A curious question & an award!
(Blog by our Founder)
Aptitude Over Attitude: What Truly Matters in Cyber Security
I was asked a curious question at the CISO6 Cyber Security Excellence Awards: “Do men still compete with you in the field of cyber security?”
It made me pause. Not because I was surprised, but because we are in mid-2025 and this question still reflects outdated perceptions.
My answer was clear. If someone is competing with me on knowledge, I welcome it. In fact, I would go one step further and reach out to that individual, ask questions, learn, and grow. That’s the true spirit of excellence. But if someone approaches with a poor attitude or a misplaced sense of superiority, that stance is often short-lived. Because once I begin to speak, any arrogance tends to give way to humility. That is what aptitude does. It levels the field.
We must move beyond gender-led biases. The future of cyber security, or any field for that matter, must be rooted in capability. Skill, discipline, and performance should be our only metrics. The rest is noise. When we sit across the table, engage in critical national work, or solve deeply sensitive digital crimes, no one stops to ask what gender you belong to. They only care about your ability to deliver.
Over the years, I have been deeply privileged to work with some of the most complex challenges in India. I have trained police forces in naxal and terrorism-affected areas. I have conducted workshops with the Indian Army and assisted law enforcement across the country in tackling forensic cybercrime. The reality is that few people, regardless of gender, have had the kind of exposure or ground experience I have had. That’s not arrogance, it’s a fact built on years of hard, silent work.
So when I walk into a room, I do not walk in hoping to be accepted. I walk in to share, to build, to empower. And more often than not, I am met with respect. Sometimes even awe. That’s the power of deep preparation and consistent delivery. Not gender. Not titles. Just sheer knowledge.
And yes, I was also awarded the CISO6 Cyber Security Excellence recognition!
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