Shailaja Shankar is the Senior Vice President, Engineering of Cisco’s Security Business Group. A respected and transformative leader with strong executive management skills and deep technical experience, Shailaja is responsible for engineering—including strategy execution and architecture—to fundamentally simplify the security experience.
Shailaja came to this role after holding numerous leadership positions within the security business including General Manager of the organization where she oversaw strategy, portfolio, and architecture. Shailaja knows how to bring a team together around a shared culture to drive the maximum results. She leads a team of experienced cybersecurity experts and accomplished engineers that deliver a world-class portfolio which offers end-users the best experience to securely access their applications and data.
In 2022, Shaila received accolades for her executive leadership within the IT industry and beyond. She was named among 10 Women Making a Difference in Cybersecurity by CRN and appointed to BorgWarner’s Board of Directors. This synergistic position leverages Shaila’s deep experience innovating technological solutions and driving strategic change in global enterprises.
In addition to her deep technical product and portfolio development experience, Shailaja also prides herself on being a champion of diversity, mentoring the next generation of technical women.