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Case Study

Absa's Cybersecurity Academy: Combining digital transformation with doing good

By Öykü Işık, Valerie Keller-Birrer, Poornima Urs, Barbara Vettorel and Amaru Amiya

11 pages

July 2025

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Reference: IMD-7-2642

Absa faced a critical rise in cyberattacks, and with the cybersecurity talent gap widening, the company urgently needed a long-term solution. To address this, former CISO Sandro Bucchianeri launched the Cybersecurity Academy in 2019, an initiative to reskill employees. It eventually partnered with the Maharishi Invincibility Institute MII and the Hein Wagner Academy, taking a chance on disadvantaged youth and people with visual impairment. When Bucchianeri’s successor, Manoj Puri, took over, he was skeptical about the program, suspecting it was just a marketing tactic. However, after visiting the academy, he was impressed by the resilience and determination of the students. Despite concerns from Absa’s leadership about the graduates’ readiness, Puri pushed for their integration via internships, recognizing their potential and the importance of Absa’s commitment to social responsibility. A key figure in the program’s success was Nicole Cader from the security education team. Serving as mentor and advocate, she helped bridge the gap between the young graduates’ backgrounds and the expectations of corporate culture. She supported not only their technical development but also their adaptation to workplace norms, helping line managers understand the unique challenges these interns faced. The Cybersecurity Academy’s success proved the value of investing in talent from underrepresented backgrounds. As the program grew, Cader expanded partnerships with external organizations to ensure graduates found meaningful employment, making the academy a sustainable talent pipeline. Her leadership, alongside Absa’s long-term commitment to the program, has cemented the Cybersecurity Academy as an essential part of the company’s future.

Learning Objective

Purpose-driven leadership. How strong leadership at all organizational levels ensures that digital initiatives align with social impact goals.
CSR. The role of inclusive digital transformation strategies in empowering marginalized communities while addressing critical business needs.
Future-readiness. Building a sustainable talent pipeline to ensure a steady supply of critical skills for long-term success.
Partnerships and collaboration. Leveraging external partnerships to achieve mutual success in digital transformation and social impact projects.

Keywords

Cybersecurity, Talent Management, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Digital Transformation, Corporate Social Responsibility, Inclusive Leadership, Decent Work Conditions, Economic Growth, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Gender Equality, Disadvantaged Minorities, Digital

Settings

Africa, South Africa
Absa Group, Finance and Insurance, Financial Services
2019-2024

Type

Field Research

Copyright

© 2025

Available Languages

English

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Teaching note, Video

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Absa’s Cybersecurity Academy: Combining digital transformation with doing good

By Öykü Işık Valerie Keller-Birrer Poornima Urs Barbara Vettorel and Amaru Amiya
Case reference: IMD-7-2642 ©2025

Summary

Absa faced a critical rise in cyberattacks, and with the cybersecurity talent gap widening, the company urgently needed a long-term solution. To address this, former CISO Sandro Bucchianeri launched the Cybersecurity Academy in 2019, an initiative...

Reference IMD-7-2642

Copyright ©2025

Copyright owner IMD Copyright

Organization Absa Group

Industry Finance and Insurance, Financial Services

Available Languages English

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