CyAN Global Mentorship Programme – 1 Month Update
We are now one month into the CyAN Global Mentorship Programme, and it is already clear that the initiative is delivering meaningful value across a truly international community.
From the outset, the programme was designed to connect aspiring cybersecurity professionals with experienced mentors worldwide. In just four weeks, we have seen strong engagement, consistent communication, and early signs of impact across many of our mentor–mentee pairs.
One of the most defining features of this cohort is its global reach. Our mentees are based across Australia, the United Kingdom, Tunisia, India, Dubai, Mongolia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and France, while our mentors bring experience from Switzerland, France, Spain, the UAE, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, and the United States. This diversity is already enriching discussions, enabling cross-border perspectives, and strengthening the overall learning experience.
Across the programme, mentor–mentee relationships have developed quickly. Many pairs have established regular weekly or biweekly sessions, with additional communication between meetings to share resources, ideas, and guidance. These early interactions have helped set clear expectations and build strong working relationships.
The first month has also seen a strong focus on practical development. Mentees are actively working on technical skills, certifications, research topics, and early-stage projects. At the same time, mentors are providing valuable support on career direction, professional development, and industry insights, helping mentees better understand how to navigate the cybersecurity landscape.
Encouragingly, we are already seeing tangible progress. Several participants have begun developing articles, defining project work, and building structured plans aligned with their goals. Many have also reported increased clarity and confidence in their career direction, which is a key objective of the programme.
Overall feedback at this stage has been very positive, with participants highlighting the quality of discussions, the accessibility of mentors, and the relevance of the guidance being provided. As with any programme, there are a small number of cases where engagement is still being strengthened, and we are actively addressing these to ensure a consistent experience for all participants.
As we move into the next phase, the focus will be on deepening collaboration, supporting the completion of projects and outputs, and continuing to build a strong, connected global community within CyAN.