Growth Happens When You Drop Your Baggage and Embrace the Unknown

As cybersecurity threats grow increasingly sophisticated, leaders who can balance technical expertise with strategic vision are in high demand. Sridhar Govardhan exemplifies this rare combination, having transitioned from a 15-year tenure at Wipro to embracing new challenges at Flipkart. In this candid interview with CISO Forum, he reflects on career-defining moments, the power of unlearning, and why security professionals need “a strong heart and a resilient mindset.” His journey offers valuable lessons for aspiring tech leaders facing an increasingly complex digital threat landscape.

Sridhar Govardhan
Senior Vice President & Head of Information Security
CoinDCX

CISO Forum: What has been the most defining moment of your career so far, and why?

Sridhar Govardhan: Even though I have received multiple awards and accolades throughout my career, the most defining moment for me was the Best People Manager’s Award at Wipro. This recognition was particularly special because only a handful of leaders worldwide were felicitated by the chairman, and what made it even more meaningful was that the award ceremony included the leaders’ families.

The nomination for this award was based on multiple years of appraisal ratings and 360-degree feedback, making it a testament to consistent leadership and impact. I consider this a defining moment because security leaders are often perceived as naysayers or create process friction. However, this award shattered that myth and recognized the critical role security leaders play in enabling business success while fostering a collaborative and positive work culture.

CISO Forum: If you could revisit one decision in your life and change it, what would it be, and what impact do you think it would have had?

Sridhar Govardhan: If I had to revisit one decision in my life, I wouldn’t change a thing—especially my choice to take on my first security project at Infosys. It was, without a doubt, the best and most pivotal decision of my career.

At the time, my BU head contacted me about an opportunity in the Internal Security function. Given that my core expertise was in network architecture, I could have quickly declined the offer, staying within my comfort zone. However, taking on that challenge introduced me to the fascinating world of security, which has since become my passion and profession.

That decision propelled my career at hypersonic speed, opening doors to incredible opportunities, achievements, and continuous learning. Looking back, I realize that embracing the unknown and stepping into uncharted territory was the key to my growth. Had I chosen differently, I might have remained in a conventional network role, missing out on the exciting and ever-evolving cybersecurity field.

CISO Forum: Who has been the most influential figure in your life, and what key lessons did you learn from them?

Sridhar Govardhan: I have been fortunate to work with some incredible leaders who have significantly shaped my professional journey and personal growth. Each has left a lasting impact on me, helping me evolve into a better professional and individual.

  • Prabhakar Devadas Mallya (Infosys CISO)
  • Pazhamalai Jayaraman (Wipro CISO)
  • Sunil Varkey (Wipro CISO)
  • Raja Ukil (Wipro CIO)
  • Jeyandran Venugopal (Flipkart CPTO)

Their ability to inspire teams, foster innovation, and drive strategic thinking taught me the importance of visionary leadership and long-term planning. At the same time, an unwavering focus on execution and operational excellence instilled in me the value of discipline, attention to detail, and resilience in overcoming challenges. A strong emphasis on ethical decision-making and integrity reinforced the significance of staying true to one’s values, no matter how complex the situation.

Beyond the individuals mentioned above, I have also drawn immense learning from the people I work with daily, including colleagues, mentors, and team members who continue to challenge and motivate me. The biggest lessons I have learned revolve around adaptability, continuous learning, and the power of collaboration in building something meaningful.

CISO Forum: Which personal habit or mindset has contributed most significantly to your success in the tech world?

Sridhar Govardhan: The personal habits and mindset that have contributed most significantly to my success in the tech world are attention to detail, adaptability, continuous learning, and a hands-on technical approach.

Being meticulous and detail-oriented has helped me navigate the complexities of security and technology, ensuring that no critical aspect is overlooked. Adapting to change has been equally crucial in an industry that evolves rapidly, embracing new challenges, technologies, and methodologies, keeping me ahead of the curve.

I have always been a lifelong learner, constantly exploring new avenues and expanding my knowledge beyond my core expertise. Staying technical and working closely with different generations has also been instrumental. It has allowed me to understand diverse perspectives, bridge gaps, and adopt modern working methods while leveraging the wisdom of experience. This balance between technical depth, adaptability, and collaboration has been key to my growth in the tech world.

CISO Forum: How do you typically handle moments of failure or self-doubt, and what strategies have you found most effective for bouncing back?

Sridhar Govardhan: Security has its fair share of black swan moments, whether it’s significant incidents like WannaCry and SolarWinds or global outages caused in 2024 by CrowdStrike and Azure. A security professional must have a strong heart and a resilient mindset.

I handle moments of failure or self-doubt by staying calm and analyzing the situation, as panic is the enemy of security. I focus on objectively assessing challenges, breaking them into manageable parts, and finding solutions rather than dwelling on what went wrong. Every failure is an opportunity to improve, so I conduct thorough post-mortems, understand the root cause, and implement stronger controls to prevent recurrence.

Seeking diverse perspectives from peers, mentors, and teams helps me gain clarity and discover innovative solutions. Given the rapidly evolving security landscape, I embrace change, adapt quickly, and use setbacks as stepping stones to build more resilient systems. Above all, I maintain a problem-solving mindset, treating failures as puzzles to solve rather than personal setbacks, which keeps my motivation high.

