From Cybersecurity Expert to Trusted Business Partner
Turn technical expertise into organizational influence so security decisions connect, gain support, and move forward.
Security in OT environments doesn’t fail because you don’t know what to do. It fails in the space between knowing and doing, where tradeoffs are made, silos stall action, and leaders are left carrying the weight.
So why do your initiatives keep getting stuck in between the cracks of organizational silos, leaving your team in constant justification mode?
Gauge your teams’ ability to influence with an Impact Review.
No obligation consultation
The Real Problem Isn't Technical
It’s Not Being Heard
Your security team has reduced its Mean Time to Detect by 50% but still struggle to translate cyber risks into business language that drives action. At times, your team sees colleagues with less expertise advancing into new roles, while your own group is recognized primarily for keeping the business steady and resilient.
It’s Not Getting
Follow Through
Sometimes it’s not only about getting a seat at the table or finding the right words. It’s about follow-through. Security initiatives stall when engineering, product, and business teams pull in different directions. Tradeoffs never get resolved, ownership is unclear, and progress grinds to a halt, leaving the risks wide open.
It’s Not Being Understood
Even with a seat at the table, communication is the sticking point. Technical detail drowns out the message, executives lose the thread, and what should be urgent sounds optional. Without the right framing, critical initiatives stall before they start.
The result? Security initiatives stall, talent gets stuck, and your organization stays exposed.
What We Deliver
Not just "better communication" - measurable business outcomes that your C-Suite and HR Partners will fund
Business Alignment
Security becomes tied to business priorities instead of being siloed as a cost center, increasing security budgets.
Pipeline Development
Mid-level cybersecurity talent becomes ready for bigger roles, solving succession planning challenges.
Buy-In Acceleration
Security initiatives get support earlier with fewer stalls, moving from constant justification to strategic partnerships.
Trusted Advisor Status
Technical security leaders are seen as credible business partners, not just implementers, elevating organizational influence.
Three Pathways to Elevate Your Cybersecurity Leaders
Uplift Peer Group Coaching for Cybersecurity
5-Month Transformation Program
The flagship program for cybersecurity professionals ready to break through the influence ceiling. Join 6-8 peer-level leaders in a confidential setting designed specifically for technical professionals who need to lead in complex environments and aspire for bigger roles.
What makes this different: Every discussion, every breakthrough moment is designed around the unique challenges cybersecurity leaders face when translating technical expertise into organizational influence.
Key Components:
• In-person intensive kickoff to build psychological safety among peers (1-day)
• Bi-weekly facilitated group sessions addressing real organizational challenges faced by security teams.
• Individual coaching tailored to addressed individuals' key challenges
• Multi-rater assessment revealing how others perceive your communication
• Professional certification pathway for career advancement
Secure Your Influence
2-Day Leadership Intensive
Perfect for cybersecurity leaders who need immediate impact strategies. Combines a proprietary multi-rater assessment with communication training specifically designed for technical professionals presenting to non-technical stakeholders.
Immediate Outcomes:
• Frame cybersecurity risks in business language that drives action
• Build credibility with C-suite executives and board members
• Influence security decisions without formal authority
• Navigate organizational politics while maintaining technical integrity
Level Up Coaching for CISOs
Individual Executive Coaching
Designed for senior cybersecurity executives facing high-stakes leadership transitions or complex organizational challenges. Combines 360-degree feedback with personalized development planning.
Perfect for:
• New CISOs establishing credibility and building their leadership brand
• Experienced security leaders navigating organizational change
• Technical experts promoted into broader business leadership roles
• Anyone preparing for board presentations or investor meetings
Why This Works for Cybersecurity Minds
Built specifically for analytical professionals who resist traditional "soft skills" training
Data-Driven Assessment
A multi-rater assessment provides objective insights into communication patterns, bypassing the resistance technical professionals have to subjective feedback.
Immediate Application
Every framework is designed for real-world implementation. Practice translating threat assessments into business impact in low-risk environments before applying in high-stakes board or C-suite presentations.
Peer-Based Learning
Learn alongside other cybersecurity professionals facing similar challenges. Technical minds trust insights from peers who understand their context and operational realities.
Keep the Edge
We don’t replace your technical expertise, we give it a louder mic. Authentic leadership is about turning up your own voice, not squeezing into some ill-fitting corporate costume.
Transform Your Team Into Influential Security Partners
Imagine your cybersecurity leaders walking into a stakeholder meeting knowing exactly how to:
• Frame cybersecurity risks in language that gets immediate buy-in and budget approval
• Have executives leaning forward when they speak, asking thoughtful questions about security strategy and organizational resilience
• Be known as the cybersecurity leaders who don't just identify problems but mobilizes entire organizations to solve them
Schedule a Call to Discuss Enrollment
No obligation consultation
Three Pathways to Elevate Your Cybersecurity Leaders
Most Popular
Uplift Peer Group Coaching for Cybersecurity
5-Month Transformation Program
The flagship program for cybersecurity professionals ready to break through the influence ceiling. Join 6-8 peer-level leaders in a confidential environment designed specifically for technical professionals who need to develop repeatable communication, influencing and facilitation skills to get to the next tier in your org chart
What makes this different: Every framework, every discussion, every breakthrough moment is designed around the unique challenges cybersecurity leaders face when translating technical expertise into organizational influence.
