Leadership and Executive Communication, Training and Security Leadership, Video
Friendly CISO Don Gibson talks about dealing with anxiety and burnout in a high-stress job
Anna Delaney (anna madeline) •
December 27, 2023
Cybersecurity experts work to make the world a safer place. But as his CISO, Don Gibson, discovered, this often comes at a personal cost. At the age of 44, the stress and long hours required an unexpected heart surgery. “How you adapt to change will greatly help you in the future,” he says.
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Gibson, a member of cyber ed board, emphasized the importance of early identification of signs of burnout to prevent harmful outcomes. Whether it’s a change in appearance, a regression in habits, or a noticeable change in mood or communication, these external signs often indicate a negative response to the stress response.
“Personally speaking, my experience with burnout was characterized by a constant state of anxiety…waking up with adrenaline already flowing…a cloud of doom hoping something would go wrong. It’s like they’re chasing you,” he said.
Recognizing physical and mental cues such as “phantom limb pain” and vivid dreams related to stress helped Gibson understand that she needed to take a step back and prioritize her health. He said it was helpful.
His key message for cybersecurity leaders is that the idea that leaders are indispensable is a fallacy. “If you’re a cybersecurity expert and you’re irreplaceable, you’ve failed. You know what to do, you pick up problems when you’re not around, and you do your job.” “You need to have a team behind you that can keep going,” he said. He said.
“It’s good to love what you do, but you need to do it in an achievable or compatible way,” he says.
In a video interview with Information Security Media Group, Gibson said:
- Challenges he faced while leading and after leading a ransomware incident response.
- Why cybersecurity professionals need to prioritize their health.
- Strategies for building mental resilience in high-stress environments.
Gibson builds strong, diverse and resilient teams and functions that create practical security programs and partner with businesses to help them achieve their business objectives. He is a cyber mental health advocate.