Megha has been a long-standing, trusted advisor to C-Suite decision-makers in Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies, across the technology, energy, mining, finance and infrastructure sectors.
Within the public sector, she has worked extensively with major governments on national policy and regulations, and various international bodies, including the United Nations, IMF, NATO and the World Bank. She is a well-known expert on global digital and technology policy, emerging technologies such as AI, and digital market regulations, and on developing Asian economies. Prior to joining CyXcel, Megha held senior leadership positions at Oxford Analytica, where she established and led the firm’s Cybersecurity and Technology Practice for over seven years.
Change is the key to progress, yet championing change can be hard.
For women in STEM that can be even harder, but not impossible. With courage, resilience and a willingness to push boundaries, it is achievable – even when you feel underrepresented.
Having worked in typically male-dominated sectors such as risk analysis and cybersecurity, I’m used to being the only person of colour, a woman, or the youngest person in the room, but I’ve learnt to not let than unnerve me. Instead of letting it be intimidating, I’ve reframed it: I’m here because I’ve earned my place.
It’s so important that we as women recognise our worth in this way. If young children – both girls and boys – don’t see female role models in top level positions, they can’t imagine that being the norm.
We owe it to both them and ourselves to move the needle. Today, I want to share some of my own tips that can help in embracing a healthy thought pattern to help pushing for the changes that we all want to see – at work, at home and beyond.
#1 – Dispel the imposter syndrome
The feeling of not being qualified enough can be pervasive among women. It was something I grappled with early in my career, but I continued to remind myself that I was there to add value, and I could. While it can be hard for women to speak up in male-dominated industries like cybersecurity, legal, risk management or data protection, change ultimately comes from conversations. The key is in building the confidence to do so.
- Invest in public speaking courses or media training: I would highly recommend this. It can teach you to voice your views and project confidence, even when you feel like you don’t have it.
- Practice makes better: It’s cliché, but it’s true. Take every opportunity. If you speak confidently 10 times, by the 11th you’ll become more comfortable in doing so. And that can be incredibly powerful.
It’s also important to remember that your worth isn’t tied to someone’s opinion. What matters is your effort, competence, ethics and impact.
#2 – Build the workplace you want
When advocating for change, it’s worth thinking about the bigger picture. What kind of working environment would you want for your children or others who come after you. Is it inclusive, supportive, and equitable? If not, what can you do to make it so?
That doesn’t have to mean massive changes.
- Start small: If your company’s diversity and inclusion policies feel more like a tick box exercise than a genuine commitment, raise those concerns.
- Advocate for key initiatives: Use policies in relation to things like parental leave, mentorship programmes or diverse hiring practices as a starting point for a deeper dialogue.
- Collaborate with others who share your vision: That’s not just other women – many men are incredible supporters of DE&I.
Equally, however, knowing when to walk away is just as important. If you’ve pushed for progress and been met with resistance, then leaving can send a bold message.
#3 – Lifelong learning and networking
If one thing’s true in tech, it’s that nobody will ever know everything. And that’s a good thing.
I’ve moved from journalism to academia to risk analysis and now cybersecurity in my career, and with each change I had to start from scratch, ask the “dumb” questions and admit what I don’t know.
That continues even now. Two days ago, I was speaking to somebody who was 10 years my junior, but they know more about insurance than I do, and I had to ask them to explain everything to me — twice. So,
- Be humble: Don’t let perceived hierarchy get in the way of knowledge seeking. Asking questions doesn’t diminish your worth or authority, it enhances it.
- Network: Contact those people whose work inspires you. If they don’t reply, don’t take it personally. If you ask 50 people, even five responses can open some amazing doors.
#4 – Manage the company of me
One of the best decisions I’ve made is treating myself with the same care and attention as I would my own company. Consider that your mind is made up of your own CEO, your own CFO, a HR director… they should be working together to build the best version of you:
- CEO You: What’s your vision? What are you goals for the next five years?
- CFO You: How is your financial health? Are you saving for key milestones like a home or retirement?
- HR You: How are you building your skills and network? Are you investing in training or mentorship? What problem do you want to solve?
Investing time and effort into yourself will never be a waste, but it’s important to know when to pull back. A burnt out you doesn’t help anyone. However, I don’t agree with the idea of a “work-life balance”. Work and life shouldn’t be at odds. Your inner CEO, CFO and HR Director should all be pulling in the same direction. If something is negatively impacting your overall wellbeing, it’s time to reassess.
#5 – Don’t always do what’s easy
As you push for the changes you want to see in business, life or wider society, it’s critical to remember that progress is rarely straightforward. Setbacks, self-doubt and resistance are all normal, but every step forward is victory.
I’m drawn to Stoic philosophy because it teaches simplicity, discipline and optimism. For example, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius once said that we should treat our lives as our own empires. If you must make a tough decision, ask yourself:
- Does it align with my commitment to justice?
- Does it align with my views on excellence, ethics and discipline?
If it does, move forward with conviction. We should all lead with purpose and stay true to our values. If we do that, the change we seek will come.
It’s for this reason that I speak at conferences around the world while wearing my silk sari: it’s what I believe is right. The future of cybersecurity, legal innovation and tech can be a young female of colour, and people need to get used to that.
