leading cybersecurity multi-team systems in unpredictable environments
- 12 evidence-based leadership tools to improve collaboration, communication, motivation, and resilience
- Expert guidance on implementing these tools effectively within organizations
Who Should Attend
This training is ideal for:
- Cybersecurity team leads
- SOC / CSIRT managers
- Security architects and program leaders
- CISOs and senior security executives
- Anyone leading people in high-pressure cybersecurity environments
Recommended Experience
At least 1 year in a formal leadership role overseeing one or more teams
What Participants Should Bring
Nothing required
What Participants Will Receive
Each participant will receive:
- Physical course workbooks
- A workbench containing the 12 analog collaboration tools
- Notebook, pen, and facilitation materials
- A structured leadership toolkit for ongoing use