Tag: Project Management

The Blueprint for Cybersecurity Leadership: ‘The First 100 Days of the New CISO’

‘The First 100 Days of the New CISO’ by JC Gaillard is a practical roadmap for real and lasting cybersecurity leadership. Photo: Amazon

Book Spotlight: The First 100 Days of the New CISO

A Leadership Guide to Lasting Impact

By JC Gaillard

When a new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) steps into the role, their first 100 days don’t just set the tone—they can define their entire legacy. (Amazon, 2026)

In The First 100 Days of the New CISO, seasoned cybersecurity leader and consultant JC Gaillard offers a pragmatic, experience-driven guide to succeeding in those crucial early months and beyond. Drawing on over two decades of advising major global organizations, Gaillard helps CISOs, executives, and boards understand what true leadership in cybersecurity looks like: calm, structured, and aligned with business priorities.

This is not another technical manual. Instead, it is a leadership guide grounded in governance, culture, and the realities of corporate life, serving as a definitive blueprint for the next decade of cybersecurity leadership.

Inside the Book: What You’ll Discover

The book is structured like a consulting playbook and written in clear, disciplined prose. Inside, you’ll find the perspective and tools needed to turn uncertainty into direction, including:

  • The Blueprint for Timing: How to navigate the first 6 days, 6 weeks, and 6 months with clarity and composure.
  • Stakeholder Management: How to build trust and credibility across the organization before trying to drive major change.
  • Business Alignment: Proven techniques for aligning security with business strategy and corporate governance.
  • Boardroom Success: How to communicate effectively and confidently with boards and executive committees.
  • Culture Over Tools: Why culture, rhythm, and proportion matter far more than tools or technology.
  • Lasting Transformation: Understanding what differentiates true, long-term security maturity from short-term, reactionary activity.

Who This Book Is For

Whether you are stepping into the hot seat for the first time or overseeing the person who is, this guide offers invaluable insights:

  • Newly Appointed CISOs seeking a structured, strategic start to their new role.
  • Experienced Security Leaders looking to strengthen their corporate influence and organizational impact.
  • CEOs, CIOs, and Board Members who want to understand what truly effective security leadership looks like.
  • Consultants & Governance Professionals focused on organizational resilience, trust, and transformation.

“If you want to lead with confidence, build maturity, and leave a legacy that lasts beyond your tenure, The First 100 Days of the New CISO will show you how.”

About the Author

JC Gaillard is a leading strategic advisor and a globally recognized cybersecurity thought-leader with over 25 years of experience and a track record of driving fundamental change across global organizations.

He is the Founder and CEO of Corix Partners, a UK-based boutique management consultancy firm and thought-leadership platform. Corix Partners focuses on assisting CIOs and other C-level executives in resolving complex cybersecurity strategy, organization, and governance challenges.

‘Project Management Made Practical’: The Beginner’s Blueprint for Leading with Confidence

‘Project Management Made Practical: A Hands-On Guide for New Project Managers’ by Zach Herman. Photo: Amazon

Book Review – Project Management Made Practical: A Hands-On Guide for New Project Managers

By Zach Herman

Project Management Made Practical is the essential guide for first-time project managers, career changers, and anyone seeking to bring structure and clarity to complex work. Written in a clear, conversational tone by seasoned project leader Zach Herman, this concise yet rich resource breaks down the core principles, tools, and strategies for successful project delivery. (Amazon, 2025)

Whether you’re in business, healthcare, education, or tech, this book offers practical frameworks and ready-to-use templates to help you get organized, stay on track, and deliver real results.

What’s Inside

  • I. Introduction to Project Management
  • II. Project Phases
  • III. Final Thoughts About Agile and Hybrid
  • IV. Final Thoughts

Highlights

Project Management 101: The Pulse of the Project

Herman introduces the Five Process Groups—Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing—emphasizing that Monitoring & Controlling is where the action happens, and Planning is where success begins.

Project Planning – Blueprint for Success

The book identifies planning as the most critical phase: defining scope, building schedules and budgets, managing stakeholders, and preparing for risks, procurement, and change.

Why It Works for New Project Managers

Herman’s definition of project management—“a structured application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to meet project requirements”—sets the tone for a practical approach. He focuses on real-world challenges, avoiding theory-heavy explanations.

From stakeholder management to risk assessment and communication strategies, the guidance is direct, actionable, and paired with templates, checklists, and relatable scenarios. Readers also get step-by-step instructions for writing a project charter, building a work breakdown structure, and running effective meetings. The illustrations make the material easy to understand and accessible to anyone.

The book also explains predictive, agile, and hybrid methodologies, showing when and how to apply each. Most importantly, Herman highlights leadership, ethics, and communication as equally vital to technical skills, reminding us:

“Projects are temporary, but reputation and lives are not.”

About the Author

Zach Herman brings over 20 years of experience in portfolio, program, and project management, along with a decade of leadership expertise. Holding a Master’s in Business Administration and certifications including PMP, DASM, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, he is dedicated to mentoring emerging leaders and helping them navigate their new responsibilities with confidence.

If you’re a career changer or aspiring project manager looking for a solid foundation and fast, practical insights, Project Management Made Practical is a must-read.

“Effective project management is not about checking boxes or completing templates; it’s about delivering outcomes through planning, strategic foresight, and adaptive execution.”

*Thank you to Zach Herman for my gifted copy for review consideration. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Rating: 4 out of 5.