This cybersecurity profession is paving the way for women in STEM industries.
Cybersecurity – like many STEM fields – has all too often been a man’s world. As recently as 2013, only 10% of cybersecurity positions worldwide were held by women. It’s rising, albeit slowly – 20% in 2019, 25% in 2022.
The efforts of strong professional women like Hashnee Subbusundaram are helping those numbers to grow. Projections by Cybersecurity Ventures suggest that by 2025, women will constitute 30 percent of the cybersecurity workforce worldwide, with this figure expected to reach 35 percent by 2031.
It’s no easy task. But Hashnee is up for it. With over ten years of experience, she has carved a place for herself in a male-dominated industry, starting as a passionate student of Information Systems and Business Administration to a visionary leader in cybersecurity and program management. Her career exemplifies resilience, innovation, and leadership. She is a trailblazer, a mentor, and an advocate for women in technological fields.
Rising Through the Ranks
Hashnee holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E), Computer Science from Anna University, a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) in Marketing from Bharathiar University, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Information System and Audit Control from Georgia State University – J. Mack Robinson College of Business, where she was a member of ISACA and Beta Alpha Psi.
Her foundation in tech and management equipped her with strong skills in technology, business, and security. Hashnee’s early career was marked by her prowess in leveraging technology and data-driven insights to drive growth, enhance customer relationships, and fortify security postures within organizations.
As Hashnee ascended the ranks, she distinguished herself through her ability to handle complex cybersecurity issues with ease and efficacy. Her tenure at leading corporations such as Visa Technologies and Qualcomm was characterized by groundbreaking work that challenged the status quo and drove innovation and efficiency in cybersecurity practices.
Novel Initiatives and Savvy Strategies
One of Hashnee’s most notable contributions came during her leadership of the Material Management Information System (MMIS) program for San Mateo County. This initiative revolutionized inventory management, purchasing, accounting, supply chain, and stakeholder approval workflows. And it raised the bar in operational efficiency and transparency within the county’s infrastructure. Hashnee centralized the financial accounting system and implemented robust SaaS platforms, and demonstrated her ability to harness technology to solve real-world problems and streamline operations.
At Visa Technologies, Hashnee led the development of the Advanced Security Platform, known as the Shift Left Portal (SLP). The SLP became key in assessing, classifying, and reporting high-risk events like payment fraud and cyberattacks across countries and numerous cross-functional teams worldwide. It was an opportunity for Hashnee to demonstrate her strategic foresight in preemptively addressing security vulnerabilities and her commitment to building resilient cybersecurity frameworks.
Driving Progress with Strong Leadership
Hashnee is renowned for her technical skills, as well as for her strong leadership. She believes in taking an empathetic approach to team management so that every team member feels valued and heard. At Qualcomm Robotics, she nurtured collaboration and innovation to drive continuous improvement in product quality and advance the robotics industry. In a competitive industry, her skills in inspiring and leading high-performing teams is vital.
Hashnee’s creative mindset and strategic abilities were further evident in her role at Cisco, where she helped to launch advanced risk assessment programs. The initiatives resulted in significant cost savings by increasing authorization and posture validation across all image signing infrastructure. Hashnee’s contributions have gone far beyond the corporate sector to impact the financial sector as well, where she led the integration of over 800 Aspen Dental clinics with LendingClub. Here she streamlined the financing process and improved accessibility for applicants.
Advocacy for Women in Tech
And beyond her professional achievements, Hashnee has been an incredible advocate for women in STEM, especially in technology. She is a shining example to aspiring female professionals in the cybersecurity domain. She shares her experiences, challenges, and successes, and has mentored numerous individuals with a sense of empowerment and inclusion.
Hashnee’s advocacy extends to her public speaking engagements and participation in forums focused on women in tech. She emphasizes the importance of breaking gender stereotypes and encourages young women to pursue careers in STEM fields. Her efforts have contributed to narrowing the gender gap in technology while she highlights the critical role of diversity and inclusion in driving innovation and creativity.
A Legacy of Excellence
Hashnee Subbusundaram has made it to the top of the cybersecurity and program management fields. It’s been a journey of hard work, and she’s developed exceptional skills and resilience. She remains dedicated to promoting the roles of women in STEM and encouraging a safer digital world. Her work mitigates risks, boosts operational efficiencies across various sectors, and clears the path for future generations of women in technology.Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hashnee/
