@johnjo4n said,
"Today, I am a Program ISSM and decided to go for a doctorate in making myself more appealing to Cyber Executive Leadership within six years.
"First program is Cyber Leadership PhD just as it sounds there is little to no technical area of study
"Second program is Doctorate in Cybersecurity where it is 1/3 Technical-Equipment, 1/3 Technical-Admin, and 1/3 Leadership.
"My gut says it should be the first program, but any insight would be greatly appreciated."
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John,
You have asked a valuable question for many in our field. There are several aspects to consider. First, as background on this discussion, I recommend you read the summer 2020 community thread here, Seeking PhD education advice
which includes some of my observations, and my more generalized blog comment on the topic, Mid-Career Doctorate?
Please understand my comments are based on experience in the USA. If you are in a different country, the business culture as it intersects with university credentials may be different from here.
Next, pay attention to William's @denbesten advice. Any particular credential, whether degree or certification or other, may help you get an interview, but your combined experience, skills, past performance, and indication of future performance will determine if you are hired or promoted.
Now, for some added thoughts.
1. A research doctorate, whether PhD or DSc, is all about learning to design and complete a research project. If your aspirations are not to perform active research, such as a university or corporate research center, then either degree does not really prepare you for the roles you are seeking. Rather, it does how that you are willing to study a subject very deeply and to commit to completing a long term goal, admirable traits in and of themselves. If you want to develop more deeply key skills and abilities, master's degrees and professional certifications are more appropriate professional development resources.
2. If you plan to pursue your doctorate as a part-time student while working full time in your career, you experience will not be the same, and not include the peripheral but important aspects of a full time university research team, to include actual team leadership, integrating multiple research projects (e.g. master's theses and doctoral dissertations) in a full research program, and the steps in designing and procuring funding for a research program.
3. The culture of the institutions you hope to work in makes a difference. If you wish to work in a research university or major government or commercial research center, then a research doctorate will be essential to advancement within the organization. However, if you aspire to senior positions in industry or government, outside of hands-on research, a PhD or equivalent will have either no affect on your advancement (neutral impact) or may actually be detrimental; you might have to overcome an anti-intellectual bias against "eggheads who can't relate to the real world of profit and loss." Consider, do a notable proportion of senior executives in the arenas you hope to work have doctorates? Repeating William's comment, you will be judged by past performance and promise of future accomplishments toward the goals of the organization; in the commercial world those goals will be how you can increase profit, reduce loss, and contribute to increasing the value of the company's stock.
A lot for you to consider here. I will tell you I loved getting my late career doctorate as a personal achievement, and enjoyed most of the process. And, while I did get a company bonus for completing the degree, i got no pay raise, promotion, or new positions because of it. Also, I was with a company that does a lot of research and does hold advanced academic degrees as having value, so I did not face any anti-intellectual bias there.
Good luck!
Craig
