Along the way, Sarah discovered a passion for understanding human behavior and its connection to cybersecurity, leading her to explore the fascinating field of behavioral design. Initially, people didn’t take her seriously when she mentioned blending psychology with cybersecurity – they thought it was a joke. However, Sarah didn’t give up. Even when she couldn’t find any education or courses, she taught herself everything she needed to know about behavioral design. She came up with a cool idea called “security nudging” to enhance cybersecurity practices. And guess what? People began to listen. She spoke at conferences, wrote articles on her blog (securebychoice.com), and is also working on a book about it. Now, even the most tech-savvy individuals are paying attention. 

As Sarah’s journey unfolded, her determination and innovation led to significant accomplishments. She is currently the CISO at Tivoli and also serves as a member of the Danish Cyber Security Council for 2024-27, where she influences Denmark’s cybersecurity landscape. Alongside these roles, Sarah remains an active speaker and is set to become an author with an upcoming book. She is also exploring the development of online courses based on her book’s material and her speeches. Sarah’s multifaceted career, marked by her diverse pursuits and unwavering perseverance, serves as an inspiration to embrace growth and seek out new opportunities for innovation.

A Day in Sarah’s Life: Juggling Work, Family, and Pursuing Passion

Sarah wakes up at five in the morning, mentioning that being a morning person makes it easier for her. She works until seven, handling various tasks like reading latest security news in OSINTer(osinter.dk), and while having breakfast, she checks her calendar and goes through emails to ensure she’s organized for the day ahead. When the kids wake up, she switches gears to focus on them, helping with breakfast and getting them ready for school.

Once the kids are off to school, Sarah heads to work at Tivoli, having already sorted her emails and schedules. Throughout the day, she attends meetings and handles work tasks. In the afternoon, she returns home to spend time with her family, emphasizing that being present with them is a top priority for her.

After putting her children to bed at eight, Sarah unwinds by reading fiction literature to relax her mind. She mentions that she makes sure to prioritize family time and maintain her values, even declining evening invitations to stick to her priorities.

On weekends, Sarah maintains her busy schedule, waking up early to work on personal projects like writing blog posts, planning speeches and writing her book. She even schedules her LinkedIn posts two weeks in advance, usually preparing them during her daughter’s swimming lessons on Wednesdays.

Despite the hectic nature of her days, Sarah ensures to make time for herself and her family, emphasizing that she sticks firmly to her values and priorities.  

– I’ve been learning about Stoicism, an old Greek philosophy, to help me stay disciplined in my busy life. I’ve made some deliberate choices, like cutting out TV completely, because I’ve realized it doesn’t add any real value to my life. Instead, I invest my time in activities that contribute to my goals, like writing my blog and giving speeches. Even though waking up early can be tough, I keep reminding myself of my goal to publish a book, and that keeps me going. I’ve also been studying the work of authors like James Clear and BJ Fogg, who emphasize the power of tiny habits. They’ve taught me that consistent, incremental changes can lead to significant results over time. So, I focus on incorporating tiny habits into my routine, knowing that they’ll eventually add up to something meaningful. It’s not always easy, but I’ve seen first-hand that it works, and that’s what keeps me going.

Sarah’s Perspective on Imposter Syndrome:

Sarah reflects on impostor syndrome, noticing its impact on herself and others. It makes her feel anxious, especially when she posts on LinkedIn or deals with difficult topics. She finds it strange that she feels like an impostor but is also overly confident in some areas. Sarah believes it’s important to focus on growing personally and not let others’ opinions affect how she sees herself. She also talks about a study showing that people worry too much about what others think of them.

– In a study, they took a guy and put him in a party, wearing a funny t-shirt. He felt really embarrassed because he thought everyone was staring at him. But when they asked the other people, only very few actually noticed him. It’s like, we think everyone is judging us, but they’re actually too busy with their own stuff. So, we walk around, feeling all self-absorbed, but really, it’s just in our minds.

Insights from Sarah’s Philosophy and Experience:

Sarah provided insightful advice based on her own experiences and philosophies. 

– Life has its twists and turns, you know? I never imagined I’d end up where I am today, whether as a librarian or in IT support. But I’m just rolling with it, choosing happiness wherever I find myself along this journey. It’s all about embracing the present moment and finding joy in the unexpected.

Sarah’s philosophy, inspired by “Det hele handler ikke om dig,” underscores the significance of reflecting on mortality to prioritize values and personal growth, urging others to seize the present moment for fulfilment. 

Additionally, Sarah explains that despite finding everything in the world interesting, she achieves them by setting two goals each year, which could be anything from writing a book to learning a musical instrument. By concentrating on these two goals annually, Sarah ensures she plans and completes them within the year before setting new ones. This structured approach allows her to channel her diverse interests into tangible achievements.

Furthermore, she advises individuals transitioning into new career paths, such as IT security, to leverage existing skills and experiences, highlighting the importance of recognizing and repurposing transferable skills to navigate challenges with confidence and Drawing from her own experience as a librarian, she highlights the value of communication and understanding people’s needs, skills that are applicable across various fields. By embracing one’s background and repurposing relevant skills, individuals can combat imposter syndrome and navigate career transitions more confidently.