Nicole Cader, cybersecurity learning lead, Absa Cybersecurity Academy.

It’s not often that someone can evolve from being an HR consultant to becoming the cybersecurity learning lead for the Absa Cybersecurity Academy, successfully marrying the application of technology with her multiple degrees, including a B.Com in management and economics, and a B.Com (Hons) in psychology.

In her role, Nicole Cader is changing lives and proving that technology is not just for the sighted, but accessible to anyone willing to learn and achieve, including the visually impaired.

“It wasn’t difficult to apply my human resource skills to the education sector and then, as I increasingly realised the power of technology and its impact, including how cybersecurity is changing, I’ve also strived and studied to be a contributor to keeping current and emerging cybersecurity technology relevant,” says Cader.

“Helping the visually impaired to become employable is such a wonderful undertaking. Seeing them thrive and assist in their families’ and communities’ welfare – and gain dignity through what they are learning – makes my efforts and those involved around me so worthwhile.”

Part of the overall Absa Cybersecurity Academy, the Hein Wagner Blind Academy specialises in the post grade 12 training of blind and visually impaired people. It was founded in 2019 by blind extreme adventurer and motivational speaker Hein Wagner. In partnership with the Absa Cybersecurity Academy’s Maharishi Invincibility Institute – the latter of which develops each student holistically by balancing the technical, social, and emotional skills required to prepare them to succeed in the world of work – the Absa Cybersecurity Academy’s curriculum can be shaped from institution level which Cader says plays a “huge role in bridging the gap between the qualifications received and workplace skills requirements.

“The Hein Wagner Blind Academy’s training facilities are set up to cater specifically to the training needs of those born completely blind and other levels of visual impairment and our learner cohorts are a combination of both. Each computer has a speech and magnification programme already loaded and our lecturers and trainers are highly specialised, with experience in training the visually impaired.

Absa partnered with Hein Wagner Blind Academy in 2021 to bring people with visual impairments along on the cybersecurity journey. “We endeavour to provide our graduates with a 12-month internship programme after successfully completing the requisite three-year learning programme.”

The success of the Absa Cybersecurity Academy has resulted in 19 young individuals obtaining permanent employment at Absa in 2023, of which 85% are women. In October 2024, 17 interns were absorbed within Absa and 20 diploma graduates joined Absa in November 2024 for workplace exposure.

“Cybersecurity is multi-faceted, from people awareness at all levels and with multiple topics, such as the nuances of content-sharing, to cryptography and proactive device protection. For over five years, we have been developing expertise in cybersecurity technologies and essential understanding of data protection. This is part and parcel of the Absa Cybersecurity Academy’s learning programme. While the goal is employability, our Academy is also an African resource for cybersecurity skills.

“It’s also an entity that keeps proving that those with life-limiting disabilities can overcome these constraints. Opportunity awaits and nothing is impossible. We as Absa are intentional about growing diversity across all levels and generations of the workforce. Students with impairments with the right attitude to become cybersecurity champions and technologists can climb over barriers. Everybody can learn and become successful. Everyone deserves a chance,” concludes Cader.

www.absa.co.za