Daisy Chittilapilly
“I truly believe that in the dynamic world of technology and cybersecurity, curiosity is a must-have skill.”
Daisy Chittilapilly is President of Cisco India & SAARC, leading strategy, sales, and innovation to drive growth across the region. With nearly 30 years in tech, including 20 at Cisco, she’s known for transforming businesses and building strong cultures.
Named one of Fortune India and Business Today’s Most Powerful Women in Business since 2020, Daisy also serves on the National Association of Software and Service Companies Executive Council, the CEAT board, and champions education through nonprofits like Dragonflies Everywhere.
An engineer by training (BTech, Trivandrum), with a management edge (XLRI Jamshedpur), Daisy leads with vision and purpose.
What is one skill, interest or talent of yours that makes you great at your job?
One superpower that has shaped my journey has to be my insatiable curiosity. I truly believe that in the dynamic world of technology and cybersecurity, curiosity is a must-have skill.
What is the best piece of unconventional career advice you’ve gotten?
Not unconventional anymore, but I was advised very early on in my career to ‘control what I can control’ and that ‘it’s okay to not have all the answers.’ Over the years, that approach has led to clarity, building teams with diverse strengths, and helped me focus my effort and time on the right priorities.
What is your proudest moment working in the cybersecurity industry?
I have always felt immense pride when I see the tangible impact of the work we do at Cisco translate into strengthening digital resilience across important sectors, whether it is protecting users who started working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, championing the importance of digital trust, or reimagining how infrastructure and data connectivity can help protect organizations in the AI era. I’m proud of the culture we’ve built at Cisco of championing continuous learning and our commitment to securing a more inclusive digital future for all.
When did you become interested in pursuing a career in cyber and what prompted it?
An interest in science took me to an engineering degree and a career in technology. As technology continues to transform the world, digital trust has become the most valuable currency. For me, the interest in cybersecurity is more than just enabling protection; it’s about enabling progress and innovation, strengthening digital resilience, and powering inclusivity in a secure environment.
What are the top 3 things you would tell people hoping to enter the cybersecurity industry?
- Stay curious and committed to learning. Cybersecurity is evolving fast. What you know today might become irrelevant tomorrow. Embracing continuous learning to stay abreast of the evolving trends is a must.
- Build a strong foundation in both technology and human behavior. Think beyond tools and systems, because cybersecurity is more than just that. It’s about understanding how attackers think, how threats evolve, and newer ways to build trust in digital environments.
- Keep purpose at the heart of everything you do. Always remember that cybersecurity plays an important role in safeguarding the digital future for individuals, organizations, governments, and societies.
What are some misconceptions people might have about the cybersecurity industry and what can we do to change these misconceptions?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that cybersecurity is a backroom function, all about complex technologies, and that a set of specialists can defend against all threats. In reality, everyone who uses digital tools in any capacity has a role in ensuring the digital resilience of the enterprise, the country, and the community.
Do you feel like you’re contributing to helping keep our world secure and can you share why that matters to you?
Definitely! My work helps manage and secure the digital infrastructure of important sectors, such as healthcare, education, logistics, manufacturing, banking, utilities, citizen services, and more. Contributing to the protection of digital assets, safeguarding privacy, and enabling trust in a digital economy makes me incredibly proud and grateful.
What positive change do you think will take place as we bring the next generation into the cybersecurity industry?
The youth of today have grown up in a digital world, which helps make them intuitively understand the role of technology better, as it’s an integral part of their daily life. This, in turn, makes them prioritize the importance of purpose, ethics, and equity.
Who is your role model in the cybersecurity industry and why?
The smart people who power Talos, Cisco’s threat-hunting engine. It takes a lot not to be overwhelmed by over 800 billion security events daily, and still stay ahead in the game.
