Simona Dimovski – Why Cyber Professionals Need Much More than Technical Skills
When Harness Cyber Mentor Simona Dimovski talks about Cybersecurity, She Starts with the Human Element
With 25+ years in technology and security leadership, Simona has protected critical infrastructure, led high-stakes incident responses, transformed the security posture of financial and insurance organisations, and advised government on cyber resilience. She’s been CIO, CISO, Principal Advisor, NSW Cyber Ambassador, and a long-time AISA committee member. Her view on being successful in cyber? Technical skills are just your foundation. The real magic happens when you can see the bigger picture — the people, the processes, the risks, and the business objectives your work supports. “Cybersecurity is as much about trust, relationships, and decision-making as it is about code and controls.”
The missing piece we see every day
At Harness, after speaking with countless prospective students — from master’s graduates to those fresh out of university — we’ve noticed exactly what Simona is talking about. Many have strong academic knowledge, but little to no real-world experience. They’ve learned the theory, but haven’t delivered a project with deadlines, shifting priorities, and actual stakeholders to convince. They can explain a framework, but haven’t had to defend their recommendations to a sceptical executive or navigate the people dynamics of a multi-team incident response.
And while they may have the technical base, their professional communication, stakeholder skills, and workplace readiness are often underdeveloped. It’s not a question of capability — it’s simply that these skills aren’t built in a classroom.
A shared philosophy from industry leaders
What Simona teaches is echoed by all of the cyber experts mentoring learners on our live cyber projects. Together, their message is clear: technical skills get you in the door, but your ability to adapt, communicate, and align with business needs is what builds a lasting career. All of our live client projects are designed to develop not just your technical capability, but the professionalism, clarity, and adaptability that Simona and her fellow mentors agree are essential for success.
Want to launch your cyber career with the skills that employers actually value?
The Cyber Career Launcher Program is built around learning cyber by doing cyber — tackling live client projects that push you to investigate incidents, assess vulnerabilities, and communicate your findings to real stakeholders. With guidance from mentors like Simona and other industry leaders, you’ll graduate not just with technical skills, but with the confidence, professionalism, and workplace readiness that set successful cyber professionals apart.
Interested in joining us? Book a call with our team to see if it’s the right fit for your cyber career journey.
