During the Institute, learners are expected to dedicate approximately five to seven hours per week (synchronous and asynchronous) for an engaged and successful learning experience. We ask that participants actively plan the time they will spend on the institute each week, even daily. Twice a week, we will hold live, synchronous online meetings to discuss resources, activities, and projects in support of the five competencies:
November 10–December 5, 2025
All sessions will be on Mondays and Thursdays, 3–4:30 p.m. ET.
- Week 1:
- Monday, November 10
- Thursday, November 13
- Week 2:
- Monday, November 17
- Thursday, November 20
- Week 3:
- Monday, December 1
- Thursday, December 4
Cybersecurity and Privacy Managers Institute Competencies
Competency 1: Communication Skills and Strategies
Communication skills are essential for individuals in management positions, particularly within the security and privacy domain. As a manager in this field, you must navigate diverse organizational cultures and communicate effectively in various contexts and scenarios. Effective communication encompasses the ability to grasp the underlying context, interpret verbal and nonverbal cues, demonstrate responsiveness to both people and situations, and, crucially, remain mindful of your own communication strengths, preferences, and habits. This competency empowers you to explore your own communication style and ways to adapt as needed. It will enhance your grasp of strategic, technical, and legal aspects of cybersecurity and privacy communication. Additionally, it will equip you with insights to confidently approach challenging situations while upholding the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Analyze various communication styles and adapt your approach to connect meaningfully with different audiences.
- Create effective training and presentations using industry best practices.
- Apply active listening and problem-solving strategies to foster constructive dialogue and resolution.
Competency 2: Project Strategies and Best Practices
Has your team been so occupied with addressing emergencies and managing operational tasks that important project work has been neglected? How do you guide your institution in determining which projects offer the greatest potential for results while minimizing risks? In this competency, we’ll address elements of how effective managers excel at prioritizing and balancing projects, operations, and emergency response activities. Foundational project management strategies and methodologies empower managers to maintain ownership and oversight of critical project details. By analyzing these strategies, we’ll explore how cybersecurity and privacy professionals can manage successful projects. It’s important for managers to incorporate industry frameworks as they build awareness of data governance structures and key stakeholders within their institutions. Regardless of the project’s objective, these practices will help you promote timely success, risk reduction, and stakeholder satisfaction.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Analyze the benefits of various project frameworks and approaches.
- Identify key stakeholders, governance structures, and best practices for successful projects.
- Explore strategies to identify and manage risks—financial, legal, and reputational—both within institutions and for individuals.
Competency 3: Resource Management
As a manager, your influence on your unit's resource management plan may be complex. Nevertheless, you will most likely be tasked with practicing resource allocation and cost management. Proficiently managing resources, including costs, time, and personnel, as well as social and political capital, stands as a crucial skill as leaders compete for limited funds and justify expenses. This competency explores essential resource and budget management skills. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive overview of budget planning, shedding light on how your role supports the broader initiatives of your organization.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Explore data-informed budgeting processes, including identifying common funding sources with consideration for aging infrastructure.
- Practice cost estimating, contingency planning and identify budget risk factors.
- Appropriately allocate available resources, including political and social capital, to manage funding effectively.
Competency 4: Team Performance, Motivation, and Retention
Hiring, managing performance, and fostering employee motivation are essential responsibilities of any manager. A manager guides and empowers team members to meet individual and collective goals that align with the broader mission of the organization. Thus, recruiting purposefully, hiring talented team members, and nurturing professional networks toward enhanced job performance are critical strategic functions of a managerial role. In this competency, you will explore methods of bringing the right people into your organization and leading your teams toward success.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Assess recruitment, hiring, and retention practices for talented and high-performing teams.
- Identify strategies to cultivate strong relationships with your internal team and professional network.
- Create effective performance and training goals that create space for continuous feedback and coaching for your employees.
Competency 5: Leadership Practices
As someone new to a managerial or leadership position, it can be challenging to see yourself as a leader. You may ask yourself, “How can I manage people who were recently my peers?” or “How do I motivate teams instead of providing technical answers?” Leadership is more than simply completing the same tasks with more authority, and having a title won’t unilaterally make you a successful leader. Leaders must consider how to serve their teams best and establish an environment that allows for effectiveness, ethical practices, and enduring processes. In this competency, you will explore the bridge between management and leadership. You will also analyze approaches that have had a positive impact on others, and explore your own leadership characteristics and skills.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Identify characteristics and principles of effective leaders.
- Analyze different leadership approaches to expand self-efficacy and refine your personal skills.
- Explore leadership capabilities that contribute to successfully navigating organizational change.