Securing Tomorrow, Leading with Empathy

“Growth and comfort never co-exist. Continuously challenge your beliefs, ways of working, and the technology at your disposal to strive for your version 2.0.”

Lekshmi Nair has been recognised at the Top 10 Women Tech Leaders India Awards 2026, presented by REVA Academy for Corporate Excellence (RACE), REVA University. The awards honour women who lead with impact in technology and actively create opportunities for other women.

Lekshmi Nair is a globally recognised cybersecurity leader with 24 years of experience shaping security strategy and transformation. When she began her career, cybersecurity was still establishing its place in the boardroom. She has since seen it move to the centre of business strategy, innovation and trust, and has helped lead that shift. As Global Capability Head at NTT Data Managed Services, she drives AI-powered defence and secure AI adoption for organisations worldwide.

Lekshmi believes that a strong cybersecurity talent pipeline is built through education. As Leader of University Relations for IBM Security, she partnered with academic institutions to deliver workshops, faculty development programmes and curriculum reviews. She also serves on the boards of studies of engineering colleges, helping to define strategies for security hiring and talent development.

Her contribution extends beyond the enterprise. She is a certified Cybercrime Intervention Officer who supports victims of cybercrime, and she advises start-ups through next-generation innovation programmes within her organisation.

In 2018, her manager asked how she planned to empower more “Lekshmis” in security. The question proved to be a defining moment. It led her to establish Women in Security Excelling (WISE), an IBM programme designed to bring more women into cybersecurity, and drew her deeply into speaking, community building and mentoring.

In 2020, she co-founded WiCyS India with fellow leaders who shared the same commitment. These platforms reinforce a message central to her work: cybersecurity is not only a technical discipline but a societal imperative. She has mentored more than 100 women, advising them that “the complexity should never intimidate you. It should inspire you.”

Lekshmi believes the future of cybersecurity will be shaped by leaders who combine technical rigour with empathy, strategic vision with inclusivity, and courage with humility.

• Top 20 Women Influencers in Security, Security Today
• CF100 Cybersecurity Influencer, India
• Women of Influence Award, Executive Women’s Forum
• Women Influencer Award, Cloud Security Alliance
• CISO for Her Award, Winner