Vijeta Galani

I attribute my success to continuous learning, adaptability, and perseverance. Technology evolves rapidly, especially in cybersecurity, so I’ve always made it a priority to keep upgrading my skills, earning certifications, and staying current with emerging threats and tools like Splunk and AI-driven security solutions.

Another key factor has been my willingness to step outside my comfort zone. Transitioning from a development background into cybersecurity was not easy — it required starting fresh in many ways and proving myself again. But I embraced the challenge, stayed consistent, and focused on building deep technical expertise.

I also credit strong mentorship and supportive leadership. I’ve been fortunate to work with managers and colleagues who encouraged growth and trusted me with responsibility. That support, combined with my own determination, helped me gain confidence and expand my capabilities.

Finally, I believe curiosity has played a big role. I genuinely enjoy investigating issues, analyzing logs, understanding how systems work, and learning how threat actors think. That natural interest keeps me motivated and engaged, which makes continuous growth feel less like an obligation and more like a passion.

The best career advice I’ve ever received was: “Never get too comfortable — keep learning and keep evolving.”

I would encourage young women to never stop growing and never stop learning. Keep building your skills, stay curious, and believe that you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. Continuous learning is especially important in fields like technology and cybersecurity, where things evolve so quickly.

One important lesson I’ve learned is not to lose yourself while managing personal responsibilities. As women, we often take on a lot — family, marriage, children, and caregiving — and sometimes our own growth takes a back seat. While family is important, your personal and professional development is equally important. Make time for yourself. Keep reading, keep learning, and stay aware of what’s happening in your industry.

Technology is still a male-dominated field, and that can sometimes feel intimidating. There may be moments when you’re the only woman in the room, and you might not always feel an immediate sense of connection. Networking and informal conversations can sometimes feel different. But don’t let that discourage you. Most professionals today are supportive, and many organizations genuinely value diversity and inclusion.

Stay confident, stay competitive, and don’t hesitate to speak up. Your perspective is valuable. Focus on building strong technical skills and professional credibility — that confidence will naturally follow. I’ve been fortunate to work with supportive managers and mentors, and that support has made a big difference in my journey.

Most importantly, believe in yourself. Your growth should never stop because of circumstances. You deserve both personal fulfillment and professional success.

One of the biggest challenges today is the rapid rise of AI and how quickly threat actors are leveraging it. Cybercriminals are using AI to develop malicious tools at an unprecedented speed — from automating phishing campaigns to creating more sophisticated malware and intrusion techniques. AI enables them to scale attacks, evade detection, and operate more efficiently than ever before.

At the same time, the widespread adoption of AI tools within organizations introduces new data security risks. Sensitive information can unintentionally be exposed to public AI platforms if proper governance and controls are not in place. Data leakage, model misuse, and insecure integrations are becoming real concerns for security teams.

What makes this even more challenging is the pace of change. Security professionals must constantly evolve to keep up with threat actors who are experimenting with AI-driven attack techniques. Additionally, AI systems themselves can have vulnerabilities — whether in the models, APIs, or the underlying infrastructure — that can be exploited if not properly secured.

That said, AI is not just a threat; it’s also a powerful tool. It helps automate workflows, improve threat detection, enhance analytics, and strengthen overall security operations. The key challenge is balance — leveraging AI defensively while ensuring strong governance, monitoring, and controls are in place.

Ultimately, as AI continues to grow, security strategies must shift from traditional reactive approaches to more proactive, adaptive, and intelligence-driven methods. The landscape is evolving rapidly, and so must we.

Honesty, Integrity, Resilience and a work life balance.