I am Aparna Achanta, Principal Security Architect at IBM. I have over a decade of experience architecting and leading major digital transformation projects for U.S. federal clients. I have worked with clients such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

I am a Principal Security Architect at IBM. I spearheaded centers of excellence for GenAI and Low-Code/No-Code at U.S. federal agencies. I implemented AI-based observability and performance monitoring tools to improve logging and reporting.

I am part of IBM Consulting. IBM Consulting provides services to companies, global government organizations, nonprofits, and NGOs.

It has approximately 160,000 employees worldwide, with capabilities spanning strategy and management consulting, experience design, technology and systems integration, and operations.

IBM Consulting has three main divisions:

-Business Transformation Services.

-Cybersecurity Services.

-Hybrid Cloud Services.

I am truly honored to receive a Gold award in the TITAN Business Awards for Cybersecurity. This award gives me the credibility to share my knowledge and mentor others who want to break into cybersecurity, as well as the motivation to continue learning about emerging trends in the field and applying them to the clients I serve.

Living in the United States has provided me with ample opportunities to advance my career and provide value to organizations.

I recommend reading domain-specific articles on Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and MIT Technology Review, and staying up to date with recent advancements. I also suggest attending local meetups and networking with industry peers, which offers a great learning opportunity.

In the next 5-10 years, I see AI playing an instrumental role in all industries. Enterprises leveraging AI securely will be able to successfully gain value and increase their productivity, innovation and output.

Being in security, I have always looked up to women in that very field and female CEO's who have broken barriers with their thought leadership and execution.

My key to success is having a growth mindset, being resilient and helping others whenever possible. To me, success is a journey that we need to enjoy along the way, not a destination.