While many cybersecurity professionals spend years building influence within the industry, Shanita Sojan has already established herself as a recognised voice in AI governance, cybersecurity compliance and responsible technology development early in her career.
With just over five years of industry experience, including more than two years focused specifically on cybersecurity, Sojan has built a reputation for combining technical expertise with a commitment to helping shape how organisations govern and secure emerging AI technologies. Her work spans cybersecurity compliance, cloud security, third-party risk management and AI governance, with a particular focus on ensuring organisations can adopt AI safely and responsibly.
One of her most notable accomplishments was leading the work that helped Darktrace become the first organisation in the UK—and the first cybersecurity company globally—to achieve ISO/IEC 42001 certification, the international standard for AI management systems. The achievement required months of collaboration with standards experts and auditors and is viewed as a significant milestone in the development of AI governance practices.
"An exceptional Rising Star entry showing landmark achievement, credible thought leadership and outstanding early-career impact across cybersecurity and AI governance."
Sojan has also become an active contributor to wider industry discussions around AI safety and governance, including co-authoring the paper MCP Security: Risks, Controls, and Governance, which explores emerging risks associated with AI systems and has attracted significant attention across the security community. She has also contributed to the Cloud Security Alliance's AI Safety Working Group, helping develop guidance for organisations navigating the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence.
Judges said what sets Sojan apart is not only the pace of her achievements but the significance of the impact she has already delivered, emphasising that her influence extends well beyond a single project.
Beyond her professional role, judges were impressed with her strong commitment to giving back to the cybersecurity community. Sojan volunteers with the CyberPeace Institute where she supported 10 CyberPeace Institute missions across five countries while also mentoring aspiring professionals through initiatives including BlackGirlsHack, Darktrace and Royal Holloway's Information Security Group.
Kelley Damore is Chief Content Officer at CyberRisk Alliance, where she leads content strategy across the company’s digital brands, research, communities and live events serving CISOs and security practitioners. At CyberRisk Alliance, she is focused on delivering 365-day engagement, trusted journalism and actionable insights to help security leaders navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Kelley Damore is Chief Content Officer at CyberRisk Alliance, where she leads content strategy across the company’s digital brands, research, communities and live events serving CISOs and security practitioners. At CyberRisk Alliance, she is focused on delivering 365-day engagement, trusted journalism and actionable insights to help security leaders navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.
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