Careers in cyberpsychology - in conversation with Bec McKeown

How would you describe your job to a 12-year-old?

I understand how people's brains work and how that makes them behave a certain way at work. I use this knowledge to help people learn to be more effective and happier at work.

Could you describe what you do during a typical workday?

I spend a lot of time in meetings which sounds boring but actually isn't. I'm working with a team on some research for a government department which is interesting and keeps me current with the latest thinking in psychology, as well as feeling part of a team, which is great when you are a home-worker. I also spend time having meetings with potential customers, talking about the issues they face at work.

Other meetings tend to be around networking or doing PR work such as webinars or podcasts. I find applying psychology to real-life problems fascinating and will happily discuss it with anyone who shows the slightest bit of interest... and some who don't!

Away from meetings, I like to keep up-to-date with academic research in cyberpsychology so my products are always underpinned by the latest evidence-based science. I also spend a lot of time keeping up with what's relevant in the cybersecurity sector, so I understand the sorts of issues people have to deal with at work.

As I run my own company, there's always something to do around product development, writing thought leadership pieces, and thinking about my marketing strategy, and the more mundane stuff like doing my VAT return and keeping my Accountant and the tax man happy!

All this is interspersed with cups of coffee and walks with my rescue pupper, Minnie.

Can you tell us about your job role, your own career trajectory and the steps you took to get where you are today?

I'm the Director and Principal Psychologist of Mind Science, a company I set up four years ago and I design products that help people work more easily in complex situations.

I got into cyber completely by accident – as happens with most psychologists that I know in the sector.

I did an MSc in Applied Psychology at Cranfield University in 2003, with the intention of going to work for an Organisational Change consultancy. That didn't happen because I got sidetracked by the fascinating work Cranfield did in aviation human factors and ended up working there for 15 years! As well as aviation Human Factors, I also did research on the Ministry of Defence contract and learned a lot about how people learn and how the processes an organisation has an impact on the effectiveness of their people.

After a few years, I transferred to the Defence Academy site in Shrivenham where Cranfield had a satellite site. It was here that I worked on the Cyber Masters programme and got involved in all things cybersecurity. When I left in 2019, I started my own business with the intention of developing a suite of CPD programmes for defence and security professionals who work in VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) environments.

Before that got off the ground, I was offered the position of Director of Human Science at Immersive Labs. Having worked in academia for so many years, it was a huge culture change to go and work in industry and in product development. It was a great experience, and I learned a lot. This has stood me in good stead now I have stepped back into my own business and am designing my own product which I will launch in the Autumn.

How do you apply cyberpsychology in a corporate setting and what challenges do you experience?

I think the challenge of applying psychology in any setting is to be very cognisant that one size does not fit all. You need to listen, observe, and ask questions – really understand what is going on before you even think about solutions. It's a cognitive bias to move straight towards solutions but a deep understanding of the 'problem space' will give you a far better grounding for your situational analysis. You also need to become adept at translating psychology speak into corporate language. I really struggled with this but did some media training which really helped.

What are your research interests?

My research interest for the past 8 years has been in the field of cognitive readiness – the skills and attributes needed to work in VUCA environments. Since the pandemic, I think the business world has come to understand that we are constantly living with change and uncertainty so it's the right time to spread the word!

How do you stay current with the latest trends and developments in the field of cyberpsychology?

I find LinkedIn to be incredibly useful as, provided you follow the right people, there is always useful information and points of view being shared – even if you don't agree with them, it's super interesting to get a feel for what is going on in the sector, and working out how psychology can help. You also get to meet a lot of fascinating people and grow your network this way.

What are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a job in cyberpsychology?

Don't be put off if you think it's all about technology – it isn't!

What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in cyberpsychology?

Give it a go! Work out where you think you could best apply your talents and network to make connections. I would urge anyone to try and work in different sectors and organisations to find out what suits you best and that experience will help you move forward with confidence in your own career.