Women leading Innovation in Emerging Technologies, AI and Beyond

Sharda Tickoo

Country Manager - India & SAARC, Trend Micro

Global talent landscape

Women have always been instrumental in driving technological innovation. In AI, where women represent only 22% of the workforce, leaders like Cynthia Breazeal and Dr. Fei-Fei Li have made groundbreaking contributions. At Trend Micro, we champion gender diversity in leadership, confident that merit and representation go hand in hand. Research shows that increased female participation enhances business outcomes. In India, we must nurture the growing pool of talented women in tech. While maternity policies support women, flexibility should be offered equally to both men and women, ensuring a balanced and inclusive work environment for all.

My journey

My professional journey began at Reliance Infocomm as a Systems Administrator, where I gained exposure to complex IT infrastructure and developed a passion for cybersecurity. This led me to Trend Micro in 2007 as a Technical Account Manager, progressing through roles like Team Lead, Product Specialist, and Technical Product Marketer. A stint at EY broadened my strategic and program management expertise in cybersecurity. Returning to Trend Micro, I transitioned to lead the enterprise sales team, engaging with CXOs to demonstrate technical value. In April 2024, I became Country Manager, leveraging over 16 years of experience to drive growth and innovation in cybersecurity.

My Strengths 

I thrive on routines, viewing them as a key strength that drives consistent progress. Disciplined and action-oriented, I make decisions carefully but commit fully once made. I focus on strategy, execute efficiently, and adapt quickly to refine my approach when needed, ensuring successful outcomes.

Note :

3 Must on office table: Anything that reminds me of my family - greeting cards from kids, pictures etc; something that nurtures my spiritual self; Water bottle

Favorite activity: Listening to all kinds of music, across genres

Favorite sports:  Watching Tennis

Guiding book: This continues to evolve. My current favorite is Peter Thiel’s, Zero to One.

Success mantra: Most successful strategies and plans are deeply authentic and individual. There are no dogmas around ways to be successful. However consistency and

hard work have no substitute