IDG Contributor Network: Leadership begins between your own two ears

Dr. Joanne Martin is currently president and chief information security officer (CISO) in residence at Vicinage, a boutique cybersecurity services firm comprised of independent cybersecurity executives. Previously, she had a 30-year career in various executive roles at IBM, including VP, technology and VP, IT risk/chief information security officer (CISO).

As someone whose career has straddled the strategy-focused and the operational, is there any leadership principle that you consider central to success? Yes. My personal motto for a long time has been "chance favors the prepared mind," and my career trajectory has certainly treated me to a great deal of chance opportunities. What enabled me to recognize them was the preparation I had made, things I had explored, curiosity that led me to get underneath things and really understand them.

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