A blunt critique of organisations that claim to be resilient but have never stress-tested their systems, rehearsed recovery under pressure, or practised failure in any meaningful way. The article challenges boardroom bravado and highlights the psychological and operational consequences of untested confidence, arguing that true resilience is earned through discomfort, not declared in policy.
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Two senior leaders, Sir Charlie Mayfield, former John Lewis chairman, and Sir Dan Moynihan, CEO of the Harris Federation, joined BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme on 1 May 2025 to discuss the impact of recent cyber attacks on Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, and UK schools. Their stories offer rare insight into how institutions respond to major breaches and what it really takes to recover.
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This virtual book is a guide to the entrepreneurial journey, drawn from real-world experiences in cyber startups. It distils insights from my time on the NCSC for Startups accelerator (cohort 13, 2023), the DSIT Cyber Runway Scale programme (2024/2025), and my mentoring on DSIT’s Cyber ASAP programme. It’s a collection of lessons, reflections, and hard-earned knowledge from the founders, investors, and industry leaders I’ve met along the way. Thanks to Marcel Duchamp you can think of it as a “ready made”, a curated work built from my blog articles, assembled to help you navigate the path from startup to scale, and beyond.
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This Cyber Runway Scale session explored strategic hiring for cybersecurity startups, focusing on team expansion, recruitment challenges, and building a strong company culture. Joel Hughes, of InfoSec People, discussed attracting top talent, scaling teams efficiently, and fostering diversity in the cyber sector.
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Rupert Cook joined the Cyber Runway Scale Founders Fireside to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and share insights on navigating the cybersecurity landscape. Topics included fundraising, product-market fit, and leadership lessons learned while building a successful cyber business.
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For any startup founder, the journey from idea to execution is filled with challenges. However, the biggest transformation isn’t just in scaling a business, it’s in evolving from a founder into a CEO.
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Disability inclusion is a vital yet often misunderstood aspect of workplace diversity. In a recent session hosted at Plexal, Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK, provided valuable insights into what it means to create a truly inclusive work environment. His talk covered the social model of disability, legal obligations under the Equality Act, workplace adjustments, and practical steps businesses can take to foster inclusivity.
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This Cyber Runway Scale session focused on preventing burnout in startup teams, addressing the mental and physical toll of high-growth environments. Experts shared strategies for work-life balance, team resilience, and sustainable leadership to ensure long-term success in cybersecurity startups.
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Neurodiversity is a vital consideration in cybersecurity, with one in five professionals in the industry identifying as neurodivergent. This article, based on a Cyber Runway: Scale session led by a Plexal Innovation Associate, explores the importance of neurodiversity, common misconceptions, and practical ways to support neurodivergent employees while maximizing their unique strengths.
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Lucy Bulley joined the Cyber Runway Scale programme to discuss the critical elements of team-building and organisational structure when preparing for Series A funding. She shared practical insights on hiring strategies, leadership development, and scaling operations to support high-growth cybersecurity startups.
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As part of the Cyber Runway Scale programme, Luke Wilson Mawer shared his experiences as a founder and discussed the challenges of scaling a cybersecurity startup. The session explored lessons learned, growth strategies, and the importance of resilience in a founder’s journey.
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