Leela Lella

About Leela Lella

Cybersecurity Transformation Leader with 13+ years of experience driving enterprise-scale security programs across global environments. I specialize in building resilient, business-aligned security strategies that reduce risk, strengthen cyber resilience, and enable secure digital transformation.Currently serving as a Security Manager, I lead end-to-end security operations across SOC, threat detection, incident response, and continuous security maturity enhancement. I work closely with executive stakeholders to translate complex cybersecurity challenges into strategic, risk-informed decisions that improve enterprise security posture and operational efficiency.My expertise spans Security Operations (SOC and SIEM), Application Security, DevSecOps, Cloud Security, Vulnerability Management, and Zero Trust architecture. I bring strong hands-on experience in AWS security, identity and access management, and security automation across distributed enterprise ecosystems.I also bring a solid foundation in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), with experience across ISO 27001, PCI DSS, NIST, and OWASP frameworks, supporting regulatory alignment and enterprise risk management.I hold a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), enabling me to align cybersecurity strategy with business objectives, enterprise risk, and organizational priorities. I am currently pursuing a PhD focused on Secure AI and National Security, addressing emerging threat landscapes and next-generation security frameworks.As a cybersecurity speaker, I actively contribute to the community by sharing insights on SOC transformation, emerging threats, and Secure AI. I have delivered knowledge sessions to large audiences, focusing on both strategic and operational dimensions of cybersecurity.My focus is on advancing security through intelligent automation, data-driven decision-making, and modern security architecture - building scalable, resilient, and future-ready cyber defense capabilities.I am recognized for executive communication, stakeholder alignment, and leading high-performing teams that drive innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Experience

1. Manager

   Capgemini

   Aug 2024 — Present · Bengaluru, IN

   Leading enterprise-wide cybersecurity transformation across global environments, aligning security strategy with business objectives and client requirements across Application, Cloud AWS, Infrastructure, and InfoSec domains. • Managing and scaling cybersecurity operations supporting 100+ applications and multi-cloud platforms, ensuring secure, resilient, and high-availability environments across diverse business units. • Leading cross-functional security teams of 25+ members, driving delivery excellence, stakeholder alignment, and high-performance outcomes across SOC, engineering, and DevSecOps functions. • Owning enterprise Vulnerability Management programs, implementing risk-based remediation strategies that reduced critical exposure and improved remediation timelines across large-scale environments. • Driving enterprise security architecture and Zero Trust initiatives, strengthening access controls, segmentation, and overall cyber resilience across critical systems. • Leading governance, risk, and compliance initiatives aligned with ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and NIST frameworks, ensuring regulatory alignment and improved security maturity. • Championing DevSecOps and Shift-Left security, integrating SAST, DAST, API security, and automated controls into CI/CD pipelines to enhance application security posture. • Leading incident response and threat detection programs, improving detection and response capabilities while delivering executive-level security insights and reporting. • Enhancing operational efficiency and reducing enterprise risk exposure through automation, process optimization, and data-driven security decision-making.

Education

• GITAM Deemed University

  Master of Business Administration, System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager

• JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, KAKINADA (JNTUK)

  Bachelor of Technology, Electrical and Electronics Engineering

• IMET

  Doctor of Business Administration, Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance

• KL University

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Cybersecurity