Ultimately, security is not about preventing 100% of incidents but how effectively and swiftly we respond, recover, and strengthen our defenses. That mindset has helped me bounce back stronger from every challenge.

CISO Forum: If you could only impart one lesson to the next generation of tech leaders, what would it be, and why?

Sridhar Govardhan: If I could impart just one lesson to the next generation of tech leaders, it would be this: Growth comes from embracing change, not from doing the same thing over and over. At certain junctures in your career, you must be willing to drop the baggage you’ve been carrying and take on new challenges; this fuels continuous learning and innovation.

Sticking to what’s comfortable may feel safe, but the comfort zone is a silent growth killer. The most successful leaders recognize when it’s time to evolve, adapt to new realities, and push themselves into uncharted territory. In tech, where the landscape changes rapidly, letting go of outdated skills, mindsets, or processes and adopting new ones sets true leaders apart.

CISO Forum: How do you measure personal growth and success in your career and personal life?

Sridhar Govardhan: Success for a security professional is measured by the ability to be a key part of business decision-making. If security is embedded in strategic discussions and considered essential rather than an afterthought, it’s a strong indicator of professional growth. Being part of this decision-making quorum ensures that security is aligned with business goals, and when that happens, recognition, career progression, and impact naturally follow. More importantly, success lies in doing what is right for the organization, regardless of the challenges or constraints.

I measure growth by having a peaceful and fulfilling life that balances work, continuous learning, and quality time with family and loved ones. Achieving both professional impact and personal peace is my ultimate measure of success.

CISO Forum: What’s the most significant risk you’ve taken that fundamentally changed your trajectory?

Sridhar Govardhan: After an impressive 15-year stint at Wipro, transitioning from a well-established service industry to the fast-paced startup world at Flipkart was the most significant risk I’ve taken, fundamentally changing my career trajectory.

At Wipro, I had the opportunity to work in a structured environment, serving large customers with well-defined processes and frameworks, which honed my ability to manage complexity at scale. Moving to a startup introduced me to a different dynamic: agility, speed, and adaptability drive decision-making. Both experiences have been invaluable in shaping my approach to leadership and security.

This transition broadened my perspective, challenged me to think differently, and helped me develop a sharper sense of execution and impact. Looking back, this leap was pivotal in shaping how I approach security, leadership, and business today.

CISO Forum: How do you unplug and recharge when faced with particularly challenging weeks?

Sridhar Govardhan: When faced with particularly challenging weeks, I unplug and recharge by finding calmness in solitude, whether resting in a peaceful place with pleasant music or meditating. This provides the mental peace I need and helps me find logical solutions to challenges.

Often, stepping away from the noise lets me mentally map the problem, gaining clarity and fresh perspectives. It’s a way to balance relaxation with problem-solving, ensuring I return with a clear mind and a renewed focus.

CISO Forum: If you weren’t in the tech industry, what other career path would you have pursued, and what draws you to that field?

Sridhar Govardhan: If I weren’t in the tech industry, I would have likely pursued a medical career, as my family always wanted me to follow that path. I’ve always admired the dedication, precision, and problem-solving mindset that the medical field demands.

Much like security in tech, medicine is about diagnosing issues, mitigating risks, and ensuring the well-being of others, a field where critical thinking and resilience are key. Though my journey led me to technology, both fields share a common purpose: protecting and safeguarding, whether it’s people’s health or their digital assets.

CISO Forum: As the CISO role evolves, which emerging skills or competencies will become indispensable for cybersecurity leaders in 2025?

Sridhar Govardhan: When I first stepped onto Wipro’s Electronic City campus in 2005, I saw a poster on the Wall that read: “Learn, Unlearn, Relearn.” At the time, I struggled to grasp the concept of unlearning, which made me curious to explore it further. As I started to understand its significance, it profoundly impacted my approach to learning. To stay ahead, we must unlearn outdated knowledge and relearn it with a fresh perspective, a critical strategy in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Coming to the question of which emerging skills and competencies will be indispensable for cybersecurity leaders in 2025, I believe the following three will stand out:

  1. Domain Knowledge: Cybersecurity leaders must go beyond technical expertise and deeply understand their industry’s business operations, regulatory landscape, and core assets. For instance, knowing how financial transactions, compliance frameworks, and fraud detection mechanisms work is crucial in fintech.
  1. Building an Effective Team: A CISO’s greatest strength is their team. The right mix of technical specialists, process experts, and risk professionals ensures a holistic security approach. Leaders must focus on talent acquisition, mentorship, and fostering a strong security culture to build a resilient security function.
  1. Influencing Skills: Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical function; it requires strong stakeholder engagement. Securing budgets, executive buy-in, and cross-functional collaboration depends on a CISO’s ability to communicate risk in business terms, align security with organizational goals, and drive a security-first mindset across teams.

As cybersecurity threats evolve, the role of a CISO is expanding beyond traditional security operations. Strategic thinking, adaptability, and the ability to influence at the highest levels will define the next generation of security leaders.

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