Key Components:
• In-person intensive kickoff to build psychological safety among peers (1-day)
• Bi-weekly facilitated group sessions addressing real organizational challenges faced by security teams.
• Individual coaching sessions tailored to addressed individuals' key challenges
• Multi-rater assessment revealing how others perceive your communication
• Professional certification pathway for career advancement
$7,500
per participant
Secure Your Influence
2-Day Leadership Intensive
Perfect for cybersecurity leaders who need immediate impact strategies. Combines a proprietary multi-rater assessment with executive presence training specifically designed for technical professionals presenting to non-technical stakeholders.
Key Components:
• Frame cybersecurity risks in business language that drives action
• Build credibility with C-suite executives and board members
• Influence security decisions without formal authority
• Navigate organizational politics while maintaining technical integrity
$6,000
per participant
Level Up Coaching for CISOs
Individual Executive Coaching
Designed for senior cybersecurity executives facing high-stakes leadership transitions or complex organizational challenges. Combines 360-degree feedback with personalized development planning.
Perfect for:
• New CISOs establishing credibility and building their leadership brand
• Experienced security leaders navigating organizational change
• Technical experts promoted into broader business leadership roles
• Anyone preparing for board presentations or investor meetings
$15,000
Discover Which Program Fits
Your Team's Needs
Your Results Are Guaranteed
No Insight-Without-Action Guarantee
If your cybersecurity leaders aren't actively applying new influence strategies within 30 days of program start, we'll provide additional implementation support at no extra cost until you're seeing measurable improvement in stakeholder engagement and initiative success.
What this means: Your team won't just learn concepts, they'll implement strategies that create visible change in how others perceive and respond to their cybersecurity leadership.
No obligation consultation
Meet
Therese Miclot
For over 25 years, Therese has specialized in transforming technical experts into influential leaders. Unlike generic leadership coaches, she understands the unique challenges cybersecurity professionals face when translating technical expertise into business influence.
• Global experience facilitating leadership development across North America, Europe, and Asia for Fortune 500 companies
• Former global leader in Learning and Development for Rockwell Automation
• Master certified Social Style facilitator with proven expertise helping analytical professionals develop executive presence
• Co-author of "The Facilitation Advantage," demonstrating practical methodology for leadership effectiveness in technical environments
"Technical specialists don't need to abandon their expertise to become leaders, they need to learn how to leverage it for organizational impact."
Her specialized expertise:
Meet
Susan Peterson Sturm
Susan Peterson Sturm has over 20 years of experience in industrial software and cybersecurity, spanning rail, oil & gas, utilities, and industrial automation. She has led P&Ls, scaled secure product lines, and built global teams, with a track record of aligning cybersecurity with business outcomes.
Susan has served as Chief Information Security Officer at Cognite, Senior Vice President at ABB and Wintershall Dea, and now leads rail OT cybersecurity strategy at Wabtec as Senior Director of Cybersecurity Product & Strategic Partnerships.
Her work includes achieving ISO 27001, SOC 2, and IEC 62443 certifications, delivering multimillion-dollar secure product launches, and embedding TSA 1580–aligned controls for critical rail infrastructure.
She is a member of the FBI InfraGard (Denver Chapter) and actively contributes to advancing cybersecurity resilience across critical infrastructure.
Outside of work, Susan serves on the board of One Warm Coat and still enjoys skiing and mountain biking — even with the occasional wipeout.
Frequently Asked Questions
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That's exactly why this works. Our programs are designed around the operational realities technical leaders face. The goal is to save time by eliminating the communication breakdowns and organizational friction that create more work. Most participants find they recoup 10% of their time on average by becoming more effective at stakeholder engagement.
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This isn't soft skills training—it's business capability development. We help technical experts translate their expertise into influence, which directly impacts your ability to secure budgets, accelerate threat response, and protect your organization. Leadership capability directly impacts your security posture.
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Leadership capability reduces organizational friction. By framing decisions earlier and in terms stakeholders understand, your team avoids stalls, rework, and endless justification. That means you can do more with the team you already have — moving initiatives forward faster, securing approvals sooner, and freeing capacity to focus on real risk reduction. Many clients see ROI within 90 days as projects advance with less resistance and teams deliver more impact.
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Our methodology is built specifically for technical minds. We use analytical frameworks, peer-based learning, and objective assessment tools rather than abstract concepts. We use data-driven assessments and measure specific outcomes. Participants often say it's the first leadership program that made sense to them.
Ready to Transform Your Cybersecurity Leaders?
Stop watching brilliant technical professionals get stuck in organizational politics. The next Uplift Cybersecurity cohort begins in January 2026. Secure Your Influence workshops are available quarterly. Level Up Coaching accepts new participants monthly.
Limited spots available. Priority given to applications received by November 15th.
Strategic Fit Guarantee
After our consultation, if we determine this isn't the right fit for your organization, you'll leave with valuable insights and clear guidance on next steps, no sales pressure, just strategic clarity.
No obligation consultation
25+
Years transforming technical experts into organizational leaders
4000+
Technical professionals developed across Fortune 500 and mid-market companies
10%
Time recouped on average, creating capacity for strategic security work