Cybersecurity Professional Strengthens Leadership Skills Through U of G's MCLC Program

As cybersecurity continues to evolve, organizations need leaders who can navigate both technical challenges and business strategy. For Kevin Pirabaharan, the University of Guelph's Master of Cybersecurity Leadership and Cyberpreneurship (MCLC) program provided an opportunity to develop both. 

Pirabaharan, a Senior Security Engineer at Broadridge, will convocate from the MCLC program in October 2026. Having previously completed degrees in both Management and Software Engineering, he was looking for a graduate program that would help bridge his technical expertise with his long-term leadership goals. 

"When I found out about this program, it looked like the perfect combination of the two," he says. "I knew right away it was something I wanted to explore." 

Bridging Technology and Leadership 

Before enrolling in the MCLC program, Pirabaharan had already built a diverse career spanning software development, project management and cybersecurity. 

While those experiences gave him a strong technical foundation, he saw an opportunity to grow his skills as a leader. 

"I already had experience managing projects and engineering solutions to security problems," he says. "My biggest gap was figuring out how to influence change from an engineering seat well enough to qualify myself for management in cybersecurity." 

The MCLC program helped connect those two worlds. 

Through coursework, case studies and discussions with industry leaders, Pirabaharan gained insight into how cybersecurity decisions are made at the organizational level, particularly when addressing emerging risks such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and evolving threat landscapes. 

"There was no explicit manual for that," he says. "But we heard firsthand from CISOs and worked through case studies of those exact situations, which gave me a sense of what's in a security leader's toolbox and how they actually use it." 

Learning While Working 

Completing a graduate degree while working full-time in cybersecurity was a challenge, but one that provided valuable lessons beyond the classroom. 

"Working and studying full time taught me a lot about time management and making sure none of my time went to waste," Pirabaharan says. 

More importantly, he learned the value of setting boundaries. 

"Making sure work, school and personal life each have their place is critical," he says. "The moment you burn out, everything else starts to suffer too." 

His professional experience also shaped how he approached the program. With a strong background in technology and management, he was able to focus on applying concepts directly to real-world challenges and exploring how they could support his long-term career goals. 

Learning from Diverse Perspectives 

When asked about the most valuable aspect of the program, Pirabaharan doesn't point to a specific course or assignment. 

Instead, he points to the people. 

"The connections," he says. "Not just with my immediate peers, but with the professors, the guest speakers and the Lang MBA students we met through events and shared courses." 

Working alongside professionals from different industries and leadership backgrounds exposed him to new ways of thinking about complex problems. 

"Doing case studies alongside people in leadership in other fields makes it clear there are very different ways to approach the same situation," he says. 

One lesson that particularly stood out came through discussions with industry experts and cybersecurity leaders. 

"I used to think becoming a CISO meant being an exemplary engineer or analyst and collecting the right certifications," he says. "Hearing from our peers and speakers changed that." 

Those conversations reinforced that there is no single path to leadership in cybersecurity. Success often comes from adaptability, collaboration and a commitment to continuous learning. 

Preparing for What's Next 

The program has already influenced Pirabaharan's career trajectory. 

Since beginning the MCLC program, he has taken on additional responsibilities at work, enrolled in internal leadership programs and started leading projects rather than solely executing them. 

He's also continuing to pursue professional certifications and additional opportunities for growth. 

"I've made my path clear at work," he says. "I think the degree helps set me apart in getting there." 

Looking ahead, Pirabaharan plans to continue applying what he's learned as he works toward leadership roles within cybersecurity. 

Advice for Future Students 

For professionals considering graduate studies while working full-time, Pirabaharan emphasizes balance. 

"Time management matters, but building boundaries between work, school and life matters more," he says. 

For those considering the MCLC program specifically, he believes its greatest strength is its ability to bring together technical and business perspectives. 

"The program works from both directions," he says. "It prepares people already in leadership who are coming into ownership of cybersecurity, and it takes people from software engineering, computer science or IT backgrounds and rounds them out with the business and leadership side." 

For Pirabaharan, that combination proved to be exactly what he was looking for: a program that strengthened both his technical and leadership capabilities, while helping prepare him for the next stage of his cybersecurity career.